Coin Grading

The Components of Coin Grading

ancient roman coins

Coin Grading Following in the footsteps of the coin grading scale, there is also a Universal Rarity Scale that was developed in 1992 by Q. David Bowers, a famous numismatist. This was to better assess the rarity of a coin quickly and accurately. 5 Components of Coin Grading 1Strike This refers to the process of […]

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Common Coin Terms for Collecting and Coin Searching

gold coin errors price guide

COMMON COIN TERMS As you get into the wonderful world of currency searching, it is important to understand some of the common coin terms used in the hobby. Below is a table of the common coin terms and definitions. We add things to this list as necessary, it is obviously not a hugely extensive list

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How are Coin Dies Made? A Little History.

how are coin dies made

All coins struck in the United States are struck by a pair of dies.  A die is a steel rod with a face that is the same size as the coins that it will be striking.  This steel rod will contain the design for one side of the coin.  Two of these steel rods (dies)

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Doubled Dies – What are they and how much are they worth?

doubled dies

Doubled dies or the “doubled die” variety, is one of the most popular die varieties for collectors.  Because doubled dies are so popular, there is a lot of information out there about these varieties and they are often seen for sale on internet auction sites such as Ebay.  Unfortunately, not all of the information out

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Hobby Protection Act

TITLE 16–COMMERCIAL PRACTICESCHAPTER I–FEDERAL TRADE COMMISSION PART 304–RULES AND REGULATIONS UNDER THE HOBBY PROTECTION ACT Table of Contents Sec. 304.1 Terms defined. 304.2 General requirement. 304.3 Applicability. 304.4 Application of other law or regulation. 304.5 Marking requirements for imitation political items. 304.6 Marking requirements for imitation numismatic items. Authority: 15 U.S.C. 2101 et seq. Source:

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U.S. Coin Producing Mints

us mint

Current facilities There are four active coin-producing mints: Philadelphia, Denver, San Francisco, and West Point. Philadelphia The Philadelphia Mint The Mint’s largest facility is the Philadelphia Mint. The current facility at Philadelphia, which opened in 1969, is the fourth Philadelphia Mint. The first was built in 1792, when Philadelphia was still the U.S. capital, and

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1945 Double Die Reverse Jefferson Nickel FS 801

1945 Double Die Reverse Jefferson Nickel FS 801

1945 Double Die Reverse Jefferson Nickel FS 801 Short video featuring the 1945 double die reverse Jefferson Nickel.  The Jefferson nickel has been the five-cent coin struck by the United States Mint since 1938, when it replaced the Buffalo nickel. From 1938 until 2004, the copper-nickel coin’s obverse featured a profile depiction of founding father

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Not all Fold Over Errors are Errors

fold over coin price guide

A regular contributor to that site is Joe Koelling, an enthusiastic collector of both errors and varieties and a dedicated roll-hunter. Koelling has discovered a prodigious number of new die varieties. In just the past year he has found nine new Lincoln, Doubled Die cents that manifest as one or more “extra columns” that lurk

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Guide to US Coins

Guide to US Coins A U.S. type coin set offers collectors an opportunity to show their individuality. Ultimately, this set should be fun and rewarding to build. But what exactly is a type set? This set should contain one coin of every major design and metallic composition within a series. It is arranged by denomination

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Wide AM and Close AM Lincoln Varieties

wide-am-vs-close-am-lincoln-memorial-cent error coins

So, what exactly is a Wide AM and Close AM Cent?The terms Close AM and Wide AM refer to the spacing between the letters ‘A’ and ‘M’ in “America” on the reverse of the Lincoln Memorial Cent. The terms generally refer to the different die varieties of 1992, 1998, 1999 and 2000. From its introduction in 1959 through 1992,

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