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» US Coins | Coin Collecting - Part 2

Entries Tagged 'US Coins' ↓

How to Sell a Silver Dollar

There comes a time in every coin collectors life when they must sell one of the coins in their collection. Some do this voluntarily, as they do not want the coin in their collection anymore or are simply selling off their entire collection. Others are forced to do so, whether they need the money for other coins in the collection or need money for other aspects of their life.

There are some tricks and tips that will help you to sell a silver dollar. Following these various guidelines and taking these tips into consideration will help to give you a quick sale and a high-value sale.

Clean the Coin

The first thing that you are going to need to do when trying to sell a silver dollar is to clean the coin. You want the coin to look its best, and you want the coin to look like it has been cared for. If you do not know how to properly clean a coin with value, head to a local coin dealer. Ask them about their cleaning practices – they may even be willing to clean the coin for you. If you have not cleaned coins before, know that many popular forms of cleaning can actually damage the coin and lower the overall value of the coin. If you are selling a coin, you must clean it but be cautious of the method to ensure that you do not lose money.

Use the Internet

The Internet is going to be a great companion as you work to sell your silver dollar. The Internet is going to help you to promote your coin, whether it be through coin dealer website or online auction websites. It is also going to help you to stay up-to-date on current values for the exact coin you are selling. You can look at other sales and other auctions and have a better understanding of how much the coin is actually selling for. While a coin may have a specific appraised value, it is only worth as much as people are willing to pay for it.

Use Clear Documentation

Organization is the key to success for those who are trying to sell quickly. If you have clear documentation of your coin, you can quickly provide the information that a potential buyer will need. Have the coin appraised to provide a monetary value. List the type of coin, the year of the make, and the mint location of the coin. A photo of the coin will also be helpful for those who will be purchasing the coin online.

These are just a few of the different tips that you will need to put into play to sell your silver dollar quickly and easily. These tips are going to help you to go up against other coins with high coin collecting values and will help your coin to stand out. The more that you can make your coin stand out and the more that you can do to present your coin professionally, the easier the sale will be.

Photo Credits: kevindooley

Originally posted 2011-04-13 03:48:03. Republished by Blog Post Promoter

Terms in American Coin Collecting

1942dimeIf you are new to the practice of American coin collecting, then there are a number of terms and types of coins that you are going to want to understand, otherwise they will seem confusing to you and may give you some trouble. The purpose of this post is to discuss a few common terms in the art of American coin collecting that you can apply to United States Mint coins such as the Silver Eagle coin, the Platinum Eagle coin, the Gold Eagle coin and the Gold Buffalo coin for example.

Mint – When a coin is described as being mint in American coin collecting, what that means is that the coin has been made to be a regular circulated coin, and yet it has just come from the mint and is not yet damaged or circulated. The Mint for the United States can sell these coins from their normal production batches.

Proof – If the coin is labeled as being proofed or if proof is mentioned in the description, then what that means is that the coin has been crafted using high pressure, giving it a shiny and mirrored finish. The images on coins like this in American coin collecting also tend to have more detail to them. These are not coins that are intended to be spent or circulated, but rather they are specifically intended for collecting.

W – If the coin is being described by its year but with a W at the end, this means that the coin has a mint mark on it that was used by the mint at the West Point branch in New York.

Uncirculated – What this term means, in American coin collecting, is that the coin has not been used or spent in any way. In other words, this term is used in order to describe a coin that is in the most perfect conditions, as if it were coming fresh from a Mint.

PCGS – This is a term that stands for Professional Coin Grading Service. When a coin is described as being PCGS, then that means that the service has graded the coin for American coin collecting purposes.

NGC – When a coin is described as being NGC, then what this means is that it has been graded by a service that is known as the Numismatic Guaranty Corporation.

Keep in mind that the above grading services do cost money in order for a coin to be graded. Should a coin be labeled as having been graded, what this means is that one of these services has guaranteed the quality and the authenticity of the coin, and this means that the coin is naturally going to be higher in value.

There are all kinds of American coin collecting for you to know and utilize. The above should be a good foundation for you to get started with. When you understand the basics in American coin collecting, you will be better able to find the coins that best suit you, ensuring that you get the best value for what you pay as well.

Photo Credits: herzogbr

Originally posted 2009-12-02 03:56:50. Republished by Blog Post Promoter

Liberty Head Silver Dollars

 

money -> Coins-US -> Dollars

 Liberty Head Silver Dollars Liberty Head silver dollars have been referred to in many different ways over the years. First they were called Buzzard Dollars, because no one really liked the original design of the rather scrawny eagle on the back. The large, heavy coins were also referred to as Cartwheels, and are today most commonly referred to as Morgan Dollars, after their creator, George T. Morgan.

