Coin Collecting

Because of their ubiquity, wheat pennies are one of the most collected coins in the U.S. As a tribute to Abraham Lincoln, the U.S. Mint released the first wheat penny in 1909, exactly 100 years...

Jewelers have known for years that coin bezels often need some adjustments and they have developed their own way of keeping the coin from moving, spinning, or making a clicking sound (being...

Jewelers have known for years that coin bezels often need some adjustments and they have developed their own way of keeping the coin from moving, spinning, or making a clicking sound (being...

The value of collector coins is greatly impacted by the grade of the coins. A coin can be virtually worthless in a low grade but priceless in a high grade. Sometimes a difference of a single grade...

Cleaning coins is an addictive hobby. While cleaning modern collectible coins is never done because it lowers the value of the coin, all ancient coins have probably been cleaned at some time....

Silver dimes and quarters are readily available to buy from a number of sources, including shops, coin shows, mail order and via the Internet. Dimes and quarters have both been minted in the...

It is often difficult to know if your Krugerrand is a proof coin. The regular circulation issue Krugerrands can appear very proof-like even when compared side by side with a known proof...

By mounting a coin in a coin bezel you are able to turn your rare and collectable coins into coin jewelry. Follow the easy directions below to secure the coin in your coin bezel. When choosing...

Mercury dimes were minted in the US from 1916 to 1945. Due to their beauty (many collectors feel the Mercury dime was the most beautiful coin ever minted), low prices, and availability, many...

The United States Mint's 50 State Quarters Program honored all 50 states with a commemorative quarter, with five quarters released each year over a period of 10 years. Each quarter has a design on...

Silver certificates are paper currency formerly issued by the United States and formerly redeemable for silver stored by the government. One of the most widely circulated silver certificate...

Foreign coin collecting can be an exciting hobby, but you need to make sure you know something about it before starting a collection or adding to an existing one. Finding the perfect coin is very...

Ireland has a long history that is reflected in the coins of the country. Earliest coins probably date to the Viking era of approximately 1,000 A.D. Later coins became a tribute to the royalty of...

On December 1, 1997, the 50 States Commemorative Coin Program Act was signed into law by President Clinton. Two years later, in 1999, the U.S. Mint began producing the first commemorative state...

The U.S. Coinage Act of 1792 established the dollar as the standard monetary unit for the nation. Quarter-dollar coins, or quarters, have circulated for more than 200 years, although the metals...

Whether you collect coins for fun or speculation, you will want to find a way to store and protect them for future enjoyment. There are a number of methods to store a coin collection, with the...

Between 1999 and 2008 the United States Mint issued a special commemorative quarter for every state in the Union. It became a very popular program for coin collectors and inspired others to start...

Brilliant proof coins are the highest quality coins produced by the U.S. Mint. They are struck with special polished dies and never released into circulation. Proof coins have a mirror-like field...

Proof sets--annual sets of coins issued by the U.S. Mint--are struck with special dies, have mirror-like finishes and are never released into circulation. You can buy them directly from the U.S....

Numismatics, the proper term for coin-collecting, is an avid hobby for thousands of people across the world. It is a very interesting and often very profitable hobby for those who are most...

A coin collector must always keep a vigilant eye when purchasing new coins for a collection. Counterfeiting rare silver coins for profit is both a hobby and a business for many crooks, con artists...

Half dollar coins often become tarnished or blackened as their silver or copper-nickel ingredients oxidize. The effect, called toning, can actually increase the worth of older coins. Before...

Tragic accidents occur suddenly and often with devastating consequences. Car collisions, floods and especially fires can claim people and items that we hold dear. Though lives can never be...

The U.S. Mint frequently offers golf coins for sale to the public. From newer designs like the Presidential coins to remakes of classics such as the Saint-Gaudens Double Eagle, the Mint sells a...

The sixpence is an out-of-date coin formerly used in England and Ireland. It is worth two and a half pence, or six pennies, and has found its way into popular culture.

In coin collecting, like so many hobbies, there's strength in numbers, which is why it's good to find other collectors with whom to network, trade information and share resources. The best way to...

Coins minted in the United States have a lifespan of about 25 years. The earliest coins were made from copper, gold or silver. These days, quarters, dimes and nickels are made with a copper core...

If you have a few silver coins that look dirty, you might be thinking about cleaning them. Before you do that, however, make sure the coins do not have a significant monetary value. If you clean...

A challenge coin is a coin minted specifically for a particular group that identifies the bearer as a legitimate member. While their use began in the military, today they are also used by...

Coin collecting can be interesting and engaging to those who desire history and detail within their hobby. Coins have been around for centuries, and carry images of past kings and queens, noble...

Proof coins are struck with special polished dies so that the field of the coin has a mirrored appearance and the details of the coin are especially sharp. The U.S. Mint issues annual proof sets...

Every coin collector needs to know the history of the coins in his collection. The coin's mint mark provides one piece to its history, and can help determine the value of the coin.

Indian Head pennies, once used in everyday commerce, are not often seen now. During the 50 years of their production, nearly 2 billion of the coins were made.

In times of economic instability, the value of precious metals tends to fluctuate greatly. If you are considering selling a collection of junk silver coins---coins valuable only for their precious...

The pound sterling coin is a silver coin that is legal tender issued by the Royal Mint, commonly referred to as simply a pound. The pound is emblazoned with a bust of the Queen on one side and a...

As a memorial to Abraham Lincoln, the first wheat back penny premiered on the 100th anniversary of his birthday. The last wheat back appeared in 1958, after which the Lincoln Memorial penny...

Metal detecting can be an expensive hobby. You have to weigh in the cost of the detector itself, and then the cost of tools you will need in order to really make the most of your hobby. I am new...

The two most abundant versions of the dime available in the United States are the Mercury dime and the Roosevelt dime. Both are distinctly different in their image, however the size and shape...

U.S. Mint bags are canvas bags used to transport coins from the mint to banks. Traditionally, these bags would be filled with coins, sewn shut, and cut open again when they reached their...

There is a few things you should know before starting a coin collection. So don't start over your head. Start with something you like and want to know about.

The Royal Canadian Mint offers a number of special release gold coins for purchase. These coins are collectors items, often produced in limited numbers or only for a short period of time. A number...

Loose change is a hassle. Lots of people do not even like carrying it around, so it accumulates in jars, bottles and bowls at home. You probably have enough loose change around your home to take...

Coin collecting can be a very rewarding hobby. Collecting coins can be a an investment in the future if you purchase gold and silver specialty coins. But you can avoid the expense and start your...

Start your own navy on coins. Your topical coin collection covering ships, boats, canoes, and anything else that floats will provide hours of enjoyment to you and your child. Coin collecting is...

Making money from a casual coin hobby is not hard. I will show you some tips and pointers to get you started.

Error coins can be fun to collect and profitable to sell. Mints that produce coins do not make many mistakes. When they do, the coins become unique collectibles. There are error coin collectors...

For coin collectors, the idea of cleaning a penny is blasphemous because it reduces the value of the coin considerably. However, there are people who want to have cleaner coins because they are...

You can use pre-1982 copper pennies as an investment. Pennies minted between 1909 and 1982 are 95% copper and 5% zinc. Today's value of the copper is about double the face value of that penny....