Coin Collecting

How To Sell Your Old Coins Online

Check out resources like PCGS to see what range the coin you’re trying to sell is in. Compare your coin to photos of different grades of coins (If yours isn’t already graded) to figure out roughly what condition it may be in and how much it could be worth.

If you think your coin is worth over $100, it’s probably worthwhile to get it graded by a professional grading company, like PCGS or NGC. A grading for more valuable coins could mean the difference of at least a couple hundred dollars, but probably much more than that! Especially if you’ve got a real rarity on your hands!

How To Sell Your Old Coins Online Selling coins online can seem a bit intimidating, but we'll walk you through it! Listing your coins in an online shop can be a breeze, just remember to have fun with it! Sell what coin collectors want!

The Most Beautiful Silver Coin Ever Produced

The Walking Liberty Half Dollar is widely considered the most beautiful silver coin the U.S. has produced. It really is a striking coin (no pun intended!), especially with the newer modified design on the Silver Eagles.

It was first struck in 1916, when the new Director of the U.S. Mint, Robert W. Woolley, began replacing the Barber coinage. Woolley had misinterpreted the coinage laws. He thought that since the current coins had been in circulation for 25 years, they must be replaced. In reality, 25 years was just the minimum amount of time for coins to be in circulation. Woops! Sorry Barber!

The Most Beautiful Silver Coin Ever Produced The Walking Liberty Half Dollar is widely considered the most beautiful silver coin the U.S. has produced, especially with the newer modified design on the Silver Eagles.

Why You Shouldn't Clean Old Coins

Patina (The natural layers of toning a coin acquires over the years) is desired and appreciated on a coin. Numismatists will outright decline on purchasing an old coin that’s been obviously cleaned.

Think of it like a nice aged whisky, or wine. It gets better as the years go on, adding depth and complexity to the flavor. It’s much the same with coins (minus the flavor part of course, we do not recommend tasting your coins!)

Why You Shouldn't Clean Old Coins Wondering how to clean silver coins? Should you clean your coins? Why is it so bad to clean your old coins? Cleaning coins can ruin the patina, a feature that's often desired by avid collectors in the market. Cleaning will also take off little bits of the metal, meaning you're degrading the coin and...

10 Most Valuable US Coins

1901 had some interesting things happening, It was the turn of the century. A new age.

Theodore Roosevelt was sworn in to the Presidency after William McKinley died from being shot. Butch Cassidy and the Sundance Kid rob a train in Montana, and the Cadillac Motor company is founded. This year has some history!

In the same year, Just 813 Morgan Silver Dollar proof coins, and many more standard coins were released from the Philadelphia Mint. The Morgan Silver Dollar was designed by George T. Morgan, and modeled after Anna Willess Williams, a teacher and philosophical writer from Philadelphia. Morgan wanted to represent the average American, rather than the popular Greek style figures depicted on coins.

In 2015, an MS66 grade of this coin sold for 587,500.00!

10 Most Valuable US Coins Top 10 rare coins that earned big money. What makes a coin so valuable? In this article we’re going to delve just a little bit into 10 of the most valuable coins that earned some big bucks.

Chief Engraver of the U.S. Mint: Robert Scot

In 1780, after 6 weeks of siege, Major General Benjamin Lincoln surrendered and Charleston was taken by British forces. In September, a plot was discovered.

Major General Benedict Arnold had planned to hand the command of West Point, New York over to the British. Arnold, now discovered to be a traitor, fled and defected to the British forces. John Andre, who assisted in the plot was discovered to be a British spy and was captured and hanged.

Chief Engraver of the U.S. Mint: Robert Scot The life of Robert Scot, the first Chief Engraver of the US Mint during the American Revolution. Robert Scot engraved the coin designs for the flowing hair silver dollar, the draped bust half dollar, and the liberty cap half cent.

Chief Engraver of The U.S. Mint: George T. Morgan

George T. Morgan designed many patterns for coins during his time at the U.S. Mint, one of the first was a $100 Gold Union Coin. An absolutely beautiful design, featuring Lady Liberty seated, and the reverse an eagle perched on a union shield.

