A beloved set of United States commemorative coins turn 100 this year. The Panama Pacific commemorative gold and silver coins, affectionately nicknamed “commems” by dealers and collectors, were produced in limited numbers in 1915 to celebrate the opening of the Panama Canal and the corresponding Panama Pacific International Exposition, held in San Francisco, California. 100 […]
Condition Significance in Collectible Coins
When we happen upon a pile of old coins in an estate’s closet or safe, usually our first reaction is to look for the oldest coins in the cache. It may be counterintuitive however, that age is not always the biggest determinant of value. While coins minted in the mid 20th century and forward tend […]
Under Pressure: How Coins are Made
Beyond simply the level of wear present on a coin’s surface, there are several characteristics of how each piece is produced that influence its overall appearance and even grade. One such factor is weakness of strike. In order to fully impress the design of a coin from its cylindrical metal dies onto the planchet, or […]
Peter, the Mint Eagle
One of the many quirky facts associated with the early United States Mint is that the Philadelphia coining facility once had a resident Bald Eagle (aka Peter the Mint Eagle). According to the Coinage Act of 1792, also known as the Mint Act, American gold and silver coins were to be designed with an eagle […]
Minted History
United States commemorative coins, or coins struck especially for collectors in remembrance of a historical person or event, are fascinating to discover due to the wealth of history that has surrounded their existence since the first commemorative half dollar was struck in 1892. Over the years, such coins have been struck in the United States […]
A Dearth of Change
Perhaps it is hard to imagine a time when pocket change was hard to find. Most of us tend to have an accumulation of change jingling around in our pockets, purses, or change jars. During several distinct periods in American history, however, circulating coinage was scarce enough that there was a true shortage. Although it […]
What is Rainbow Coin Toning?
Read this article to find out what causes rainbow toning on coins, and how it effects the value.
1961 Franklin Half Dollar Proof Coin Value with Doubled Die Error on Reverse
After first hearing the definition of a “proof” coin, or a specially struck coin with mirrored surfaces produced by the United States Mint for collectors instead of for circulation, it becomes clear that such coins are quite special. Buy, Value or Appraise Your US Coins Bid or buy US coins for sale, value your item, […]
