News
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August 30, 2015
United States coin grading has become extremely precise over the years; it has evolved from loose adjective descriptions to highly specific numerical grades. Coins that were once described with vague terms like “Extremely Fine” or “Like New” are now assigned exact grades like “AU 53” or “MS 64.” Despite this dramatic advancement, the coin market continued to innovate and refine coin grading standards. Two examples of this phenomenon are CAC and “plus” grading.
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August 28, 2015
As a general rule, collectible United States coins are expected to be devoid of major flaws, blemishes, alterations or unnatural characteristics. Normal wear, toning and handling marks are to be expected—these are all natural occurrences and are considered “par for the course.” However, extreme damage beyond the norm will drastically reduce a coin’s value. Pieces exhibiting major issues are often dubbed “problem coins” and trade for substantial discounts. This article will review some of the major types of problem coins and how they are valued.
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August 26, 2015
Dear TexMetals customers:
I am writing to provide you with an update on precious metals inventories. We are presently out of stock on many products. I want to begin by quoting an article I posted on July 8th, 2015:
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August 26, 2015
In the 1860s and 1870s, American silver production increased dramatically. Major discoveries like the Comstock Lode in Nevada substantially increased the silver supply—and emboldened the silver lobby. In an effort to maintain the price of the white metal, silver producers persuaded Congress to purchase more silver and convert it into coinage. This effort resulted in one of America’s most interesting coins: the silver trade dollar.
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August 24, 2015
For as long as coins have been used as money, they have almost always been made of metal. The only variable has been which metal (or combination of metals) was used. The United States has used a wide variety of alloys over the past 200+ years, some of which were tried on a temporary/experimental basis while others were used for decades.
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August 22, 2015
The United States Silver Eagle is the world’s most popular silver bullion coin. In response to this extreme popularity, mintages for the silver eagle have been robust and ever-increasing. To date hundreds of millions of pieces have been struck, with annual production levels now in the tens of millions. The silver eagle, while beautiful and desirable among investors, is by no means scarce. Except in times of extreme demand and physical metal shortages, like the summer of 2015 or spring of 2013, the coin is available in quantity.
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August 20, 2015
The introduction of third-party grading services had a tremendous impact on the numismatic hobby and marketplace. With the advent of PCGS in 1986 and NGC in 1987, coin grading became significantly more uniform and precise. In the short-term, third-party grading immediately brought trust, consistency and liquidity to the numismatic market. In the long term, meanwhile, the grading services also helped numismatists understand the true rarity of coins.
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August 16, 2015
Contrary to popular belief, not all coins leave the Mint in “MS 70” condition. A common misperception is that all coins start out flawless and begin to acquire blemishes and issues upon release. In actuality, some coins are imperfectly made and/or become flawed before leaving the US Mint. Regardless of how or why these defects occur, they nonetheless can detract from a coin’s grade and market value.
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August 13, 2015
(PRWEB) Shiner, TX: Inc. magazine today ranked Kaspar Texas Traditions No. 200 on its 34th annual Inc. 5000, an exclusive ranking of the nation's fastest-growing private companies. Kaspar Texas Traditions, whose largest subsidiary is Texas Precious Metals comprising 99.8% of total revenue, boasts a 3-year growth rate of 2,095% and total revenue of $154.7 million.