It was unfortunately rejected. However, it has since been struck by private companies like the New York Mint ltd. (Not official U.S. Mint)

Some of Morgan's other pattern coins include the "Coiled Hair Stella", the 1879 "Schoolgirl" dollar and the 1882 "Shield Earring" coins.

Chief Engraver of The U.S. Mint: George T. Morgan Chief Engraver of the U.S. Mint. He was a talented artist whose coins were not so popular in their time, but are highly sought after today. George T. Morgan.

The Most Beautiful Gold Coin Ever Produced

Saint-Gaudens’ design for the double eagle had the full figure of Lady Liberty modeled after Hettie Anderson. The African-American model whose likeness he’d previously used for other sculptures.

The figure had open wings, and an American shield in her left hand, with a torch in her right. He sent it to Roosevelt, stating “My idea is to make it a living thing, and typical of progress”.

The Most Beautiful Gold Coin Ever Produced The most beautiful gold coin the U.S. ever minted. One year is still illegal to own! Updated and placed on the American Gold Eagles in 1986, Saint-Gaudens design is truly the most beautiful gold coin.

Exploring the Origins and Meanings of Coin Nicknames

The names of coins have a long and fascinating history rooted in the languages and cultures of the people who first used them. Many of the names of modern coins have their origins in the ancient Romans' language, which profoundly influenced the development of Western culture and language.

In addition to their official names, many coins have developed popular nicknames. Collectors and everyday people often use these nicknames to refer to the coins in a more colloquial way. Many of the nicknames for U.S. coins have been lost to history, but the ones that remain offer a glimpse into American currency's rich and diverse history. Enjoy learning about the murky history of coin nicknames.

Exploring the Origins and Meanings of Coin Nicknames The names of coins have a long and fascinating history rooted in the languages and cultures of the people who first used them. Many of the names of modern coins have their origins in the ancient Romans' language, which profoundly influenced the development of Western culture and language.

10 Most Valuable Half Dollars

The 1870 Liberty Seated Half Dollar is the first year that the Carson City Mint started producing coins, making this a desirable CC Mint mark year for collectors. Not many coins were produced this year and there were low mintages across all denominations, which meant that there were many rarities and only a few Mint State examples exist. In 2011, an MS62 graded coin sold for $172,500.

10 Most Valuable Half Dollars 10 valuable half dollars, and their auction records.

Top 10 Most Valuable Rare Wheat Pennies Worth Money

The 1917 Double Die Wheat penny exhibits class V doubling, or “pivoted hub doubling. It’s not a very strong doubled die, and the doubling is mostly seen on the date and in the words IN GOD WE TRUST. This is a very popular coin among coin collectors so it’s certainly one to look out for. It may be difficult to see the doubling on worn coins.

In 2019, the finest known specimen of this coin, graded MS67+RD sold for a whopping $180,000!

Top 10 Most Valuable Rare Wheat Pennies Worth Money The wheat penny, or wheat cent, is one of the most popular coins to collect in the world of coin collecting. So what pennies are worth money? Rare Pennies that exhibit little to no wear on them will fetch a much higher price and earn you more money than worn, circulated coins.

5 Rare and Valuable Lincoln Wheat Pennies

The 1922 “plain” wheat penny is a wheat penny that was produced at the Denver mint. In fact in 1922, Wheat Pennies were ONLY produced at the Denver Mint! So there are two types of wheat pennies from 1922, one with a D mint mark and one without. The one without is worth significantly more than the one with a mintmark so look out for that one! The auction record for the 1922 D no D wheat penny was a MS64 graded coin that sold in 2008 for $92,000. The average 1922 D no D wheat penny is worth anywhere from $200-$35,000 depending on the condition! Definitely a rare coin to add to your collection.

5 Rare and Valuable Lincoln Wheat Pennies These five small wheat pennies are worth big money. Want to find out if you have them in your change?

How To Tell if You Have a Rare Sacagawea Coin

The Sacagawea dollar coin with edge lettering is certainly the most valuable of the sacagawea dollar coins, but why is it the most valuable?

Well, as there is only one known in existence, rarity already adds to its value. Why is it rare? This coin has edge lettering that is supposed to only be on the Presidential dollar coins! That means that this coin accidentally ended up tossed in with the Presidential dollar coins, likely from an employee finding it on the ground and without really looking at it assumed it was a presidential dollar.

