So you got yourself one of those widely advertised Obama coins from Franklin Mint that’s covered in 24-carat gold and depicts the president-elect. With it came a “certificate of authenticity,” signed by the 36th director of the U.S. Mint, Jay W. Johnson. The good news: The coin, priced at $9.95, has guaranteed monetary value.

The bad: That guaranteed value is only 50 cents.

Also, although Johnson is a real person, he hasn’t been director of the U.S. Mint since 2001. And your total cost is more than double the advertised $9.95. Confusion over Obama commemorative coins — issued not only by Franklin Mint but also several other private companies — has become so widespread that the U.S. Mint has issued an alert. “These items are not official United States Mint products,” says the statement. The coins from Franklin Mint are real Kennedy half dollars upon which an image of the president-elect is superimposed. But the U.S. Mint wants you to know, in no uncertain terms, that the agency had nothing to do with the altering or marketing. Its statement continues: “Furthermore, these products, businesses and advertisements are not approved, endorsed, sponsored or authorized by the United States Mint, the Department of the Treasury or the United States government.”

Tsk Tsk…