Throughout human history gold has been used as a display of wealth and beauty in coins, jewelry and art. Nothing else captures the imagination or the sense of adventure like a treasure hunt for natural gold nuggets. Keep reading to find out about some of the most dazzling gold nugget discoveries of all time! Atomic … Continued
The legacy of some of America’s best-known coins, including the Five Cent Indian Head (better known as the Buffalo Nickel) and the series that is based on it, the American Gold Buffalo, remain shrouded in mystery. In a world of Facebook check-ins, selfies, and a constant flow of information, it becomes more difficult by the day … Continued
One innovation that caused widespread ripples and collector excitement in the hobby over the last few years has been the advent of the foil note. These offerings are a great way to own precious metals due to their unique characteristics, lower price point and strong collector interest in the various subjects depicted on the foils. If … Continued
Now that you have the basics of the modern minting process down, or at least you do if you read our last article, its time to learn about the people behind the coins. Coin artists and coin engravers are integral to the creation of beautiful numismatic works of art. Coin Designers and Engravers Many collectors around … Continued
In a world full of coins, there is not much difference in their overall shape. Despite various sizes and metal content, the shape of the coin is nearly always round and thin. There are, however, a few very unique coins struck by various Mints around the world that break these conformities. From domed coins to … Continued
Many coin collections were started after a unique coin was found in someone’s pocket change. You may have seen your grandfather or father weeding through their change, or maybe you even do it yourself! Although this is a method of collecting that is rarely seen anymore, the opportunity is still there. What valuable coins could you … Continued
Even as the world has increasingly turned to paper and plastic, it is coins that represent real wealth. That is why they often play pivotal roles in movies. Here are just a few examples of cases in which coins played an important part in major films ranging from classic black and white films to recent … Continued
For more than 30 years the leading third-party grading services, Professional Coin Grading Service (PCGS) and Numismatic Guaranty Corporation (NGC), have continued to add value to coins encapsulated in their holders that are backed by the companies’ guarantee that the coins have been determined to be genuine and in the stated grade. The holders themselves have continued to be … Continued
The modern coin grading system started in 1949 with the Sheldon Scale, a 70-point system that was created to classify the condition of US large cents. Over the past few decades, the system’s use was expanded dramatically to include other modern coins. Accordingly, most collectors are at least vaguely familiar with numeric grades, especially Mint State 70 … Continued
Coins from Ancient Empires managed to survive war, famine, and time itself, before making their way to modern collectors. This article will outline not only how such coins are found, but also how they are preserved for future generations. How are ancient coins graded? In the past, ancient coins were never “slabbed and graded.” Since the coins … Continued
