Whether you’re a coin collector or a coin investor, chances are you’ve got a favorite coin series. If I had to choose mine, I’d probably say it is the Lincoln cent, the very first series I ever started collecting. While Lincoln pennies are very popular with millions of coin collectors, they certainly aren’t the only series to stand before the numismatic spotlight.
I was thinking about the matter of ethics in buying coins the other day while shopping at a local coin dealer and I wondered – we all talk about how important it is that coin dealers are honest and play fairly with their customers. But what about the matter of honest, ethical coin buyers? What should we numismatic consumers do if we spot a rare coin variety in an otherwise common mint set offered for $4, or accidentally receive a coin that is much more valuable than what we paid for it?
The U.S. Mint increased up distribution figures of American Silver and Gold Eagle bullion coins and, with the third month of 2015 behind us, looks to be on track for a banner year if sales continue at their current pace. Coming off sluggish gold coin sales in February, all four American Gold Eagle coins were strong in March. Meanwhile, American Silver Eagles, which had a robust sales numbers in February, saw improved distribution figures in March.
I’ve been a member of the American Numismatic Association (ANA) since 2010. As I’ve long come to learn over the years, there’s simply no better major coin organization out there for new coin collectors, seasoned veterans, and everyone in between.
The top 25 most expensive Walking Liberty half dollars sold on eBay in February 2015 include several of the coveted key dates and a few high-grading “common” issues. Walking Liberty half dollars are considered among the most beautiful silver coins the United States has ever produced. Designed by Adolph A. Weinman, Walking Liberty halves were minted from 1916 through 1947, and their design was so popular that the obverse depiction of Miss Liberty was revived on the American Silver Eagle in 1986.
The top 25 most expensive Lincoln cents sold on eBay in February 2015 include a rather diverse array of offerings. In fact, the most expensive Lincoln penny that traded hands on the popular online auction website wasn’t any of the early key dates, like the 1909-S VDB Lincoln penny. That rare cent doesn’t show up until the third-place coin for February 2015.
The most expensive Morgan silver dollar sold on eBay in February 2015 brought in a tremendous price – far higher than the 1903-S Morgan dollar that traded hands via eBay for $9,999 the previous month. This month’s top-priced Morgan dollar sold for more than $30,000! Of course, as many silver dollar collectors know, the Morgan dollar series, which was designed by George T. Morgan and ran from 1878 through 1921, is full of heavy hitters.
Ever wonder what coins cost more than they’re really worth? Or what coins are true bargains these days?
Last year, sales of rare U.S. coins approached $536 million. It looks like things may get even hotter in 2015, during which we'll see the first offerings from the highly anticipated D. Brent Pogue sale.
If one group has its way, Andrew Jackson may soon be disappearing from the $20 bill. Women on $20s is a non-profit campaign to place a woman on the $20 bill. A fitting gesture, they say, because their hope is to have this new $20 bill ready for printing in the year 2020 -- the 100th anniversary of the year women were legally given the right to vote by the ratification of the 19th Amendment.
On October 10, 1978, Susan B. Anthony coin legislation was approved, and the first circulating coin honoring the women’s rights pioneer was on its way to production. The Susan B. Anthony dollar represented a downsizing of the dollar coin.
Remember the excitement over the Sacagawea coin? If you were in any way involved with the coin collecting community in 2000, you may recall the buzz surrounding the long-anticipated release of the Sacagawea dollar coin. The Sacagawea golden dollar was supposed to fix all of the problems associated with the Susan B. Anthony dollar, which had been released in 1979 but quickly failed to circulate. By 1981, the coin was in production only for coin sets. Later that year, the SBA dollar was retired. It was minted again one last time in 1999, when dollar coins were seeing circulation in the postage stamp machine circuit and some mass transit systems.
Canadians are taking pen to paper and altering, some would say defacing, their $5 notes as a tribute to Star Trek actor and acclaimed director, poet, and singer Leonard Nimoy, who passed away on February 27 at the age of 83.
Do you collect Washington quarters? Perhaps you’ll want to spend a little time (and a few bucks) on buying some of the more recent issues from the popular eight-decade-old series.
Her Majesty Queen Elizabeth II is receiving a new portrait on British coinage by the end of this year. The Queen, who has appeared on coins of the British realm since 1953, has aged gracefully over her 60-plus years on the royal throne. The Royal Mint has kept her likeness on coinage relevant to the Queen’s maturing appearance by updating her image on British coins every 15 to 20 years.
As February, the shortest month of 2015, wraps up, the latest bullion figures indicate smaller American Silver and Gold Eagle coin monthly totals than would be expected for a calendar shortfall of just two or three days. January is normally a month of strong output by the U.S. Mint, as early demand for coins bearing the new date of “2015” is met and minting gears up for the year. However, bullion prices have also been somewhat stagnant over the course of February 2015, which may in part owe to the languid production of new American Silver and Gold Eagles as of late.
The United States Mint has announced it will release coins honoring Ronald Reagan and Nancy Reagan in 2016 as part of the Presidential $1 coin series. Ronald Reagan, who served as the 40th president of the United States from 1981 through 1989, was not originally slated to make an appearance among the Presidential $1 coin series.
The top 25 most expensive Walking Liberty half dollars sold on eBay in January 2015 include a seemingly random grab bag of issues. There is no predominate subset of coins this month, with circulated semi-key and key date coins, high-end proof, and MS 66+ Walking Liberty half dollars all appearing on this go-around of most expensive Walking Liberty halves purchased on eBay.
The most expensive Lincoln pennies that were sold on eBay in January 2015 are definitely representative of the rare one-cent coins that most coin collectors go gaga over. Spoiler alert – a 1909-S VDB penny came in at the top spot. OK, maybe that isn’t such a surprise. What may be the real twist is the coin that comes in at #2. Hint... Let’s just say, modern coins aren’t all junk.
