Page 2 - Collector Tips

By Sean McConeghy   For thousands of years, Britannia has served as the personification of Britain. The name comes from a Roman goddess, and the figure is often depicted as such.  Over the centuries, the figure has transformed into a symbol, perhaps most notably as the British Empire grew through the strength of its navy.What Are the Origins of Britannia? The name Britannia was originally the Latin name for Great Britain. In 43 A.D., the Romans invaded the island, and over the following half-century, they continued to expand the area under their control throughout much of England and Wales. The name Britannia was then used to reference the portion of the island under Roman control. Following the Roman withdrawal from the island, the name, meaning “land of the Britons,” stuck. However, the figure herself, for the most part, disappeared for nearly a millennia before returning in the 16th century during the reigns of Queen Mary I and, subsequently, Queen Elizabeth I.What are…

By GovMint :This complete guide will cover everything you need to know about steel pennies, including what they are, where and when they were made, how to collect them, and other valuable tips and suggestions. Let’s begin!The History of U.S. Steel Pennies & Their Face Value The U.S. steel penny is a coin that was minted in 1943 during World War II. Due to a copper shortage, the U.S. Mint produced pennies using zinc-coated steel instead of the traditional copper composition. These steel pennies were only produced for one year, and the unique material composition made them distinct from all other pennies in U.S. history.  The steel penny was made in all three U.S. Mint facilities that were operational at the time: Philadelphia, Denver, and San Francisco. Today, a steel penny has a face value of one cent, the same as all other U.S. pennies, and can still be used as legal tender. However, due to its historical significance, some steel pennies can be worth more than their face value…

By Jeff Garrett:   One of my favorite sayings about the work I do is, “Every day is like the Antiques Road Show.”  Because of my involvement with so many numismatic organizations and other projects, I receive dozens of calls and emails each week about coins people have inherited.  When fielding these enquiries, I am reminded how little people know about rare coins.  The abundance of information on the internet confuses things even further.  People have a hard time understanding why their circulated Morgan silver dollar is not worth the Gem prices found online.  To be fair, I would be equally confused if I were trying to figure out the value of inherited jewelry.   The complexities of the rare coin market can be hard to explain to a beginner.What Are the Most Common Inherited Coins? If you inherit a coin collection, the first thing to do is to determine what type of collection it is. Based on my years of answering calls about collections people have inherited, they fall…

By: Jeff Garrett Third-party grading (coins grading by someone other than the buyer or seller) has been around for over forty years. The American Numismatic Association (ANA) started grading and authenticating coins in the 1970’s, but without the encapsulation we are all familiar with today. The coins were graded by their team of experts and were accompanied by a certificate attesting to the authenticity and grade of the coin. The service was popular, but only sparingly used by dealers and collectors of the day. Uncertified coins continued to be the norm when great collections were sold at auction or through retail channels. For the most part, coin grading standards were based on trust and were certainly not always consistent. The Birth of Coin Grading In 1986, a group of about ten rare coin dealers launched an innovative concept to not only certify a coin’s grade and authenticity, but to encapsulate the coin to ensure its integrity. The creation of the Professional Coin…

By GovMint :  Table of Contents The History of U.S. Wheat Pennies & Their Face Value Why Collect Wheat Pennies? Is a Wheat Penny Rare? How To Tell if You Have a Wheat Penny? How Much Copper Is in a Wheat Penny? How Much Are Wheat Pennies Worth? How To Collect Wheat Pennies What Should I Look for When Collecting U.S. Wheat Pennies? 3 Ways To Collect Wheat Pennies Where To Buy Wheat Pennies  The History of U.S. Wheat Pennies & Their Face Value Wheat pennies, also known as Lincoln Wheat Cents or the Lincoln Penny, were first minted in 1909 to commemorate the 100th anniversary of Abraham Lincoln's birth. They were minted up until 1958 and feature a portrait of Abraham Lincoln on the front and two ears of wheat on the reverse. With a face value of one cent, Victor David Brenner designed the coin, and it was produced at three different Mint facilities: Philadelphia, Denver, and San Francisco…