How To Tell if You Have a Rare Sacagawea Coin The Sacagawea dollar coin is a popular though not commonly valuable coin among coin collectors, though there are a couple of the Sacagawea dollars that are worth quite a bit.

When Was the Kennedy Half Dollar Produced?Are they Worth Anything

After the assassination, the Mint was considering which coin to use for the new coin honoring the president. The options were the dollar coin, half dollar, or the quarter. Ultimately it was decided it should be the half dollar, as Jacqueline Kennedy preferred it and didn’t want to replace George Washington on the quarter.

The design used for the new half dollar actually came from an already existing bust that Chief Engraver Gilroy Roberts, had made for the Kennedy Medal, this saved a lot of time and allowed the coin to be produced as quickly as possible.

When Was the Kennedy Half Dollar Produced?Are they Worth Anything While there aren’t many Kennedy Half Dollars that are worth massive amounts of money, there are a few that can net you a small chunk of change.

4 Steps to Determine What Your Coin is Worth

What does getting your coin graded and authenticated mean? And when do you need to do it? Let’s discuss!

In the world of numismatics, there are professional grading services such as PCGS or NGC that will grade your coins for you, for a fee of course. This grading by these services helps to prove that your coin is the real deal, and has been evaluated by someone who is unbiased and not going to say the coin is of better quality even if it is not.

These companies professionally examine your coin and determine the quality, it then gets packaged up in what’s called a slab—which is a protective plastic case—and gets a sticker of authentication, proving it’s legit.

4 Steps to Determine What Your Coin is Worth Have you been looking through your pocket change or your coin jar and wondering “are these coins worth anything?” well the good news is that they just might be!

A Brief History of the Inactive U.S. Mints

The Carson City Mint of Carson City Nevada was created in 1863, but it didn’t actually operate until seven years later in 1870. As with most of the other branch mints, the Carson City Mint was built to help with the minting of silver coins from a silver mine in the area, this time the Comstock Lode. The mint operated for 15 years, then went on a hiatus until 1889, when it resumed operations until 1893.

The Carson City mint then became an assay office in 1895 for both gold and silver, and in 1933, it shut down for good. The building was sold to the State of Nevada in 1939, and turned into the Nevada State Museum, Carson City.

Coins struck at the Carson City mint are quite rare due to low mintages and are much loved and highly sought after by coin collectors. In 2021, Morgan and Peace dollars were struck with a CC privy mark to honor the Carson City Mint.

A Brief History of the Inactive U.S. Mints Over the years, there have been mints that were opened to serve a boom in gold or silver in the area, but have since closed due to no longer being needed. There are 4 branch mints that no longer operate.

A Brief History of the US Mint

The West Point Mint is the newest of the branch mints, and opened up as an official branch mint in 1988. Before gaining status as an official branch mint, it was the West Point Bullion Depository, and was (and still is) a location for the United States to store bullion.

The West Point mint is now where the United States produces gold, silver, platinum, and palladium American Eagle coins. Some of the most popular U.S. coins to collect.

A Brief History of the US Mint Those little letters are called mintmarks, and they indicate which mint facility that coin was struck at, and sometimes those little letters will make your coin much more valuable.

A coin that inspired a novel—which was later made into two films—as well as inspiring other novels over the years, The Brasher Doubloon is quite a famous coin. It is likely the most well known rare coin in the United States, and it's worth much more than its weight in gold.

Minted in 1787 by silversmith, and assayer, Ephraim Brasher, and is considered the first coin minted in and for the United States. In 2021, this coin broke a record for gold coins in the U.S. when it was sold for $9.36 million! This record was actually broken again just 6 months later by another coin on our list..

https://www.coincollecting.com/these-5-coins-are-worth-millions

Should I sell my coin collection?

A coin collection isn't just about hoarding minted metal for the sake of it. Those coins have actual value that could be of great help to your heirs someday in their future. It stands to reason that any great parent or guardian would want to leave their dependents an inheritance.

If you want to bequeath them something substantial, then the coin collection can be included in your will. Because it's possible it can increase in value as the years roll by, it makes for a perfect gift for your great-grandchild.

Should I sell my coin collection? That coin cache will be enjoyed by another individual at some point in life when you exit the stage. It thus begs the question, "Should I pass them on to my heirs, or sell them?"

