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Coin History

Philadelphia No Motto Half Eagles

by The Web on March 11, 2010

in Coin History, Gold Coins

The Philadelphia mint began producing the familiar Liberty Head half eagle design in 1839. After a quick modification in 1840, this issue continued without change until 1866 when the motto IN GOD WE TRUST was added to the reverse.

The branch mint No Motto half eagles from the 1840’s are very popular with collectors. But their Philadelphia counterparts have ...

Full Article: Philadelphia No Motto Half Eagles From the 1840’s: A Date by Date Analysis - RareGoldCoins.com

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For 24 years, Richard Doty has been entrusted with the keys to the Smithsonian’s National Museum of American History’s legendary coin vault, which houses some of the most important coins in the world. Doty’s “America’s Money, America’s Story” is one of the most respected books on the subject of U.S. coins and currency, and his next book with Whitman Publishing, “Pictures From a Distant Country,” will focus on obsolete U.S. currency. You can see samples from the Smithsonian’s U.S. coins collection at their ...

Full Article: An Interview with Smithsonian Coin and Currency Curator Richard Doty - The Collectors Weekly

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Dr. Peter van AlfenAn insightful lecture on ancient Greek coin history was held at the San Antonio Museum of Art (SAMA) on Sunday, February 21, by Dr. Peter van Alfen.

Nearly 130 enthusiasts, including several youth, attended the event and had the opportunity to visit the ancient Greek coin exhibit permanently housed in the museum — all for an $8 or lower admission fee.

Dr. Jessica Powers, Gilbert M. Denman, Jr. Curator of Western Antiquities at the San Antonio Museum of Art, welcomed everyone, thanked Louis and Frances Wagner for making the lecture possible, and formally introduced Dr. van Alfen who has published extensively on Greek coins ...

Full Article: Ancient Greek Coin Art Lecture at SAMA - CoinNews

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David Vagi continues his discussion of some of the most important issuers of Roman coins in the second of a multi-part series.

This month we advance our survey to include eight more Roman notables. Only five of these men held the title of ...

Full Article: Ancients: Famous Romans You Can Collect: Part II - Numismatic Guaranty Corporation

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The 20-cent piece was an interesting but rather short-lived denomination. In fact, business strikes of the 20-cent piece were produced only in 1875 and 1876, and if the mintages were large there would still not be a large supply. As it worked out, the mintages were not generally large, making any 20-cent piece tough. However, some are tougher than their mintages might suggest simply because ...

Full Article: Mintage Makes Carson City 20-Cent Piece Rare - NumisMaster

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Older collectors will well remember the problems of the mid 1960s when coins were in short supply and silver coins were being sold for a profit to bullion dealers. Within a reasonably short time the problem was under control with the great amounts of “sandwich” coins being struck by the mints.

There was a similar crisis in the mid 19th century, but that one took time to solve. It all began ...

Full Article: Gold triumphed in 1850s silver shortage - Numismatic News

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During the course of the January 2010 FUN Convention in Orlando, arrangements were finalized for the sale of a 1907-Denver Mint Double Eagle that is possibly unique in Proof format. It is NGC certified as “Proof-62” with a “Farouk” pedigree noted. It is thus indicated that it was formerly in the epic collection of ...

Full Article: 1907 D Double Eagle Sells for More Than Half Million - CoinLink

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Alexander I of Russia. What melodrama is Russian imperial history! His father Paul, yet another ruler, was assassinated. The son was supposedly somehow in cahoots with the conspiracy but, they say, he begged, no, ordered them not to kill his dad, but they did anyway, and from then on there was a tear in his soul that never healed. He was ...

Full Article: Alexander's Rule Changed Russian Coinage - NumisMaster

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Heritage Auctions will be selling one of the two known Bickford $10 Gold Patterns at it FUN Sale this week. Below is the Catelog description of the coin and some history surrounding it.

The Bickford pattern ten dollar gold piece, known to pattern collectors as Judd-1373, is one of the most celebrated issues in the U.S. pattern series. Only two examples are known, placing the issue at the pinnacle of rarity. Both known examples have been meticulously preserved, and their size, attractive design, and majestic gold composition combine to make them breathtakingly ...

Full Article: Unusual Items: 1874 Dana Bickford Ten Dollar Gold Coin - CoinLink

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Engraved ‘D’ Morgan Dollars Mark Historical Event

December 17, 2009

Many collectors wonder what stories their coins could tell, if only the coins could talk. Certain silver dollars tell their stories through their special engraving. Some would call the coins “damaged.” These coins are not defaced, and are not love tokens, coins engraved with a scene, a name or a sentiment. These dollars were specially [...]

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World War II Americans Disliked 1943 Steel Cent

November 24, 2009

When the phone rings at a coin shop and the caller mentions the 1943 “penny,”  the dealer answering the phone may cringe at receiving another one of those calls, but such is the power of the story of the 1943 steel cent. The 1943 Lincoln cent is an important type coin. It is also an [...]

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Big Ben £5 Crown Coin Keeps Clock on Time

November 19, 2009

For the first time in Big Ben’s 150 year history, a new £5 Crown, from the Royal Mint is being used to help London’s iconic clock keep time.  The 2009 Big Ben £5 Crown was today placed inside the movement of the Great Clock and will play an essential role in maintaining its famous accuracy.
The [...]

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An Interview with U.S. Gold Coin Collector A.C. Dwyer

November 12, 2009

A.C. Dwyer, an avid coin collector, talked with us recently about the history of U.S. $20 double eagle gold coins, especially those struck during the California Gold Rush. Dwyer discusses the types of double eagles that were minted, the most interesting and rarest varieties, and why he’s so enthralled with coins that have been found [...]

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Confederate coinage notable by its lack

November 10, 2009

It was a chaotic time, an exciting time and a tragic time. You would not normally think to look at the coins of the period as evidence of the situation tearing a nation apart, but in fact in the first days of the Civil War the coins did reflect the situation and those coins are [...]

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Fluctuating Metal Prices Left Mark on Coins

November 3, 2009

History tells us that dramatic precious metal price increases only last for a relatively short period of time. In their wake they sometimes leave us with a host of new realities that will have an impact on the coin market for years and years. It’s not always the same, but what happens during a period [...]

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