Though when they first appeared in 1878 these coins weren’t popular at all, today Liberty Head silver dollars are one of the most collectible coins in the world, among silver and all other types of coins. When these coins were minted, the dollar coin had been discontinued for 5 years already, with Americans showing a clear preference for paper dollars. The coins were minted because of the large silver surplus created by the purchase of silver from the Comstock lode in Nevada, to keep Nevada’s economy above water. To use the silver, these coins were commissioned.

George Morgan was an Englishman who designed the Liberty Head silver dollars, and despite his post as US Chief Engraver after that, one he held for over 40 years, these coins were the only American ones he ever designed. Because these coins weren’t popular and few people used them, production stopped in 1904. Many of the coins were melted down in 1918 to help Great Britain’s war efforts. Then more were minted in 1921, but only for a brief time before the Peace Dollar was minted to commemorate the end of the war, and quickly became the most popular silver dollar in America.

The Liberty Head silver dollars continued to be melted town, and the public showed little interest in collecting them until about 1972, when a large collection of over 400 bags of the rare Carson City minted dollars was discovered. The collection ended up selling at auction for over $7 million dollars. While all these dollars are collectible, some are more valuable and sought out than others.

The most rare Liberty Head silver dollars are those minted in 1895. Called the “king” of these dollars, some have sold for over $100,000 at auction. What makes these coins particularly valuable is their rarity, and the mystery surrounding them. Twelve-thousand 1895 coins were struck, according to mint records, yet only about 80 have ever been accounted for, and all of those were proofs. None of the regular circulation coins have been recovered. Whether they were ever minted at all comes into question, but doesn’t lessen the mystique of the coin.

Liberty Head silver dollars, aside from the 1895 strike, aren’t particularly rare because millions of these coins were minted. They were larger than typical coins, and the original eagle design wasn’t popular, yet today they’re consider one of the most collectible US coins available. Online auctions are an inexpensive and ideal way to purchase these collectible coins, whether you want to purchase them to begin investing in silver, or to make the Liberty Head silver dollars an important part of your coin collection.

Originally posted 2008-11-11 14:00:28. Republished by Blog Post Promoter

Rare Gold Coins

money -> Coins-World -> Gold

Rare Gold CoinsGold is one of the most popular substances in the world, and rare gold coins are highly sought out by collectors, not just for the precious gold content, but because of the rarity of the coins and the designs themselves. How do you know if a gold coin is actually rare, or just old? First of all, if you’re shopping in online auctions, which is actually a good place to find coins, decide that you won’t get too excited by every auction that claims its coins are rare.

“Rare” is actually a flash-word in online auctions, designed to get people to view the auction. If you browse the site a while, you’ll find items listed as “rare” and “hard-to-find” that you can probably purchase anywhere with very little effort. This practice has made the word rare almost meaningless on eBay and other online sites. So to find truly rare gold coins, you’ll need to do a little research on the coin that’s offered in the auction, as well as into the seller’s past auctions.

Have a look at the seller’s feedback. Does every auction represented there shout “Rare!” from the rooftops? Also, you can search on the specific coin that’s offered to see which others sellers offer it and what they have to say about it. Then you’ll want to research the coin online to find whether its truly rare, or the use of the word was just an advertising tactic. Truly rare gold coins won’t be found in hundreds or sometimes even dozens of auctions at one time, because of their rarity.

Even reputable online shops that deal in gold coins will exaggerate the use of the word “rare.” If you search on “rare gold coins,” for instance, you’ll come up with hundreds of dealers that don’t really happen to have any rare gold coins for sale, but newly released ones. They’ve simply used “rare” as keyword to rank higher in the search engines when someone’s looking for a rare coin, in the hopes of attracting that customer’s business with their new coin selection.

Your own interest in rare gold coins and a little time spent searching can help you find the right coins. You’ll also get a good idea of the price you should pay for one, judging by the median amount charged by many different dealers. Also do a search on eBay for closed auctions that featured that item, and you’ll see about how much you might end up paying if you should purchase from an auction.

Some of the most rare gold coins from the United States were minted before 1933. Liberty gold coins minted throughout the 19th century, and the Saint-Gaudens gold coins and Indian gold coins minted from the early 1900s to 1933, are some of the best rare coins available today. They’re prized, not just for their gold content and their rarity, but their beautiful designs, with the Saint-Gaudens considered one of the most beautiful American coins minted to date.

The business of buying and selling gold can be profitable, and is one you might be interested in getting into.

