Library
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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
Since the United States Mint began operations in 1792, the designs and compositions of coins have been in constant flux. There have been regular adjustments to the aesthetic and physical properties of our coinage, resulting in a fascinating category known as transitional issues. Put simply, transitional coins were intermediate steps between two major designs or formats. While the Mint tried to cleanly end production of one coin design before starting the new one, there are instances of holdovers, overlapping years and coins that share elements from both versions. This article will highlight some of the most interesting, valuable and collectible examples of this phenomenon.
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August 11, 2015
A mint mark, put simply, is a small letter or insignia to indicate where a coin was made. In American numismatics, mint marks were not used until 1838 when the first branch mint facilities were opened. Before 1838 all U.S. coins were struck in Philadelphia; there was no need to differentiate between various facilities. This would change as America expanded and precious metals were discovered in faraway remote places.
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August 06, 2015
From the 1794 through 1964, America’s dimes, quarters, half dollars and dollar coins were composed largely of silver (90% to be exact). During that time period, the goal was to ensure that United States currency contained real, tangible value in the form of bullion. Silver coins were ultimately discontinued in 1965, but today these pre-1965 silver coins remain a popular numismatic and bullion product.
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August 06, 2015
The Mercury Dime is one of America’s most beloved coins. Many Americans remember seeing this attractive coin in circulation, as it was struck from 1916 through 1945. Examples could be seen in everyday pocket change into the 1960s. Collectors have long been attracted to the Mercury Dime series, as a complete set can be assembled relatively easily and affordably. Both numismatists and historians have hailed the coin for its symbolism—especially with regard to World War I.
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July 06, 2015
Before the United States of America came into existence in 1776, a significant amount of coinage was struck in North America. Many of the coins struck during this era are crude and simple, but they played an important role in the 17th and 18th century. While not necessarily the most intricate or complex in terms of design, these colonial coins are nonetheless extremely historic and desirable.