Business Notes COLLECTIBLES

The U.S. Postal Service is at odds with the Washington Mint. Not the U.S. Mint but a small Connecticut company that makes a 3 1/2-in. medallion called the Giant Silver Eagle. The Postal Service is charging in a complaint to an administrative judge that the Washington Mint's advertising falsely implies that the company has an affiliation with the U.S. Government. The 12-oz. Connecticut Eagle, which is based on the Federal Government's popular 1-oz. American Eagle coin, sells for $269.

Frederic Berg, chairman of the Washington Mint, has twice changed his company's advertisements in response to complaints from the Postal Service. This time he has decided to fight back: "We're not going to roll over on this." He adds that the Government's case is "patently ridiculous." His company sold all 5,000 of the medallions, about 25 of which have been returned by customers.