Library
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March 02, 2016
Shipwreck coins represent a fascinating category of American numismatics. Specifically, these are vintage United States coins that were recovered from documented vessels that sank. Famous examples include the SS Central America, the SS Republic, the SS New York, the SS Brother Jonathan and the SS Yankee Blade. All of these tragically doomed boats carried significant amounts of coinage—which would be discovered and brought to market many decades later.
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March 01, 2016
American coinage can be divided into two major categories: Vintage and Modern. The former term is usually applied to coins all struck prior to 1965, while the latter applies to all coins issued since. Within the realm of modern coins are three basic groups: circulating denominations, bullion coins, and commemoratives.
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February 29, 2016
The $10 Indian Eagle is considered one of America’s most beautiful coins. It was designed by famed sculptor Augustus St. Gaudens, who also created the famous $20 Double Eagle of 1907-1933. While the Indian Eagle has always been regarded as an attractive design, it was not always an easy one to mass-produce. Consequently, the $10 Indian went through three major revisions in 1907 (its first year of issue). This article discusses the three major versions of the $10 Indian design.
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February 13, 2016
The US Mint ceased production of silver dollars in 1804. In 1835, new US Mint Director Robert Patterson took steps to revive this flagship silver coin. The following year, the Mint began producing a small quantity of new silver dollars to test the market.
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January 06, 2016
The 1794 Silver Dollar holds the distinction of being the very first one-dollar coin issued by the United States Mint. In addition to being historically significant as the first silver dollar, the coin is also a prized numismatic rarity. Of the 1,758 pieces struck by the United States Mint, it is believed that just 150 or so have survived in total. All 1794 Dollars are extremely rare, but they are particularly challenging to locate in higher grades.
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January 05, 2016
The American Chain Cent of 1793 is one of the rarest and most valuable of all early United States coins. It was the first circulating coin officially produced by the United States Mint. This fact alone would make it highly desirable, but its fascinating backstory and interesting symbolic design add to the Chain Cent’s allure.
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January 04, 2016
Generally speaking, $10 Indians are relatively inexpensive and affordable to the average buyer. Indeed, over a dozen dates can be sourced in respectable grades for less than $2,000. There are, however, a small group of scarcer issues and a handful of prohibitively rare dates. This article will provide an overview of which dates are easily bought—and which are major numismatic prizes.
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December 31, 2015
Within the $20 Saint Gaudens series are exceedingly common issues as well as major rarities. There are dates like the 1908 and 1924 that can be in located in virtually limitless quantities—and issues like the 1927-D which are seven figure rarities. Indeed, the series is very much a study in contrast between the ultra-common and prohibitively rare. This article will explore the five basic categories: common, slightly better, scarce, rare and ultra-rare.
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December 30, 2015
Vintage European gold coins represent an interesting segment of world numismatics. Although gold coins have been produced on the European continent since ancient times, mintages peaked especially in the late 19th and early 20th centuries. During this time, prosperous countries like France, Switzerland, Germany, Austria, Belgium, Denmark, Hungary, Italy, the Netherlands and the United Kingdom struck large quantities of gold coins. These coins are both fascinating and beautiful but trade for relatively modest premiums above their melt value.
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December 29, 2015
Today, the Morgan Silver Dollar is one of the most popular United States coins among collectors and investors. Its beautiful design, impressive size and superb eye appeal make it a numismatic favorite. However, when it was being produced for general circulation, it did not enjoy nearly the same level of acceptance. Thanks to legislation pushed by the powerful silver lobby, an excessive quantity of Morgan Silver Dollars were produced for everyday commerce. Even though the coin was discontinued in 1921, this surplus would remain well into the 1970s.