Originally posted 2008-11-14 05:34:49. Republished by Blog Post Promoter

New Collectible US Currency Pieces

There is something to be said for focusing on all of the different pieces of US currency that go into circulation, whether they are old and rare or new and readily available. Many of the newest coins on the market are actually created with coin collectors in mind, especially those pieces that are part of a larger series. There are plenty of new pieces of currency on the market that follow this trend, much like the quarters that were minted for each and every state in the Union.

There are various new collectible pieces of US Currency that are going to make a perfect addition to your coin collection or paper money collection. Learning more about some of the newest pieces will help you to bring your collection up to date.

America the Beautiful Quarters

US currency has been looking for a new series for quarters since the mint created a new quarter for each state in the Union. The America the Beautiful quarters series recognizes some of the most beautiful locations in the United States.The program started in 2010 with the released of these quarters: Hot Springs National Park, Yellowstone National Park, Yosemite National Park, Grand Canyon National Park, and Mt. Hood National Forest. The program continued in 2011, with the release of the following quarters: Gettysburg National Military Park, Glacier National Park, Olympic National Park, Vicksburg National Military Park, and Chicksaw National Recreation Area. One park was selected from each state, pushing the collection through 2021, as parks are also chosen from American Samoa, Guam, Northern Mariana Islands, Puerto Rico, and the U.S. Virgin Islands.

Presidential Dollar Coins

The Presidential Dollar Coin program is a program designed to recognize and honor all of the presidents of the United States while pushing for greater dollar coin use. The program started in 2007 and will continue on past 2016. The coins are released in the order that the president was in office, with four quarters released each year. The coin features the face of the president on the front and an image of the Statue of Liberty on the back.

$10 Spouse Coins

The Presidents of the United States of America are not the only individuals who are being recognized for their service to the country. The First Spouses of these men are being recognized through $10 coin pieces. The pieces were put into product in 2007 to coincide with the release of the presidential coins, and will continue on through to 2016. In an interesting twist, coins are still created for presidents who had no spouse, as the mint wants to stay in line with the presidential coin release schedule. The image on these coins show Lady Liberty when the president had no spouse while in office.

New $100 Bill

US currency has continued to change, as far as paper money is concerned, as the government works to stop those who try to counterfeit money. The latest batch is the redesign of the $100 bill. This bill features a plethora of security ribbons and watermarks, as well as color shifting ink, with one of the most unique paper money designs ever.

Photo Credits: bradleygee

Originally posted 2011-06-27 03:06:04. Republished by Blog Post Promoter

United States Commemorative Coins

1994The United States Mint gains authorization from the United States Congress to produce what are known as commemorative coins, which are produced rather regularly throughout the years for a myriad of different purposes. These coins are produced to commemorate, to celebrate or to honor people, events, places and institutions for a number of reasons. When it comes to commemorative coins and coin collections, these coins are typically divided into two different eras, Old and Modern. Old commemorative coins are coins between 1892 and 1981, and Modern commemorative coins are coins from between 1982 and present day.

There have been a wide variety of different people that through the years have been memorialized in the form of United States commemorative coins. Benjamin Franklin, Thomas Edison, Leif Erickson, Christopher Columbus and Chief Justice John Marshall are all examples of people that have been commemorated in this fashion. Ulysses S. Grant, Queen Isabella of Spain and Daniel Boone have also been commemorated in this way in the past as well.

There have also been a number of places that have been honored through the creation of commemorative coins, including the White House, West Point and the Smithsonian. The White House was honored with a 200th Anniversary commemorative coin in 1992. The West Point military school was honored in 2002 for their Bicentennial. The Smithsonian was honored in 1996 for their 150th anniversary.

There have also been a number of events that have been honored through the creation of commemorative coins. The Korean War was commemorated in the form of a Silver Dollar in 1991, and then the Vietnam War received a similar Silver Dollar commemorative coin in 1994 after its memorial’s 10th anniversary. These commemorative coins were created not only to commemorate the creation of the memorials, but also to honor the men who died during those wars.

The Statute of Liberty has also been honored through the creation of numerous commemorative coins. In 1986, three commemorative coins were created to honor the Statue of Liberty, including a half dollar coin, a silver dollar coin and a $5 golf coin. The Statue of Liberty is not only a place worthy of being honored, but the commemorative coins are also meant to honor freedom, democracy and the gift from France to the United States represented by the gift of the statute.

Collectors may choose to collect different commemorative coins depending on what concepts their collections are aimed to symbolize. There are commemorative coins for many different purposes including the Olympic games, the bill of rights, World War II, the civil war battlefields, the Bicentennial of the constitution, desegregation at the Little Rock Central High School, the first flight on the behalf of the Wright Brothers and many others. No matter what type of coin collection you are creating, there are commemorative coins that will fit right in.

