Circulated or Uncirculated? Proof or No Proof? Numismatic coins fall into one of two basic categories for quality: circulated and uncirculated. Circulated coins exhibit wear, whereas uncirculated coins do not. Uncirculated coins tend to be more valuable, causing investors and serious collectors to focus their efforts on acquiring the uncirculated alone. Numismatists are trained to […]
Coin Grading Coin grading is the process of determining the grade or condition of a coin, one of the key factors in determining its value. A coin’s grade is generally determined by five criteria: strike, preservation, luster, color, and attractiveness. Several grading systems have been developed. Certification services professionally grade coins for tiered fees. As
Our Coin Guide Over the years, I have become more and more enthralled in my love for collecting many things, most commonly, currency in all forms. Along with my gold mining trips along with friends, coin collecting has always lured me back in ! The thrill of the hunt… the love of find! Throughout the
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Whitman Publishing has released an expanded, updated second edition of its best-selling Guide Book of Lincoln Cents, a popular entry in the Bowers Series of numismatic titles. The book continues in the tradition of the Guide Book of Morgan Silver Dollars and other Bowers Series guides, now numbering more than two dozen volumes. The 320-page full-color book is available
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Grading Scales Since rare coin quality varies widely, numismatists have adopted several coin-grading methods to assign more specific levels of quality to rare coins. The overwhelmingly popular method to use is the American Numismatic Association (ANA) grading scale. The ANA grading scale divides circulated and uncirculated coins into 24 grades: 13 circulated grades and 11
A rare copy of Raphael Thian’s “The Currency of the Confederate States of America: Its Issues, Types and Series” is expected to bring in excess of $50,000 in Kolbe & Fanning’s 2017 New York Book Auction. The sale will be held on Jan. 14 beginning at 12:30 p.m. EST at the Waldorf-Astoria Hotel in conjunction
error types found on coins and what they are worthv
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Notes on Merovingian Tremissis This gold coin dates from between 580AD and 630AD. The Merovingian Dynasty was based in ancient Gaul (which is now France) and dates from the middle of the 5th century AD. One side of the coin has a central cross design but none of the letters can be read, which means it
Parts of a Coin The coin shown below is a 1952 Franklin Half Dollar. Knowing the coin anatomy terms are the basics when talking with other collectors or dealers. Certain terms such as the motto, date, mint mark, designer’s initials, and denomination are located differently on different coins. Study and know the lingo well. Date
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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