News
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September 21, 2015
The silver dollar was a mainstay of United States commerce for over two centuries. It was one of the very first denominations produced by the United States Mint in 1794 and was struck in massive quantities until the 1930s. Given its prominent place in everyday American life, it may come as a surprise that the silver dollar was discontinued in 1935. Even while the smaller silver denominations (the dime, quarter and half dollar) were still in production well into the 1960s, the ever-popular silver dollar was phased out in the 1930s. The reason for this paradoxical situation: overproduction.
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September 19, 2015
Collectible coins, unlike stocks and commodities, tend to have stable values. They are largely immune from sudden and pronounced price gyrations. With that being said, coins do fluctuate in value from time to time. While their price movements may not be nearly as dramatic as stocks and other commonly traded items, coins can and will change in value. This article will describe some of the influences on numismatic pricing.
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September 17, 2015
A country’s coinage is more than just a practical means of exchanging value; it’s an opportunity for a nation to express its heritage and artistic talent. With that in mind, the United States has long desired to make its money beautiful, symbolic and interesting. It’s debatable as to which designs are the most attractive, but this article will touch upon several that receive high marks for their appearance.
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September 15, 2015
For as long as money has existed, so have hoards and accumulations of currency. To this day archaeologists continue to discover massive hoards of coins buried in the ground for centuries, if not millennia. Within the realm of American numismatics, there are several notable hoards assembled by banks, government entities and wealthy individuals. These hoards often have fascinating stories and have profoundly impacted the United States coin market.
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September 12, 2015
In American numismatics, there are many instances where coins are common in one grade but surprisingly scarce in another. That is, a coin might be readily available in, say, MS 62 but virtually impossible to find in MS 64. Why would minute differences in grade turn a common coin into a major rarity? There are numerous reasons for this phenomenon—and this article will describe some of the contributing factors.
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September 10, 2015
The five cent denomination is one of the oldest (if not the oldest) of all American coins. It has been produced since 1792 and has long been a staple of our country’s currency. What some people may not realize, however, is that the five cent piece was not always a “nickel.” In fact, this denomination was first made out of silver, then concurrently struck in both nickel and silver for a brief period of time. This article described how the five cent piece’s composition shifted metals in the 1860s and 1870s.
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September 08, 2015
Since the United States first began producing coins in 1792, our currency has undergone constant redesign and improvement. Many of these changes were purely aesthetic in nature—but some of America’s coins can be truly described as innovative. This article will describe some of the more interesting and creative coins our country has produced.
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September 04, 2015
Produced from 1850 through 1907, the $20 Liberty Double Eagle was one of America’s most heavily produced gold coins. Not only was it popular as a unit of exchange in the 19th and early 20th centuries, but it remains an extremely desirable collectible today. During its lifespan, the $20 “Lib” underwent two minor design changes, which resulted in the formation of three distinct types. This article explains the differences between the three types in terms of appearance and market value.
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September 02, 2015
The California Gold Rush was a pivotal event in United States history. It helped shift attention westward, brought incredible prosperity to San Francisco and resulted in a tremendous amount of the yellow metal entering the marketplace. Miners and merchants were eager to convert the raw gold into money—and the United States government responded accordingly with three new coinage denominations and a minting facility.
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September 01, 2015
The World Gold Council’s Gold Demand Trends report for Q2 2015 shows total demand was 915 tonnes (t), a fall of 12% compared to the same period last year, due mainly to a decline in demand from consumers in India and China. However, demand in Europe and the US grew, driven by a mixture of increasingly confident jewellery buyers and strong demand for bars and coins. Looking ahead, there are encouraging signs moving into what are traditionally the busiest quarters for gold buying in India and China.