Library
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August 29, 2016
Whenever the United States Mint releases a new coin, it’s always important news in the coin and bullion marketplace. However, when the Mint announced it would bring back the one-ounce bullion edition Platinum Eagle, investors and collectors were particularly excited. This is one of the most eagerly-anticipated coins in recent memory. The United States Platinum Eagle program was first launched in 1997, but production was curtailed after 2008. Since then very few American Platinum Eagles have been released by the U.S. Mint; they’re in high demand and scarce supply.
The 2016 Platinum Eagle is experiencing intense demand for three main reasons:
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August 22, 2016
The 1870s marked a period of transition for the United States. When the decade began, America was still healing and rebuilding from the Civil War. The era of Reconstruction was still in progress, as it took until the late 1870s to fully reunite the nation and restore the Southern economy. In the West, the country was expanding rapidly—but not without its share of difficulty. Events like the Battle of the Little Bighorn highlighted the tension between Western settlers and Native Americans. The United States was becoming more powerful economically, but it still experienced setbacks like the Financial Panic of 1873. In a nutshell, the 100-year-old country was still encountering growing pains.
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August 15, 2016
The $20 Liberty Double Eagle can trace its roots back to the California Gold Rush. Until 1849, the largest United States gold coin was the $10 Eagle – and for good reason. Ten dollars, in 1849 terms, would be the equivalent of approximately $300 today. Just as few Americans need to use bills larger than a $20 today, larger gold coins were rarely used in the mid-19th century. This all changed, however, when a massive amount of gold started flowing in from central California.
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August 08, 2016
When most investors think of United States silver, the iconic American Silver Eagle usually comes to mind. However, unbeknownst to some, the U.S. Mint produces another silver bullion product: the 5 Oz America the Beautiful coin. Commonly known as “ATBs,” these coins were first introduced in 2010. Each year, five different designs are released with each featuring a different American national park. You may recognize some of the designs from looking at pocket change; they are the exact same motifs as the circulating 25c Quarter Dollar coins.
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August 01, 2016
The Liberty Quarter Eagle, which carried a face value of $2.50, was issued from 1840 through 1907. It holds the unique distinction of being the longest-lived American coin design. Neither the obverse nor the reverse was modified one bit over the coin’s life span. Some might believe the Lincoln Cent holds this record, as its obverse has not changed for 107 years, but the Lincoln “penny” has undergone numerous changes on the reverse.
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June 09, 2016
Perhaps one of the biggest influences on how a coin looks today is how it was stored. The appearance of a numismatic item largely depends on how kind of holder, bag or sleeve in which it resided for years. As most vintage coins were made with softer and/or chemically reactive metals, the storage method had a tremendous impact on surface preservation and overall appearance.
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June 08, 2016
From 1795 through 1808, a design known as the Draped Bust motif appeared on America’s copper and silver coinage. Created by Robert Scot, the design was featured on the Half Cent, Large Cent, Half Dime, Dime, Quarter Dollar and Half Dollar. Some of the most famous early American numismatic rarities were struck using this design, including the 1799 Large Cent, 1802 Half Dime, 1796 Half Dollar, 1797 Half Dollar and 1804 Silver Dollar.
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June 07, 2016
In numismatic lingo, the terms “year” and “date” may seem interchangeable. However, the phrases actually have two totally different meanings. When collectors refer to a rare “date” they are most likely alluding to the combination of year and mintmark. In the Morgan Dollar series, for instance, the date 1889-CC is an extremely rare issue that carries a tremendous premium in all grades. As a year, however, 1889 is not rare. One can buy an 1889 Philadelphia issue (i.e. a coin without a mintmark) for less than $50 in average grades.
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June 06, 2016
In 1892, the Half Dollar (along with the Dime and Quarter Dollar) were redesigned by U.S. Mint Engraver Charles Barber. After using the Seated Liberty motif for over fifty years, Mint officials felt that the silver denominations were in severe need of a revamping. Being a staff engraver, Barber’s primary concern was creating a design that was easy to produce with minimal difficulty to execute. His new motif for the Dime, Quarter and Half Dollar was regarded as a pleasant but safe choice.
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June 03, 2016
The Civil War had a profound impact on American history – and its effect can be seen on our country’s coinage as well. As precious metals became scarce during the war, the United States Mint was forced to experiment with new materials. Copper, silver and gold all spiked in price and were difficult to source, so the Mint began producing coins with bronze and nickel.