Some are good. Some aren't. Those tiny bumps, dents, dings, and scratches are all part of a coin's natural life in circulation. Or are they? In this installment we will touch on the variety of Marks commonly found on coins. Die cracks and die polishing. Some coins are destined to have marks even before they [...]
In this installment in our series of coin anatomy, we will discuss Alloy and Strike. A coin starts its life in a vat of molten metal. Since gold and silver in particular are very soft metals, and wouldn't last long in circulation in their pure form, other metals are added to strengthen the mixture. This [...]
Heads or tails, the anatomy of The Faces of a coin are essentially the same. Before we get into the details, let's first take a look at the journey the image takes getting from the artist's mind to the face of the coin. Whether it's a star, a face, or an eagle, each individual image [...]
Heads or tails? What more do you need to know? Actually, there's a lot more to it. In this series on Coin Anatomy we will take a look at what all of the parts of a coin are, what goes into making coins, and some other cool stuff that will help step up your numismatic [...]
In this installment of our series on Exonumia, we explore the beauty and folk culture surrounding Coin Art. Coins themselves are art pieces with highly skilled artists applying their talents to the design and creation of coins and paper money. However, this is not what we're talking about here. We're talking about the art that [...]
The numismatic world is vast, indeed. In this series on Exonumia, we are taking a look at the numismatic items that are not coins. Coins are struck by governments for the purpose of conducting business transactions. Tokens are struck by private individuals or businesses for the same purpose, but represent a specific amount of money [...]
Exo-what?!? Exonumia. It's a catch-all term for numismatic items that aren't coins or currency. Medals, tokens, and even some coin jewelry and art are all considered exonumia. In this series of posts we'll take a look at some of the most common categories and what makes them worth collecting. In this first installment of, we'll [...]
In Coin Collecting for Fun and Investment, Part 5, we talk about estates. My plan in writing these posts has been to communicate with the everyday person in hopes of aiding them on their numismatic journey. However, in my career as a professional coin buyer, I have come across a select group of people that require [...]
In Coin Collecting for Fun and Investment, Part 4, we will talk about collecting coins with kids. When a child is old enough to read, they are old enough to begin their numismatic journey. Look online, or go to your local coin shop and buy a book or folder for collecting Lincoln Cents. It's best [...]
In Coin Collecting for Fun and Investment, Part 3, we discuss handling and care. Taking care of your coin collection really just boils down to common sense. Although alloyed to increase their strength coins are made out of rather soft metals. They can be damaged very easily, and the higher condition they are, the easier [...]
In Coin Collecting for Fun and Investment, Part 2 we will discuss grading. Coin grading is the most difficult aspect of numismatics. How does one really tell the difference between an XF and an AU? What do XF and AU actually mean anyway? The specific details are beyond the scope of this series, as they [...]
Your grandfather did it. Remember how much fun you had together looking at all of those shiny pieces of metal in those blue or brown books. Coin collecting was fun, and now that you are older, it's been crossing your mind again. That's great, but now what? There are so many questions going through your [...]
As you continue along your path to Selling Your Estate's Numismatic Coin Collection, you became organized in part 1, figured out which method of sale is best for you in part 2, and have now decided to sell the whole thing to a rare coin dealer. Great! This is by far the most popular method, and [...]
Selling Your Estate's Numismatic Coin Collection doesn't have to be difficult. Our first installment in this series gave some easy tips for becoming familiar with the different items in your collection. Now it's time to move on to step #2. Determining the best method of sale for you. Now that you are organized, it's time [...]
Whether you have inherited a collection from a family member, or you want to sell your own after a lifetime of collecting, you've decided it's time to start Selling Your Estate's Numismatic Coin Collection...now what? This can be a daunting task for collectors and numismatic enthusiasts, and seemingly insurmountable for the uninitiated and inheritors. The [...]
Buying and selling certified coins is one of the safest ways to collect and deal with coins. The condition of a coin determines its value, so ensuring a condition through certification ensures a safe price point when buying and selling. Buying and selling raw coins, on the other hand, gives you a chance [...]
If you are new to coin collecting either because you just started this hobby or because you just inherited a collection and you want to add more to it, there are several ways to go about finding and buying rare coins. As you get more knowledgeable about coin collecting and buying coins and selling coins, [...]
We often write about valuable coin collections and what to do if you inherit one. When a coin collection transfers ownership from a knowledgeable coin collector to a person who has very little experience with valuable coins, there is often doubt about how the collection should be handled. Should the coin collection be sold to [...]
There are several ways in which people acquire rare coins, but one of the most common is through an inheritance. However, there are instances in which people find rare coins - either on the ground or when they are cleaning out an attic or a basement. Also, there are occasions when people come across rare [...]
If you want to be a successful coin collector, you will have to start thinking like one. The term "thinking like a coin collector" can have different meanings to different people. For example, novice coin collectors might constantly be on the lookout for everyday coins that they find interesting or unique to add to their [...]
