Obama coins are (gasp!) a rip-off

If you're an occasional insomniac like I am, you may have seen Montel Williams shilling the Obama Presidential Coin Collection, featuring four FULL-COLOR special-edition coins and a carrying case, all for $19.95 (plus shipping and handling). Sure, it might seem like a good investment for the numismatists among us. After all, numbered certificates of authenticity are included.

But the company selling these, the US Coin Network, is now coming under fire for using standard currency and stickers to create these limited-edition trinkets. The site indicates that, yes, the Obama coins are created using nothing but regular-old coins -- a Washington Dollar, a Kennedy Half Dollar, an Illinois Quarter and a Hawaii Quarter. But evidently the TV commercial isn't quite as forthcoming.

What's worse, the US Coin Network (not affiliated with the United States Mint or any branch of government) is allegedly refusing to cancel orders that have not yet shipped.

It just goes to show you -- look before you leap. Also, it's probably never a good idea to be spending money at 3:00 in the morning.

Beth Gaston Moon works for WeSeed.com, "the stock market for the rest of us."