As the shortest-lived half dollar series of the 20th century, the Franklin Half Dollar series might seem like an easy set to complete at first glance. Looks can be deceiving however, as this series can be particularly difficult to complete if the focus is on obtaining well struck pieces with good eye appeal. Yet the […]
Affordable Low Mintage US Coins
Key date coins have always been favorites of both beginning and advanced collectors. Coins such as the 1909-S VDB Lincoln Cent and the 1916-D Mercury Dime have been touted as low-mintage issues ever since they first entered circulation. They have captured the imagination of both young and old, and many dreams have come true when […]
Two Cent Piece First To Include “In God We Trust” Motto
The two cent piece is one of the oddball denominations that were once part of the American monetary system. Minted for only a brief period from 1864-1873, the coins are now largely forgotten and if encountered are generally considered to be something unusual that is hard to imagine as having ever been used in commerce. […]
Collecting a Short Set of Walking Liberty Half Dollars
In 1916 the Walking Liberty Half Dollar was introduced, replacing the Barber design that had been in use since the early 1890’s and had been prone to a lot of criticism. The new design would become part of a complete redesign of American silver coinage, also resulting in the Mercury Dime, Standing Liberty Quarter and […]
CAC Provides Valuable Feedback for Collectors
About two years ago, I became a collector member of the Certified Acceptance Corporation (CAC) and submitted some of the classic coins from my collection for evaluation. I anticipated that nearly all of these coins would receive stickers, as I believed I had always carefully selected my coins for eye appeal and quality within the […]
Collecting Early Proof Jefferson Nickels
Proof Nickels have been produced for collectors since the denomination was introduced in 1866. Every type had Proof versions struck, although not all dates in the Buffalo Nickel are known in Proof format, since production of Proof coins ceased during the First World War and would not resume until the mid 1930s. A type set […]
Deep Cameo vs. Mirror
Do you know your Cameos from Mirrors? Cameos have to do with proofs, and Mirrors with mint state. Cameos are an especially important condition with Franklin Half Dollars, and mirrors with Morgan dollars. So let’s use those denominations as examples and acquaint ourselves with how the top grading companies distinguish their various designations–Cameo Proof, Deep/Ultra […]
1933 Double Eagle Gold Coin Begins European Tour
Within the splendor that is the Goldsmith’s Hall, among the priceless paintings and abundant city-of-London history, the display of the legendary 1933 Saint Gaudens Double Eagle gold coin made a bit of history itself today. On loan by special permission from the Smithsonian Institution and in conjunction with the Samler Huset Group, sponsors of the […]
The Design of the Buffalo Nickel
The Buffalo Nickel has captivated the imagination of the American public for almost a century. Its design, with a Native American on the obverse and a “Buffalo” on the reverse, seems to echo the spirit of the American West. The designer, James Earle Fraser, managed to create a design which perhaps did not represent American […]
My Top 10 Morgan Dollar Varieties
Many auctioneers and some dealers do not recognize obvious varieties of Morgan dollars, even though these coins command a premium–meaning you can cherrypick them and build a nifty collection at discount prices. We’re not talking about the gazillion VAM varieties. (“VAM” is an acronym for the authors of The Comprehensive Catalogue and Encyclopedia of U.S. […]
