Library
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July 02, 2015
Since the mid-19th century, when numismatics became popular in America, a number of important coin collections have found their way into museums. Some are readily accessible to the general public, while others are archived away from everyday view. This article will describe some of the most important museum collections, including both visible and obscure holdings.
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July 01, 2015
The Walking Liberty Half Dollar is widely considered America’s most beautiful silver coin. Adolph Weinman, a renowned sculptor whose motif won over numerous competing submissions, conceived the gorgeous design. Although the design was difficult to produce, it was extremely well-received by the general public. In fact, the Walking Liberty motif was so popular that it was re-introduced in 1986 for the American silver eagle—and is still used for that purpose today.
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June 30, 2015
In August 2014, a rare 1861 $20 Double Eagle fetched a record price at auction for any $20 gold coin: a whopping $1,645,000. On the face, the coin appears to be a normal 1861 Double Eagle, which is normally worth $2500-$7500. A close examination of the reverse, however, reveals the seven-figure difference. Whereas the standard issue 1861 $20 has squat lettering and a broad rim, the reverse of this special piece features a tall font with a small, narrow rim. The story behind this unusual typeface is nothing short of fascinating.
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June 29, 2015
The $3 gold piece is one of our country’s scarcest and most fascinating gold coins. While the coin never caught on with the general public, it has been a coveted collectible since the 19th century. Numismatists have always been drawn to the $3 “princess” due to its unusual denomination, extreme rarity, and attractive design.
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June 26, 2015
Coins in pristine condition are often described using the terms “shiny” and “flashy.” Those words specifically refer to a coin’s luster, or the way the light interacts with the coin. Luster has a significant impact on a coin’s grade, eye appeal and market value. It is a positive feature that can take on a number of different appearances, depending on how the coin was manufactured. In fact, certain types of luster are considered exceptionally desirable. This article will describe why luster exists and the various types of luster seen on United States coinage.
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June 25, 2015
Today, many Americans associate New Orleans with Bourbon Street, Mardi Gras, Creole culture and Southern charm. What few realize is that “The Big Easy” was also an economic powerhouse in the 19th and early 20th centuries. As of the mid-1800s the city was the fifth largest in the nation, its port was the third busiest, and it was the South’s undisputed hub of finance and trade. Not surprisingly, this prosperous city required a tremendous amount of hard money to fuel its commercial activity. This is why the United States opened one of its first branch mints in New Orleans.
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June 24, 2015
The $10 gold eagle was the longest-lived of America’s circulating gold coins. It was first struck in 1795 and was produced regularly until 1933, when Franklin D. Roosevelt abolished gold coinage altogether. Not only was the $10 eagle the longest-running gold denomination, but the $10 Liberty design was used for nearly 70 years. Remarkably, this motif remained in place without major modification from 1838 through 1907.
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June 23, 2015
If one word could be used to describe today’s minting technology, it’s consistent. The process of producing coins has become highly automated, remarkably error-proof and extremely reliable. This, however, was not always the case. In the 18th and 19th centuries, coin manufacturing involved a number of manual processes. The net result was that sets of dies would often display minute differences, such as the position of the date and the location of design features. These variations are sometimes minute and require a loupe to see, while others are plainly obvious to the naked eye. The one thing these die varieties have in common: they have been studied, collected and highly valued by numismatists.
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June 23, 2015
The $2.50 Indian Quarter Eagle is one of America’s most beautiful and unique gold coins. This smaller gold coin was produced from 1908-1929 and features a unique incused design—one that had never been attempted on a U.S. coin previously. It is also one of the scarcest 20th century gold coinage types; unlike the $5, $10 and $20 denominations, the Indian quarter eagle was struck in meager quantities.
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May 19, 2015
In most fields of art, antiques and collectibles, the concept of “cleaning” or “restoration” is common. After all, old objects tend to lose their original appearance and functionality over time. Antique cars break down, paintings accumulate dirt and dust, silver pieces tarnish, etc. However, numismatists are sensitive to cleaning or restoring coins. If asked whether cleaning coins is acceptable, an expert’s most likely response would be “it depends.”