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
There are several coin shows going on during the week of June 5 through 11, 2015. Coin shows provide coin collectors with a great opportunity to meet fellow numismatists, interface with coin dealers, buy new acquisitions for their collections, and even learn a thing or two about their hobby through lectures and seminars.
On their 50th anniversary year, copper-nickel clad coins are receiving some much-deserved attention. I’m personally happy to see this, as copper-nickel clad coins offer many exciting collecting opportunities and even have a few scarce issues that are well worth collecting. These include the 1982 no-P Roosevelt dime, 1982 and 1983 Washington quarters, 1982 no-FG Kennedy half dollar, and all dates of the Eisenhower dollars, which are worth more than face value even in worn grades these days.
Heading into the late spring, bullion coin sales at the United States Mint continued to be strong for both silver and gold American Eagle coins, though there were a few noticeable differences in sales patterns during May as compared to the sales data posted for April. While we at Coin Values tend to focus mainly on silver and gold bullion coins sales, it’s also well worth noting that the United States Mint did not strike any platinum American Eagles in May, meaning none have been made for the year of 2015 up to this point.
Bidders were on fire when the first 128 rare coins of the D. Brent Pogue Coin Collection went for sale on May 19 in New York during the much-anticipated Stack’s Bowers Galleries and Sotheby’s sale. Overall, the 128 coins took in more than $25 million, and records fell in virtually every denomination category that was offered that evening.
Lincoln cents are one of the most popular collector coins around, and some of the most valuable pennies in the series traded hands on eBay in April 2015. The 25 most expensive Lincoln cents that were sold on eBay include the usual key date suspects, including the 1909-S VDB, 1914-D, and 1955 doubled die Lincoln cents. Also among the list of the most valuable Lincoln cents to be sold on eBay in April 2015 are a number of high-grade common dates, pristine proofs, and other interesting pieces.
Walking Liberty half dollars are considered the most beautiful silver coins the United States Mint has ever made, and the top 25 most valuable Walking halves sold on eBay in April 2015 certainly rank among the best examples of this gorgeous series. The most expensive of these Walking Liberty half dollars comes in at nearly $5,000, while the 25th most expensive sold for a little under $1,000.
If you’re trying to place a last-minute order for the popular new March of Dimes silver coin set from the United States Mint, it looks like you are unfortunately out of luck at this point. The United States Mint has officially declared that the March of Dimes silver set has sold out. The set was produced in a limited run of only 75,000 units, and the Mint was very low on supplies earlier this week before the U.S. Mint website stated the sets were "currently unavailable." The March of Dimes silver coin set was first offered to the public on May 4.
Perhaps you’ve heard the news that a recent private poll declared slavery abolitionist Harriet Tubman as the favorite choice among a selection of historic women to replace President Andrew Jackson on the $20 bill. The candidates, which included Susan B. Anthony, Sojourner Truth, Martha Washington, and Eleanor Roosevelt, were presented by a group called Women on 20s, which has been trumpeting efforts to place a female face on the otherwise male-dominated U.S. paper currency.
Morgan silver dollars are very popular with coin collectors and investors, and they consistently rank among the most valuable coins commonly traded on eBay. In April 2015, the 25 most valuable Morgan dollars sold on the online auction hub all sold for more than $4,000 each, indicating the activity for these classic silver coins is white hot.
Two 2015 proof Roosevelt dimes are really catching the attention of coin collectors. The 2015 March of Dimes Special Silver Set is being offered to the public for $61.95 beginning at 12 PM Eastern Time on May 4. This 3-coin set will not only feature the namesake 2015 March of Dimes commemorative silver dollar, but it will also bring to the table two special proof Roosevelt dimes – a Philadelphia reverse proof dime and West Point standard proof dime.
As we enter the second quarter of 2015, the U.S. Mint appears to still be running strong on bullion coin production. During April 2015, a robust supply of American Gold Eagles and American Silver Eagles were made. While quantities were lower than those seen in March 2015, perhaps the most important thing that bullion investors should be watchful for is the fact that sales figures haven’t seen any especially dramatic increases or decreases since March 2015, with a couple series-specific exceptions.
Walking Liberty half dollars are considered among the most beautiful silver coins that the United States has ever produced, and they remain a popular coin with collectors and investors alike. Many coin collectors build series sets or short sets of Walking Liberty half dollars and actively buy Walking Liberty half dollars from coin dealers and in auctions such as eBay.
There’s perhaps no more popular a U.S. collectible coin than the Lincoln cent. Given the action this series enjoyed on eBay in March 2015, there were plenty of people snapping up rare, semi-key, and desirable specimens for their coin collections and investment portfolios. What’s most interesting about the list of top 25 most valuable Lincoln cents sold on eBay in March 2015 is that four of the cents among the top 10 were made in the 1970s, 1980s, or 1990s. Three are scarce varieties and one of them is a Proof 70 (yes, you read that correctly) specimen.
Everyone’s looking for tips on buying American Silver Eagles at the lowest possible prices. Yes, I believe the old saying “you get what you pay for” usually applies to buying silver coins and other numismatic material. However, I’ve also learned there are a few legitimate ways you can buy silver eagles at good prices by knowing when and where to buy them, how many to purchase at a time, and also looking for pieces that may be less than stellar.
The top 25 eBay Morgan silver dollars sold on eBay in March 2015 represent a wide array of perennially popular keydates, semi-keys, and high-end common coins. The most expensive Morgan silver dollar that traded hands on eBay in March 2015 sold for more than $20,000. Even the 25th most expensive Morgan dollar went for nearly $4,700, which helps to show the incredible strength these coins have in the numismatic market. The frenetic nature of the Morgan silver dollar market is one reason why the prices for these coins are so robust.
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.