Photo Credits: kevindooley

Originally posted 2009-06-27 05:43:11. Republished by Blog Post Promoter

Starting a State Quarters Collection

california2005If you have an interest in coins or coin collecting, but you are not really sure where the place is to get started, why not consider starting your own unique state quarters collection?

Collecting coins, especially starting a state quarters collection is a hot topic right now, at least as far as many coin collectors seem to be concerned. One of the most popular types of collections to come along in a number of years is the state quarters collection, especially because this is a collectible item that isn’t rooted in a fad, meaning that you do not have to worry about your state quarters collection losing value or being worthless in the future. Anybody from any age, gender, any income background and absolutely any walk of life can do what it takes to start up a state quarters collection. Is this something that you are curious about doing?

Since state quarters are relatively easy to find, everyone can afford to begin a collection. If you’re on a budget, simply save the ones that you find in your change. You can also buy uncirculated editions from coin dealers or from the US Mint if you are becoming a little more serious about your state quarters collection.

The program that released a state quarter for every state in the United States ran beginning in 1999 and ended in 2008. Five different coins were distributed every year, with intervals of 10 weeks or so separating them. Each state quarter has an individual, unique design that is printed on its reverse side. The quarters were both minted in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania and Denver, Colorado on a nearly 50% each basis.

The quarters that were minted in the year 2000 seem to be the most plentiful batch, as nearly 6.5 million coins were produced in that year alone. The lowest run of production was for the Iowa based quarter, which came from the mint in Philadelphia, as only 213,800,000 coins were made. The largest minting was for the Virginia based quarter, which was also minted in Philadelphia, and had a run of a total of 943,000,000 coins.

According to market research that was conducted in the year 2000 by the U.S. Mint, more than 106 million Americans were participating in some form of a state quarters collection. In April of 2006, it was determined that as many as 140 million collectors had begun to collect their own state quarters collections. This is the kind of collection that you can involve your entire family in if you like, or something that you can do all on your own as well. Because there are so many editions of the coins out there, it should not be difficult to create a complete collection of all 50 quarters.

Photo Credits: KaCey97007

Originally posted 2009-10-16 03:10:42. Republished by Blog Post Promoter

Silver Eagles

Money -> Silver -> American-Eagle

Silver Eagles

American Silver Eagles have been minted in the United States since 1986. These are the official silver bullion coins of the United States, guaranteed to contain one troy ounce of silver that’s 99.9% pure. A troy ounce is actually slightly heaver than a typical ounce of weight, because it’s not measured by weight but rather by grains. A grain is a unit of measure used where absolute precision is crucial, as in archery to weigh arrow heads, and in ballistics to weigh powder and bullets. An ounce is between 28 and 29 grains, and is a very specific number that goes out to 9 decimal places. A troy ounce is over 31 grains, in a number that goes out to 7 decimal places. A troy ounce is the measurement always used for black powder, precious metals and gemstones.

Silver Eagles have their one troy ounce weight and silver content certified by the United States Mint, and are authorized by the US Congress. A proof version of these coins is produced specifically for collectors. These coins have been produced by three mints. Coins marked with a P were minted in Philadelphia, with earlier coins bearing an S for San Francisco and the most recent silver coins marked with a W on the reverse side, which stands for West Point.

The front or obverse of Silver Eagles is based on the “Walking Liberty” design that appeared originally on half-dollars minted between 1916 and 1947. Designed the Adolph Weinman, it became a favorite and one of the best-loved coin designs in American history, so it was chosen for the Silver Eagles. The back or reverse of the coins feature a heraldic eagle.

The face value of Silver Eagles is $1, but the silver content causes the value of these coins to vary with the markets. Because of the different minting, it’s best to look into reference books to find the value of any coins you’re interested in purchasing. Because these coins have been struck in such huge numbers, the value is often not as high as one might expect, even for proofs. Most can be purchased for $25, with that number fluctuating along with the silver market prices. Some years with lower minting can go for over $100, and the boxed anniversary set issued in 2006 that went for $100 each now commands over three times that, because only 250,000 were created. Some rare dates can cost thousands of dollars, but without an up to date reference book it’s difficult to know which are more valuable.

When looking at Silver Eagles do your research and become familiar with the more rare coins, and those which can be found almost anywhere. As with most things, eBay is an excellent source for Silver Eagles of the more rare varieties. One good strategy for investors is to buy the current year’s Silver Eagles and work your way backwards through the years. This can make the collecting more fun and interesting, and give you time to investigate the more valuable minting and dates.