By Sean McConeghy :   Challenge coins are a traditional symbol of membership in an organization or class, or participation in an event. They are symbols of a brotherhood, a fraternity that only members understand. In recent years, their uses have expanded well beyond their historical origins.History of Challenge Coins   The predecessor of these types of coins has their origins in ancient Rome. In one case, special coins were given to members of the royalty and nobility to commemorate special events. Some military units also gave them to soldiers who excelled in battle on a particular day. Such soldiers were given a special coin in addition to their wages. These coins were often saved, as they were important honors, rather than be spent along with the rest of their salaries.   The modern usage of challenge coins is less certain. Some say that they originated in World War I. According to that telling, a lieutenant gave his men coins bearing the symbol of their unit. A pilot was…

By GovMint :How and why do people collect U.S. pennies? Let’s discuss what you need to know about collecting U.S. pennies in this complete guide!Table of ContentsThe History of U.S. Pennies and Their Face Value Why Collect U.S. Pennies? Is Collecting Old Pennies Worth It? Where Are Pennies Minted? What Are U.S. Pennies Made of Today? How to Collect U.S. Pennies What Should I Look for When Collecting U.S. Pennies? 3 Ways to Collect U.S. Pennies How Do I Know If My Penny Is Worth Money? Where to Buy Collectable U.S. PenniesThe History of U.S. Pennies and Their Face Value The U.S. penny is officially known as the “one-cent piece.” The term “penny” was borrowed from the British penny. The U.S penny is a one-cent, face-valued coin first struck by the United States Mint in 1793. Over time, the composition and design of the cent coin has changed while its face value has not. Embed this graphic on your website: Source: Complete Guide to Collecting U.S. PenniesWhy Collect…

By GovMint : Introduced in 1986, the American Gold Eagle series is a favorite for coin collectors. Read the complete guide to learn how to collect American Gold Eagles.Table of Contents The History of U.S. American Gold Eagles & Their Face Value Why Collect U.S. American Gold Eagles? Where Are American Eagle Gold Coins Minted? How Much Gold Is in an American Eagle Coin? How to Collect American Gold Eagles What Should I Look for When Collecting American Gold Eagles? 3 Ways to Collect Gold Eagle Coins Where to Buy American Gold Eagle CoinsThe History of U.S. American Gold Eagles & Their Face Value First issued in 1986, the American Gold Eagle is a gold bullion coin produced by the United States Mint and is considered legal tender. It’s also available in four different denominations or sizes, which are 1 ounce ($50 face value), ½ ounce ($25 face value), ¼ ounce ($10 face value), and 1/10 ounce ($5 face value). The obverse of each American Gold Eagle coin follows the same…

We often say gold bullion, but do we truly understand what it means? Or why it's called bullion? Keep reading because we’ll answer those questions, including where to buy gold bullion.What Is Gold Bullion? Gold bullion refers to rounds, bars, coins, and ingots of highly refined uncoined gold. How refined? In its purest form, it is between 99.5%-99.99% of pure gold.  How pure the gold is will also determine its value. Weight is another factor that contributes to the value of  gold bullion – the more weight pure gold bullion has, the more value it has. Typically, gold bullion weighs between 1 troy ounce to 1 kilogram; however, it can weigh up to a whopping 400 troy ounces (over 27 pounds) in some instances. These factors are important if you plan to invest in gold bullion.  According to this Forbes article, per the IRS, with precious metal IRAs, “Gold must be 99.5% pure.” Examples of allowable products include Canadian gold Maple Leaf coins, bullion Australian gold Koala…

By GovMint :Collecting U.S. gold coins is a challenging but fun and exciting hobby for anyone who wants to start something new. You might be asking yourself whether or not gold coins are worth collecting. And what is the best way to collect them? We’ll answer these questions and more in this complete guide to collecting U.S. gold coins.Table of Contents The History of U.S. Gold Coins & Their Face Value Why Collect U.S. Gold Coins? How to Start Collecting U.S. Gold Coins Where to Buy U.S. Gold CoinsThe History of U.S. Gold Coins & Their Face Value U.S. gold coins have had a long yet complicated history. In 1792, the young U.S. government authorized the production of the first gold coins. It wasn’t until 1795, however, that these coins would be minted. The Gold Eagle Coin, which had a face value of $10 during the late 1700s – a significant amount of money at the time – was one of the first. Only 5,583 are known to have been made. The United States Mint would continue…