Page 4 - Collector Tips

By: Armen R. Vartian[1] In my over 35 years representing coin collectors, I’m often approached by a collector asking how to sell his or her collection.  There’s no one-size-fits-all answer, and a lot depends upon (1) what coins are in the collection and (2) what the collector’s timetable is.  Anyone interested in selling their coins should keep these two criteria in mind.Going to a local coin shop with coins you bought from a national retailer or at a coin auction can be a costly mistake.  Local dealers, however well-intentioned, need to make a profit on the coins they buy for inventory, and if they don’t have a ready customer for your coins, they’ll inevitably pay you less than a bigger company that always has customers for that type of coin.  Approaching another dealer or auction house that hasn’t seen your coins also adds steps to the process, as that dealer generally will require you to send your coins to them, or allow one of their representatives to visit you at…

By Sean McConeghy The American Gold Eagle debuted in 1986 and has since been one of the world's most popular bullion coins. The series has borne the same designs since the series began, but the reverse image is set to change for the first time in mid-2021. Jennie Norris designed the American Gold Eagle new reverse, but the sculpting job was assigned to Renata Gordon. Who is Renata Gordon, and what role will she play as the American Gold Eagle sculptor? Read more below to find out! Who is Renata Gordon? Renata Gordon graduated from the prestigious University of the Arts in Philadelphia with a Bachelor of Fine Arts degree in 2010. Although she is a talented painter who has completed murals and portraits, her degree was in sculpture. Three months after graduating, she joined the United States Mint's sculptor-engraving department. Gordon currently submits designs for new coins and medals and sculpts work submitted by other artists. In the past, she had designed and sculpted the 2018…

By Ray James   Collectors around the world have been eagerly anticipating the debut of a brand-new reverse design for the American Silver Eagle series. Celebrating its 35th anniversary in 2021, the series has featured the iconic heraldic eagle reverse design created by John Mercanti, the 12th former Chief Engraver of the United States Mint since it was first issued in1986. The new reverse design was created by Emily Damstra, but who is she and why was her design chosen? Learn more below!Who is Emily Damstra?     Emily Damstra is a freelance artist, science illustrator, coin designer, and medalist. She graduated from the University of Michigan with a Master of Fine Arts (MFA) degree in science illustration. She is part of the U.S. Mint's Artistic Infusion Program (AIP), which includes numerous talented professional American artists who lend their talent to creating stunning coin designs.    Ms. Damstra is a dual citizen of the United States and Canada and has designed…

By Sean McConeghy The American Gold Eagle made its debut in 1986 and quickly became a favorite among collectors around the world. Since the beginning of the series, the iconic Saint-Gaudens obverse design and Miley Busiek's reverse design have remained unchanged. At some point during 2021 that classic reverse design will be replaced by a new eagle design created by Jennie Norris, a highly accomplished artist, and passionate conservationist.Who is Jennie Norris?   Norris is a graphic designer who currently works at the University of Arizona. A specialist in fine art, graphic design, and illustration, she recently became a part of the United States Mint's Artistic Infusion Program (AIP). She works in graphite and liquid graphite. Remarkably, the Gold Eagle's new reverse will be her first design to appear on a coin.Why was Jennie Norris' reverse design chosen? Norris' design was among a total of thirty-nine that were submitted to the Commission on Fine Arts (CFA) and the Citizens…

By Louis Golino   When it comes to modern U.S. coins, rarity as defined solely by a coin’s mintage usually matters less than the rarity of a particular coin relative to the other coins in its series. In addition, certain modern U.S. coins are always in demand even when they are not the lowest-mintage coins of their series – perhaps because they are unique or were the first of their type. Within that group there is a small subset of coins that are also so low in mintage that they are unlikely to be overtaken by another coin in the same series that has yet to be released. This is typically because special circumstances surrounded their release such a planchet shortage. These are arguably the five best examples of coins that will likely remain in demand indefinitely and in most cases may remain the key date coins within their respective series.2008-W American Buffalo Gold $50 Burnished coinThe 2013-W American Buffalo Gold $50 Proof coin’s mintage was lower than that of the…