Originally posted 2008-12-14 14:00:32. Republished by Blog Post Promoter

Rare Coins

Coins and Paper Money -> Ancient Coins -> Persian, Indian, Asian

Rare CoinsThere is something very special about rare coins. No matter where in the world they came from, they usually have a very rich history and collectors will search to the ends of the earth to find that special rare coin that will complete their collection. Many of these coins will go at a premium price at auction, worth far more than they ever were when they were in circulation. Let’s look at a few of the different types of rare coins.

First up, you have rare coins from ancient civilizations. Whether it was an early coin from Mesopotamia, a Grecian coin or a Roman coin, these are usually the most valuable. However, they are also the ones that may be copied. If you see a lot of coins and the seller claims that they are all authentic, but the price seems too low, you may want to rethink your purchase. Truly ancient rare coins are typically very expensive. It is all too easy nowadays to replicate these coins and mass produce them.

Next, look for coins that are oddly shaped or made from rare materials. This shows that they were handmade and are typically older in origin. These are not very easy to find, but Greek coins are the perfect example of this. These rare coins were handmade and will frequently be just a little off of perfect. Some may even include the maker’s signature or mark, and these are very valuable indeed.

Other rare coins that are fun to collect coincide with specific eras in history. For example, many collectors look for coins produced during the French Revolution. This was the time period when the first Marianne’s were made, and they are incredibly collectible. Other examples would include confederate coins, from the US civil war, or coins that were produced by governments that are now extinct.

Whenever you are shopping for rare coins, it also pays to look for any errors that may be present. These are usually incredibly valuable, and although they are hard to find, it is very special when you do come across one. Examples of error coins include coins that are missing something from a design, or ones that may have blatant errors. Examining coins for these flaws is always interesting.

The rare coins that are the most valuable are usually the ones where only a few are left. Using the Morgan Silver dollar as an example, there is one variety where only a handful are accounted for. This gives collectors a challenge and the ability to experience the thrill of the hunt as they try to uncover that incredibly rare coin.

If you have not yet begun collecting rare coins, it’s a good idea to start thinking about which era or type of coin you might be interested in. For example, many collectors start off by picking the year they were born, or the coin that commemorates an event that is special to them. Once you get started with rare coin collecting, you’ll see just how exciting this hobby can be.

Originally posted 2008-08-29 05:00:33. Republished by Blog Post Promoter

Colonial Money


Coins and Paper Money -> Paper Money: US -> Colonial Currency

If you are interested in collecting paper money, Colonial money is one of the hottest tickets going right now. When the first US colonies were formed, the nation and its currency system were still in their infancy. It was decided that paper money would be used, and gradually, currency was printed and distributed for use. Today, colonial money is usually worth much more than its face value, provided that it is original and not a reproduction. Here are some tips on how to tell whether or not you have an authentic piece of colonial history.

1. Check the Signature

Colonial money was always designed to have at least one signature on the note. You may need to look carefully to determine whether or not a signature is present, but if you can’t find even one, chances are you may be dealing with a reproduction. The color of the signature should be in red ink.

2. Is it Numbered?

Colonial money was always numbered to help them keep track of how many bills were in circulation. Once again, if you are dealing with an authentic note the ink color will be red and the number will be very noticeable. Age made have faded the note slightly, but you should be able to tell that the ink was once a red color.

3. Look at the Writing

Typically, colonial money featured a handwritten signature, and some bills may have other handwriting on them as well. This is actually quite important, and is a big clue to the authenticity of the note. If the handwriting is the in the same color as the rest of the bill, there is a very high chance that you are in fact dealing with a reproduction.

4. Look for the Stamp

In most cases, reproductions that are intended merely for home use will carry a stamp that says “facsimile.” This is done to help people get a better idea of the colonial money that was used, but they are not intended to be collector items. While some reproductions may not have this stamp, the majority should.

5. Find the Watermark

Even in the height of the colonial period, when technology still was struggling, watermarks were added to bills to help determine whether or not they were authentic. You can use that same watermark to help you determine whether or not you have authentic colonial money on hand. Hold the bill up to a light source to see if you can spot the watermark. If you can’t chances are you have a reproduction.

6. Take it to an Expert

If you plan on investing in a colonial money note, it is best to have it examined by an expert to determine the authenticity of the note. They will be well versed in the different types of ink, the different plates that were used, as well as how real colonial money should look. There is no substitute for getting an expert’s opinion, especially if you will be investing in colonial money.

Photo Credits: woody1778a

Originally posted 2008-09-11 14:00:01. Republished by Blog Post Promoter

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