From the category archives:
The one-cent denomination is unique in our nation’s monetary history. It was first struck in 1793, the year that the Philadelphia Mint, located on Seventh St. between Market and Arch, began minting coins for the new nation. With the exception of ...
Full Article: This 19th Century Cent Coin Design Lasted For Only One Year - CoinLink
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Whatever goes up either must or might come down. It’s probably one of those scientific rules I never bothered to learn in school, but it certainly is true. More often than not something that goes up will either come down or at minimum it will not keep going up at the same pace.
I have seen it happen over and over again and so have you whether it’s a NASA rocket or the stock you just bought that could not lose. Interestingly enough, however, where coins and coin prices are concerned we have many times acted like prices had only one direction and that was up ...
Full Article: Peak Prices Don't Always Remain that High - NumisMaster.com
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Need a change of pace? Collecting can be more than filling holes in an album, or crossing off items on your want list. A creative approach to numismatics can enable a collector to build a unique collection that has its own challenges.
A set of United States coins of their first year of issue makes an impressive, and different, collection. Some coins are very easy to find, maybe in change, while others are more scarce and expensive. Some fans of type collecting acquire a first year of design type coin of some series to spice up their sets...
Full Article: Try First Issues When You Need a Challenge - NumisMaster
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Forrest Gump’s words rang in his head, “Stupid is as stupid does.” Our numismatist’s 1945 “micro S” Mercury dime had come back from the grading service as “cleaned.” The dime’s value had been greatly diminished by his less than artful cleaning.
He remembered the day of his fateful mistake. The sun was shining, birds were singing and flowers were in bloom. Amid all this loveliness, he was sorting his coins.
He had quite a few Mercury dimes in two-by-two holders. Looking through them, the 1945 “micro S” dime literally leaped out...
Full Article: Think Twice Before Cleaning Any of Your Coins - NumisMaster
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Back in 1975 the yearly proof set included a San Francisco proof Lincoln cent. That might not sound like a big deal, because collectors know that there were “S” mintmarked cents in all the proof sets 1968-1974 as well.
However, because the Mint stopped issuing “S” cents for circulation at the conclusion of 1974, for the first time ever that proof San Francisco cent became a proof-only “S” cent. Buying the set for ...
Full Article: Take a Look at Proof-Only 'S' Lincoln Cents - NumisMaster
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Great rarities sometimes involve great mysteries and that is the case with the 1861 Paquet reverse double eagle. With only two examples known, it ranks in the top group of great U.S. rarities, although it has so far not proven that at public auction. That day, however, may be coming.
The Paquet reverse was the creation of Anthony Paquet, who had been directed by Mint officials to create a design that, while similar to the regular reverse, would be modified slightly....
Full Article: If Given Proper Attention, Paquet Will Soar - NumisMaster
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This is my first column since returning from the Florida United Numismatists convention in Orlando. While there, I was reminded of how much fun it is to interact with collectors and examine their coins. I cannot count how many times I have found rare or interesting varieties on coins brought to our table or sent in to the grading service to be authenticated or graded. When I identify them, the owner is very happy about his unexpected windfall, but I often think about the person who sold the coin with no clue as to what he had. That’s because I’ve been there once before ...
Full Article: Magnification a Vital Tool to Evaluate Coins - NumisMaster
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The 1839 Seated Liberty half dollar was the historic first year of the new design, yet it appears that very few took any notice. That presents something of a problem today when collectors want top quality examples of what was a most historic coin.
The problem is compounded by the fact that in terms of half dollars 1839 was a very busy year. The 1,392,976 half dollar mintage of 1839 was split three ways starting with the old Bust half dollar. Then there was a new 1839 Seated Liberty half dollar with no drapery at Liberty’s left ...
Full Article: 1839 half made history, but no one noticed - Numismatic News
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The one-day seminar, "Introduction to Counterfeit Detection of United States Coins," will be offered April 22 at the Hyatt Regency Dearborn in Dearborn, Mich.
The seminar is presented through the ANA’s Florence Schook School of Numismatics, and is in conjunction with the Michigan State Numismatic Society’s Spring Convention, April 23-25.
Join instructor Mike Ellis, noted numismatist and variety specialist, and learn how to detect counterfeit and altered coins seen in the marketplace today. All types and denominations of U.S. coins will be discussed, with genuine and counterfeit specimens present for hands-on ...
Full Article: Michigan Convention Features Counterfeit Detection Seminar - CoinNews
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