Library
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December 28, 2015
In the field of American numismatics, assembling a complete set of a series can be extremely challenging. In this case, a “complete” set is defined as containing all date/mintmark combinations. With only a few exceptions, virtually every American coinage series contains one or more rare and expensive dates. For instance, take the 1908-1929 $5 Indian series. Most of the dates can be had for $500-$1000 each, but two dates (the 1909-O and 1929) are both five-figure coins. A respectable 1929 can cost more than a dozen common dates!
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December 24, 2015
“AU” (About Uncirculated or Almost Uncirculated) is perhaps the best value among the major numismatic grades. AU coins are extremely close to being Uncirculated—and often have the visual appearance of a Mint State coin—but exhibit extremely minor signs of wear. Most AU coins retain a substantial amount of luster and virtually complete design details. Many can be described as “arm’s length gems,” i.e. having the initial appearance of an MS 65 coin but the technical qualities of an AU 55-58.
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December 23, 2015
The 1804 Silver Dollar is often considered America’s most famous rarity. Not only it is extremely rare, but it has a fascinating historical context as well. In fact, the unusual story behind the famed 1804 silver dollar largely takes place before and after 1804.
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December 22, 2015
In coin grading, a “super grade” usually refers to a grade of 67 or above on a scale of 70. The term has gained in popularity over recent years and should be further examined.
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December 21, 2015
"This coin is to numismatists what the Mona Lisa is to the art world.” This statement was reportedly made by a numismatist involved in the sale of a 1913 Liberty Head nickel. Such sales are quite rare, as only five of these coins are known to exist. Indeed, though there are rarer coins in existence, few coins have captured the attention of both numismatists and the general public alike as the 1913 Liberty Head nickel.
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December 18, 2015
Unbeknownst to many collectors and historians, the one-dollar coin was not always the dominant silver denomination. Indeed, for most of the 18th and 19th centuries, the Half Dollar boasted the highest production levels of all silver coins. Until mining interests began influencing the federal government in the 1870s, the U.S. Mint focused on producing the Half Dollar and smaller denominations instead of the bulky Silver Dollar. Furthermore, the Silver Dollar had competition from the Gold Dollar from 1849 through 1889. Many citizens preferred the compact Gold Dollar over its sizeable silver cousin.
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December 17, 2015
These days it’s hard to imagine anything less valuable than a penny, but for many years the one cent coin was not even the smallest circulated in the United States. That honor belongs to the lowly half cent, produced from the early days of the Republic until just before the Civil War.
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December 16, 2015
In the days and weeks following John F. Kennedy’s assassination, a nation in mourning rushed to honor the beloved late President. Bridges, airports, and more were swiftly named or renamed for him. Kennedy was assassinated on a Friday; by the following Wednesday, a decision had already been made to honor him on a newly-designed half dollar coin. Initial consideration was also given to the quarter, but Mrs. Kennedy did not want her husband’s portrait to supplant George Washington’s likeness.
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December 15, 2015
Copper coins have been mainstays of American commerce since the 18th century—and continue to be encountered on a daily basis. From 1793 to 1857, the most frequently used U.S. copper coin was the Large Cent. Unlike the one-cent coins of today, the Large Cent was between the Quarter Dollar and Half Dollar in size. In the 18th and 19th centuries Americans believed that a coin’s intrinsic or bullion value should closely parallel its face value. Therefore, to ensure that the one-cent coin contained approximately one cent’s worth of metal, the Large Cent was rather hefty in size.
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December 14, 2015
Since its inception in 1986, the American Eagle bullion coin program has been wildly successful. Almost immediately after their initial release in 1986, the gold and silver Eagle coins became immensely popular and widely accepted bullion products. Some would argue that they are the most universally trusted bullion items in the marketplace.