Library
-
November 27, 2015
The United States Quarter Eagle was one of the longest-running American gold coins, having been struck from 1796 through 1929. For much of its existence, the denomination was one of the most likely to be used by everyday citizens. Whereas banks and businesses for reserves or large institutional transfers often used the larger denominations, the Quarter Eagle was seen more frequently in everyday transactions.
In total, the $2.50 Quarter Eagle was issued in five different design types:
-
November 25, 2015
The Half Dime is among the smallest of United States silver coins—only the diminutive Three Cent Silver piece of 1851-1873 was tinier. Nonetheless, the coin played an important role in American commerce from the 1790s through the 1870s. Until the Five Cent Nickel eventually replaced it, the Half Dime was perhaps the second most frequently used denomination other than the penny.
There are five basic types of United States Half Dimes:
-
November 24, 2015
Ordinarily the pricier a coin is, the rarer it must be. Usually there is a strong parallel between rarity and value, but some coins are surprisingly easy to find despite their big price tag. Due to their immense popularity and marketability, these coins have remained high-dollar items despite being constantly available. This article will provide a few examples of this phenomenon.
-
November 23, 2015
Toning (aka tarnish outside of the numismatic world) can have a strongly negative or positive impact on a coin’s value. Unusual and particularly beautiful toning patterns can nudge a coin’s grade upward and dramatically enhance its desirability. Conversely, unattractive (or unnatural) toning can seriously limit a coin’s grade, marketability and value. This article will briefly discuss the good and the bad in the world of numismatic toning.
-
November 20, 2015
Vintage United States gold coins can either be wildly rare or abundantly plentiful in higher grades. Depending on how many of the coins were made, what percentage was melted and how the coins were used/stored, certain series can be either readily available or virtually non-existent in higher grades. This article provides a quick overview of how rare the smaller denominations ($1, $2.50 and $3) are in MS 65 and above.
-
November 19, 2015
All too often, numismatists tend to lump coins into three categories: common, better and rare. Common coins are the most available issues of a given type—and they’re the lowest priced. Better dates command some kind of premium, but can still be found with some regularity. A rare date, meanwhile, is infrequently seen and is dramatically more expensive.
-
November 18, 2015
The Indian $5 Half Eagle is widely regarded as one of the most beautiful and innovative of all United States coins. It, along with the $2.50 Indian of the same design, was the first US coin to display an incused or “sunken” design. Despite initial concerns about its ability to collect germs and grime, it became a successful and widely circulated issue.
-
November 17, 2015
The Lincoln Cent is perhaps the most recognized and familiar of all circulating American coins. The obverse design, remarkably, has been in place without any major modifications for over a century. It is by far the longest-running coinage design in United States numismatics. The reverse has seen some changes over the years—as has the coin’s composition—but otherwise it has been a steady mainstay of our coinage system.
-
November 16, 2015
The bronze Two Cent Piece of 1864-1873 is one of America’s “odd denominations.” This short-lived series was created in response to the shortage of coins during the Civil War. With metals prices surging during the war, the United States Mint had difficulty producing copper cents at a profitable rate. The solution was to change the metallic composition to bronze—and to issue a two cent piece on which the Mint would realize a higher margin.
-
November 13, 2015
From the second a coin has been struck, it is immediately prone to deterioration. This is especially true if the coin is bound for circulation (as opposed to proof coins, which are generally handled with care). Once a coin leaves the dies, it is subjected to being dropped in a hopper, thrown in a bag, transported to a bank, entered into circulation and subjected to the abuse of everyday use. Even if a coin is put aside as a collectible, it may still be cleaned, polished, engraved, mounted or otherwise mishandled. The basic message is that coins do pick up flaws over time—but some are considered less severe than others. This article will describe the various types of marks seen on coins and their impact on grade/value.