Coin Collecting

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...

Coin values can vary greatly depending on the condition of the coin, so accuracy is important among numismatists. Grades range from choice uncirculated (MS-63) to good (G-4) with a number of...

Coin collecting can be an enjoyable and profitable hobby. The experience is enhanced when you know the value and history of the coins in your collection. It is important to identify each...

Two-dollar bills have been issued by the United States in one form or another since 1862 and still exist as Federal Reserve Notes, though they are not commonly circulated. As collectors' items,...

Coin collecting, if done correctly, can earn the collector a profit. Factors affecting coin values include supply and demand and the condition of the coins. Buying and selling coins, when done...

The Lincoln penny was introduced in 1909 and continues to be minted today. The coin from 1909 to 1958 was known as the wheat penny for the wheat heads located on the reverse. Since 1958 the coin...

Evaluating rare coins is both the fun and the work in numismatics. This is the study of coins. The rarer a coin is, the more it is worth. Several things can make a coin rare. These include: few of...

The quality of the coins you want to collect will help determine how easy or difficult it is for you to obtain quarters from the 50 United States. It will also help determine how much you pay....

The 1922 silver dollar is often called the peace dollar because it contains that word prominently on the back side below the bald eagle. Lady Liberty is represented on the front of this coin that...

Morgan silver dollars are a popular addition to any coin collection. Because of the silver content, these coin were susceptible to melting for profit. Many of these coins still survive and have a...

Coin collecting, or numismatics, can be a fun and rewarding hobby. Many people find it interesting to collect coins from U.S. history or the currency of a foreign land, and many coins appreciate...

The Eisenhower dollar was the last large dollar coin minted for circulation by the U.S. Mint. It was produced from 1971 to 1978 to honor President Eisenhower and the first moon landing. "Ike"...

The silver dollar was a popular coin in U.S. history and was struck by the U.S. Mint between 1794 and 1935. It underwent several design changes through its history, from the early Flowing Hair...

The Morgan silver dollar was minted from 1878 to 1921 and was designed by George T. Morgan. This popular design is heavily collected by numismatists, especially in light of the fact that a number...

The U.S. silver dollar was minted on and off between 1794 and 1935, with a variety of changes in the coin's design. The silver dollar's composition during much of that time was 90 percent silver...

Over the years of U.S. coinage some issues are rare in mint condition because they were not saved in large quantities. Many new coin designs did not receive great fanfare and examples were not...

The first Lincoln cent is often called a wheat penny because of the wheat stalks that wrap around the reverse of the coin. The wheat penny was minted from 1909 to 1958. The 1947 wheat penny varies...

Victor D. Brenner designed the original Lincoln cent, which is often called a "wheat penny" for the wheat that wraps around the words "One Cent" on the reverse. The coin was first minted in 1909...

Coins in mint conditions are increasingly hard to find, especially for earlier issues that have seen decades of wear. Numismatists prize coins in top shape, and they can fetch high premiums. There...

The penny minted from 1859 to 1909 was mistakenly thought to be an Indian but was instead intended to represent Liberty wearing a headdress. As with the Mercury dime that would come after it, the...

The 1922 U.S. silver dollar is called a Peace dollar. It is one in a series of silver dollars minted between 1921 and 1935 to commemorate the end of World War I.

The 1922 silver dollar minted by the U.S. government represents the second year of the Peace dollar designed by Anthony de Francisi. The coin features Liberty on the front and a bald eagle on the...

The silver dollar minted from 1878 to 1921 by the U.S. government is often called the Morgan dollar for its designer, George T. Morgan. His initial M is found near Liberty's neck and on the...

The Morgan silver dollar is named for its designer, George T. Morgan. The coin was minted from 1878 to 1904, and again in 1921 with minor changes to the design. The Morgan dollar features Lady...

Liberty silver dollar coins were minted by the U.S. government off and from 1794 to 1935, and varieties in premium conditions are highly valued by numismatists.

The Morgan dollar is the oldest of its kind, as Morgan dollars were first produced in 1878. Morgan dollars continued to be minted until 1904 and were minted again in 1921.

In 1925, the United States Mint produced the silver Peace dollar. The Peace dollar was first minted in 1921 and features Lady Liberty on the obverse and an eagle with the word "Peace" on the reverse.

The Jefferson nickel was designed by Felix Schlag, whose profile of the third U.S. president on the front and depiction of Jefferson's home, Monticello, on the reverse, beat out the designs of 390...

You will learn what MS70 Silver Eagles actually certifed and what to look for on the actual coin itself.

U.S. quarters were composed mostly of silver (90 percent silver and 10 percent copper) until 1965 and have featured George Washington, the nation's first president, on the face since 1932, the...

There are several Mexican gold coins that are collectors' items. The amount of gold in a coin drastically impacts its value. Gold is a commodity whose value fluctuates based on market forces. The...

The fact that there are differences between proof and uncirculated coins does not necessarily mean that one is better or more valuable than the other. A rare uncirculated coin could carry a price...

The term "cameo coin" is used in coin collecting to refer to a circulation coin that has proof-like qualities or a proof coin that has unusually spectacular contrast. A cameo coin has empty areas...

The Morgan Silver Dollar was established by the Bland-Allison Act of 1878. The coins then went into production from 1878 until 1904 and then were briefly reproduced in 1921. Since then they have...

People often find old coins hidden in their possessions or among items previously owned by a relative who passed away. The first question asked is, "Is this coin worth anything?" Pricing old coins...

The value of a Morgan Silver Dollar is largely dependent on the coin's grade. A Morgan Silver Dollar must meet certain criteria to be considered a specific grade. Grades include AG (about good), G...

This short-lived series was minted from 1916 to 1930, a run of only 14 years (no quarters were issued in 1922). The Standing Liberty Quarter, designed by Hermon MacNeil, was the replacement design...

How a Rare Coin or Coin Collection is stored is critical to its Future Condition and Value, whether it be circulated or Gem Brilliant Uncirculated.

Antique coins are precious in terms of both monetary value and personal pride in owning a rare and unique artifact. Shopping for antique coins however is a complex process that requires knowledge...

The grading of U.S. coins can be a very arduous process. Prior to creation of the "Sheldon Scale" there was a "loose" system (often called "adjectival" or "descriptive") for determining the...

Grading a coin is the process by which its value is determined and set. The grade of a coin is an important tool to both sellers and collectors of coins. If you are a coin collector or have coins...

The coin market is ever-changing. Use this guide to help you, the numismatist, figure out what your coins are worth.