September 18th, 2009 — Colonial Money, paper money
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.
Originally posted 2008-09-11 14:00:01. Republished by Blog Post Promoter
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September 17th, 2009 — Ancient Coins, Coin Collecting, Greek Coins, Morgan Silver Dollar, Rare Coins
There 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
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September 8th, 2009 — 1925 Coin Penny, Coin Collecting
The 1925 coin penny is the 3rd rarest copper coin from Australia. According to records from their Royal Mint, this coin was struck late in the year to make sure that Australian merchants had plenty of pennies during the Christmas season. When collectors take an interest in Australian coins, one of the first coins they usually try to acquire is a 1925 penny. While it’s rare, it’s not nearly as rare as the 1930 penny so it’s much easier to find to add to a collection.
Evidence shows that if you have a 1925 coin penny, it was one of the over 117,000 struck a the Melbourne Mint. After World War I ended with many more losses and more expense than Australia anticipated, gold was valuable internationally, but the told pulled from Australia’s mines was dropping. This spoke of trouble for Australia’s economy, so a great deal of gold was imported from London in 1925. This gold was chiefly used to make sovereigns in 1925 at the Melbourne Mint. The Commonwealth offered a bonus to citizens bringing in British silver coins in June of 1925. To replace these large numbers of British coins removed from circulation, they had to strike Australian silver coins to ensure good retail trade through the Christmas season, but they didn’t produce nearly as many as they had only the year before.
The 1925 coin penny is sought by collectors, not just for its rarity, but because there are minor die varieties found in the coin. Records at the Melbourne Mint show that they were experimenting that year with dies and the hardening of dies, and it’s believed that these experiments led to the die variations often found in this coin.
The 1925 coin penny is sometimes found today by searching through bulk quantities of pennies, though finding one of these coins in fantastic condition is rare. When they are found, they go far behind the capabilities of the average collector, as the price has often been record-setting at collector auctions.
If you’re looking for a 1925 coin penny to add to your collection, online coin dealers and auctions like eBay are a great place to look. While the great condition 1925 pennies are extremely rare and extremely valuable, it’s not that difficult to find one in worn condition or very used condition. While these don’t look as good, of course, they’re still quite an addition to a serious world coin collection, or a comprehensive Australian coin collection.
When shopping for a 1925 coin penny, you might find a $1 auction and think you’ve stumbled onto a great deal for the coin you’ve been looking for, but read the fine print carefully. Because of the rarity and value of a fine condition coin, some sellers sell 1925 penny replicas for very little money. If you’d like to have a great condition replica, this is an option. But you can probably find a used 1925 penny for a reasonable price, so you might want to hold out for a genuine coin.
Originally posted 2008-10-28 05:00:09. Republished by Blog Post Promoter
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July 31st, 2009 — Coin Collecting, Proof Coins, Uncirculated Coins
The unique thing about coin collections is that there is a myriad of different ways to start a coin collection, and you can collect a wide variety of different coins or a small variety of very special coins depending on your interest. One of the options for coin collecting that you may want to consider if you enjoy unique coins is the art of collecting proof coins and uncirculated coins, which are coins that are not or have never been in actual use as currency in this country or any other country in the world for that matter. If the idea of proof coins and uncirculated coins seems worthwhile to you, the following information will prove useful.
There are a number of coins out there that never ended up being placed in circulation to be used for the purpose of commerce. This coin grade never had any wear or any defects meaning that these coins can be close to mint in condition. If you store these coins improperly, however, they can be worn and will no longer be in perfect condition any longer. Even if the wear is quite minor in nature, it will not allow the coin to have an “uncirculated” grade any longer.
When coins are first produced at the mint, they are placed into large canvas bags so that they can be transported. During the handling and transport phase, they can receive some small nicks and marks from rubbing and bumping along one another in the bags, and these marks are specifically known as bag marks. Bag marks tend to appear much more noticeable when the coin is larger in sized, such as a dollar or a half dollar coin. Typical bag marks will not prevent a coin from keeping the uncirculated grade. Light bag marks will not keep a coin from being considered to be uncirculated, but they may change the value that the coin receives if they are more noticeable bag marks.
Uncirculated coins are also capable of showing spotting, tarnish and discoloration while still maintaining the uncirculated grade when it comes to coin conditions. You should never clean a coin that has become tarnished as many methods of cleaning are actually capable of causing further wear on a coin, and this wear will upset the “uncirculated” grade of the coin.
There are also coins known as proof coins that were minted with the use of highly polished dies and never saw the light of day in terms of circulation. Just like with uncirculated coins, these proof coins are capable of experiencing darkening or tarnishing. Because labor and production costs went into producing proof coins beyond average coins, the mints that produce them quite often will sell them at a higher premium price, and often in much more limited numbers as well.
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