I've been collecting coins since 1992, which is enough time to have learned more than a few things about the hobby I love. I was still a kid when I first ventured into coin collecting, which means I was at that prime age for touching the hot stove… a
Gold coins have always had a special allure as a store of value and hedge against currency depreciation and because of their beauty. And in times of economic crisis like today, they also serve as a safe haven and asset diversifier, especially at a time when equity market volatility remains heightened. Buyers and collectors of gold coins have a basi...
An unexpected modern rarity has emerged as a result of the impact of the coronavirus pandemic on production of the U.S. Mint's flagship silver bullion coin series, the American Silver Eagle. Most production of American Silver Eagle bullion coins is done at the U.S. Mint's West Point Mint and sometimes at the San Francisco and Philadelphia Mints too...
Even if you are relatively new to coin collecting, you probably already know that the value of a coin is directly tied to its condition. When it comes to assessing a coin's condition, the most important distinction is between coins that are circulated, or worn, and those that are uncirculated, or have no visible wear. A mint state coin is one that ...
With most of the world on lockdown, financial markets crashing, the economy imploding and serious social consequences on the horizon, it is no surprise that the unprecedented crisis unleashed by COVID-19 is having serious effects on precious metals. While gold and silver futures ride their roller coaster in the paper-traded futures markets, the rea...
The American Innovation $1 coins are among the latest releases from the United States Mint, and the first of these new golden dollar coins honors an astronomical pioneer from the state of Delaware. The name of this "star" is Annie Jump Cannon, and she was instrumental in developing the Harvard Classification Scheme, a modern method of star classifi...
Many coin collecting websites share tips on how to build a set of Lincoln cents, 50 State Quarters, or even silver dollars. But what about half dollars? This oft-overlooked denomination offers hobbyists a whole world of exciting collecting challenges. What are some of the ways you can build a great collection of United States half dollars? Bu...
The new American Eagle 2019 One Ounce Palladium Reverse Proof Coin is the latest installment in the long-running American Eagle bullion coin family, born in 1986 with the release of the first American Gold Eagles and American Silver Eagles. The 2019 reverse proof palladium eagle also becomes the third type of palladium eagle, the first released in ...
Have you heard about the 2019-W America The Beautiful (ATB) Quarters? These new coins from the West Point facility of the United States Mint total just 10 million in number and have entered mainstream circulation. That means they can turn up just about anywhere – pocket change, coin rolls, even as change from the next vending machine you use. And w...
In coin collecting, almost everyone knows about the famous rarities… The 1913 Liberty nickel, 1894-S Barber dime, and – of course – the 1804 Draped Bust dollar. But what many numismatists don't hear about, or in some cases even know about, are the silent rare coins. These pieces are very scarce, with usually fewer than 5,000 to 10,000 survivors, ma...
Want to buy coins but aren't sure which ones to go after? While there's no guarantee that anything you buy will go up in value, there are many coins that have performed quite well over the years and, if they keep up with long-term trends, are poised for future growth. So, what are they? Here's a rundown… Uncirculated Large Cents These early copper ...
Having a hard time finding Canadian pennies in circulation these days? It's not just you! That's because the last Canadian one-cent coins were made for circulation in 2012. And as they're being spent and turned in at banks, they're winding up at the smelter and disappearing forever. So why did Canada say, "eh, goodbye" to the penny? Are Canadian pe...
I've been looking for rare and valuable coins in my pocket change since 1992. Over the years, I have come across many cool coins in circulation, including old Lincoln wheat cents, Liberty and Buffalo nickels, wartime silver Jefferson five-cent pieces, silver dimes and quarters, 90% silver Kennedy half dollars, foreign coins, and many other valuable...
The United States Mint has made history by striking the first Lincoln cents bearing the "W" mintmark from the West Point Mint in New York, and collectors are loving these new pennies. There are three types of 2019-W pennies being struck, and each is being offered as a premium freebie in three types of United States Mint collector products for 2019 ...
The 2019 W quarters from the West Point Mint in New York are in circulation and collectors are going crazy trying to find these rare and valuable coins in their pocket change. But why are these new quarters being made at the West Point Mint? Why are they valuable? And what should you be looking for? Read on for the answers! What' So Special About T...
As a 30-something coin collector, I'm not necessarily representative of the median age of coin collectors and coin investors. In fact, I'm probably a good 20 years younger than most of the people I see enjoying the coin shows I attend. But I'm by no means the youngest guy on the bourse. In fact, I'm a good 20 years older than many of the so-called ...
I recently celebrated my 25th coin collecting anniversary – I'm now in my second quarter century as a coin collector, and so far I'm loving the hobby more than ever. I didn't know in 1992, when I first began collecting coins, that I'd still be enjoying this hobby so much so many years on, but I know I'm not the only person who's been in the hobby t...
Are you looking for new coins to add to your coin collection? There are various avenues coin collectors use for finding new coins to add to their collections, and below I'll describe the various common methods you can use to find new coins for your collection. Circulation – This is where most coin collectors start looking for new coins. From pocket...
There's a very special reason large cents from 1793 are spending more time in the numismatic spotlight recently. They represent the very first official coinage of the United States Mint, which was established in Philadelphia in 1792 and began striking federal coinage in 1793. The United States Mint first struck copper coins, which were initially di...
Morgan dollars are among the most popular United States coins around, and they are found in the collections of countless collectors new and seasoned alike. Most Morgan dollars are relatively common and circulated examples are often worth little more than their intrinsic silver content value. However, there are several Morgan dollars that are quite ...
It's a new year, and that means new coins are on their way for collectors in 2018. There's a bevy of new coins in 2018 from the United States Mint, including longtime favorites such as Lincoln cents, America the Beautiful quarters, American Eagle bullion coins, and much more. But it's not just the U.S. Mint with hot new coins – many other mints fro...
