Library
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October 29, 2015
For the majority of vintage United States coinage series, “super-grade” coins (that is, grading MS 67 or higher) are extremely scarce. In order for a coin to survive in such an immaculate state, they must be carefully preserved from the time of production. Unless a coin is immediately stashed away and kept in near-ideal conditions, it is virtually impossible for it to remain in such high grade. This article will explain how some of these super-graded rarities managed to survive and what kind of values they command.
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October 28, 2015
Above all, the United States Mint’s responsibility is to issue coins for circulation thus producing money needed for day-to-day commerce. A secondary (but often lucrative) ancillary activity has been the production of proof coins for collectors. The US Mint is often incentivized to strike proof coinage, as it typically gets a premium for these special collector editions that far exceeds normal face (or bullion) value.
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October 27, 2015
The United States has long been proud of its separation between church and state, but perhaps one exception is the motto “IN GOD WE TRUST” on American coinage. Prior to the Civil War, American coins typically displayed the word “LIBERTY” and little more in the way of messages, legends or mottos. Symbols of unity (like interlocked links on the 1793 Chain Cent) or tradition (13 stars to honor the original colonies) were often implemented, but verbal messages were unusual.
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October 26, 2015
A common misconception is that any coin no longer seen in circulation must be rare and valuable. In reality, many of these items are merely unusual—but not necessarily worth very much. While these items are fun to discover in everyday pocket change and make for great conversation pieces, they do not necessarily hold much collector value. Some examples include:
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October 23, 2015
How many sides are there to a coin? The answer that might immediately come to mind is two, but some argue that the edge is really the third side to a coin. While not nearly as visible as the obverse and reverse, a coin’s edge actually plays an important role. It can serve as a deterrent to counterfeiters, a way of differentiating various denominations, and a place to inscribe mottos or legends.
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October 22, 2015
Franklin Delano Roosevelt was one of the most popular and well-respected of all United States presidents. He was consistently ranked by Americans as one of the country’s greatest leaders. His 1945 death was considered a devastatingly tragic event that was immediately followed by countless memorials, remembrances and tributes. One such example is the Roosevelt dime.
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October 21, 2015
When the United States declared independence from Great Britain, the founding fathers wished to differentiate the new country from its Old World counterparts. The new nation would feature a new set of laws, freedoms and system of government. To further separate itself from its European roots, the United States also adopted a completely new unit of measurement for currency: the decimal system. While the decimal system may seem universal today, it was actually highly unconventional in the 18th century.
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October 20, 2015
Generally speaking, United States coinage designs were intended for long-term use. Classic motifs like the Seated Liberty silver series, the Coronet gold series and Barber designs remained in place for decades without any substantive changes. Keeping the same basic appearance year after year may have been a bit repetitive, but the U.S. Mint adopted a “don’t fix what’s not broken” approach. Unless there was a design flaw or serious shortcoming, designs were left untouched as long as possible.
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October 19, 2015
During the Civil War, the United States was faced with a severe shortage of coinage. Precious metals prices spiked dramatically, leading to the disappearance of all gold and silver coins. Even the price of copper surged and pennies were beginning to vanish from circulation. The lack of currency had become a major issue that needed to be resolved immediately.
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October 16, 2015
For as long as coins have been made, so too have counterfeit coins. The practice of counterfeiting has been nicknamed “The World’s Second-Oldest Profession” and has existed since ancient times. Not only have counterfeits been made for everyday circulation, but an even more dangerous breed of counterfeit collectible coins (i.e. those meant to deceive collectors) exist too. This article will provide a general overview of counterfeit collectible coins and how to avoid them.