By Sean McConeghy Just a couple of decades ago, it was somewhat challenging for coin collectors to find information on their favorite hobby. They had to seek dealers, go to libraries, buy books, and jump through other hoops to find necessary information. Fortunately, the internet has simplified matters, putting all that information within a few clicks. Unfortunately, with the abundance of good information comes plenty of misleading or outdated information, which is why it is important to utilize reputable sources when researching anything related to coin collecting or precious metals.    Here are some of our picks for the best coin-collecting websites on the internet.The United States MintThe United States Mint is perhaps the best coin-collecting website for modern American coins. The site has information about new releases, ongoing series and programs, a history of the Mint section, and even biographies about its many talented artists. The Mint's website also has important areas…

By Ray James   Updated on 08/31/2021   The American Gold Eagle series was introduced in 1986. It was a latecomer to the world of private gold ownership, as it debuted after other modern series like the South African Gold Krugerrand, the Canadian Gold Maple, and the Mexican Gold Libertad. At the time, this was the only modern gold bullion coin series to be guaranteed by the United States government for both purity and gold weight.    The design features the familiar Augustus Saint-Gaudens $20 “Double Eagle” obverse depicting a full-length Liberty holding the Torch of Enlightenment overhead. The reverse featured an original-to-the-series “Family of Eagles” design by artist Miley (Busiek) Tucker-Frost for the first 35 years of its history. This design was replaced in mid-2021 with a new reverse. This change marks a clear boundary between the Type-1 American Gold Eagle design and the recently debuted Type-2 design.   The series remains popular with collectors either…

By Louis Golino   During times of economic dislocation and massive stock market volatility, such as the present coronavirus crisis, investors often flock to gold as a safe haven and buy gold coins, which has recently led to an influx of new buyers. Unlike the last major economic crisis that began in 2008, when spot gold prices declined by 30% as the economy and markets tanked, this time gold is increasing in value after a brief period in March when equities suddenly turned sharply down. Investors needed to raise cash by selling their gold. Since then, gold has reached as much as $1750 per ounce -- its highest level since 2012, only $150 below its all-time high of $1900 in August 2011.There has also been an unprecedented increase in demand for physical gold, which has resulted in a shortage of gold coins on the market and pushed their premiums up substantially. While the premiums on modern gold bullion pieces, especially popular American Gold Eagle coins, are at their highest…

By Ray James   Counterfeits are as old as circulating coinage, currency, and the hobby of collecting them. Through the years, various mints around the world have developed coin security features and anti-counterfeiting technologies. These safeguards have been put in place to help collectors and the public have faith the money in their pockets, and that their collections are filled with genuine coins, bullion, and currency.   2021 Silver Eagle Re-design     The most notable development in the last year or so regarding safety features and anti-counterfeiting technology is the upcoming 2021 redesign of the American Silver and Gold Eagle coinage which will debut at some point in mid-2021. The United States. Mint has confirmed that with their redesign of these iconic coins, an undisclosed amount of coin security features will be incorporated. At this point, the nature of these U.S. Mint security features or the exact design they anticipate using have not been disclosed, but this…

By GovMint :What is Coin Grading? Grading is a way of determining the physical condition of a coin. Coin grading is both an art and a science. According to standards accepted by collectors, a coin is given a grade based on factors such as the strength of strike, wear, contact marks, and eye appeal. The grading scale assigns a whole number between 1 and 70 with 70 being a perfect, flawless coin. Grades range from poor, almost completely worn out, to perfect mint state, a coin with absolutely no wear and no flaws of any kind. With experience and much practice, many people can learn to grade with moderate degrees of accuracy, but few are able to grade a coin with the precision required to become a professional. The grade of a coin goes a long way in determining its value and seemingly insignificant, easily overlooked flaws can make thousands of dollars of difference. Coins that have been properly stored since the day they were minted are called “uncirculated” or “mint…