Top 5 Best Places To Sell Coins Online

You’ve spent tons of time and energy building up your collection of rare silver and gold coins or bullion. The last thing you want to do is go through the whole rigamarole of websites, trying to figure which is the best place to sell my coins online.

We’ve gone through 5 places to buy and sell coins online and compiled a nice list for you to use.

Top 5 Best Places To Sell Coins Online Looking for the best place to sell coins online? Nothing’s closer than home right? You don’t even have to leave your chair to get there! Just go online!

The 4 Main Types of US Coins

The US Cent, or Penny as it’s most commonly called, was first produced in the year 1793. The Penny at this time was actually much larger than it is today, almost the size of a half dollar! The first design of the Cent was the Flowing Hair design, and was used on all of the coinage released at this time. (It was common for all denominations to share the same design for many years).

The 4 Main Types of US Coins There are 4 main types of U.S. Coins, and there are two that are not as commonly used. The first 4 are coins that are minted for General Circulation, this means that these coins are minted specifically for the public to use in everyday transactions. The four main types of U.S. Coins are as follows;....

10 Most Valuable Quarters

The 1822 Capped Bust quarter is another quarter with two varieties, the normal date and the 25/50 where they reused 50 cent coins and re-struck the 25 cent denomination over them. There are about 12 known Mint State examples of the normal date 1822 quarter. The U.S. Mint had a tendency to reuse old coins at this time, so between 1822 and 1828 there are many re-strikes. In 2015, an MS64 Graded coin sold for $35,250.

10 Most Valuable Quarters 10 most valuable quarters that are worth big money for collecting. Check out the top rare quarters and how much they've sold for

When Were Dimes and Quarters Made of Silver?

All quarters before 1965 were made of silver, so if you’ve got a quarter dated before then, it’s a safe bet to say it’s a silver quarter.



There were also some Bicentennial quarters made with silver (but not all), the Bicentennial quarters that are made of silver are the ones with an S mintmark (struck at the San Francisco Mint). These quarters were made with 40% silver

When Were Dimes and Quarters Made of Silver? Silver dimes, quarters, and actually even half-dollars usually fall into a category called “junk silver”. This just means that there is no numismatic value to the coin, but it’s made of silver so there’s some value in it because of the silver content.

Is It Illegal To Melt U.S. Coins?

In 2006, copper prices were on the rise. Copper is a main metal in pennies and nickels, and the amount of copper in those coins became worth more than the actual face value of the coin itself!



The Mint, foreseeing coins being pulled out of circulation and melted for people to profit off, implemented an interim rule that made it illegal to melt nickels and pennies, or to export them in mass quantities. Naturally, this would cost the government and taxpayers money, because coins would be needed to replace the ones that had been melted down.

Is It Illegal To Melt U.S. Coins? The short answer? It is illegal to melt and profit off of pennies and nickels. This also includes exportation of these coins (which usually is then melted in other countries).

What Metals are Considered Precious?

The largest factor in the worth and value of metals such as gold, is--and you might have guessed this--the scarcity. When there’s not a whole lot of something, it tends to drive the value up as it’s desirable. People want something that’s rare, so they can say they have a piece of this thing that not many other people have.

What Metals are Considered Precious? What are precious metals? You may think of gold and silver and know that they are generally high value metals, but why? Why do we think this particular metal is worth more than another? Why are they precious metals?

What is Junk Silver?

If you’re looking into starting to purchase silver, you might be wondering if it’s better to purchase bullion coins like the silver eagle series, or bags of junk silver. The short answer to that is, it doesn’t really matter, some collectors prefer silver or gold eagles, and some prefer bags of old quarters or dimes, it’s really a personal preference to what you want in your collection of coins. But it’s always good to have diversity in a collection of coins and precious metals.

What is Junk Silver? Junk silver is a type of silver coin that isn’t really worth anything in the value of numismatics, collectibles, or history, but it’s worth more than face value in its silver content.

10 Most Valuable Dimes

The 1860 O Liberty Seated dime marked the end of dime production at the New Orleans Mint for more than three decades, until 1891, when the Seated Liberty dime was produced for one year and then followed by the Barber dime. Only 40,000 dimes were produced this year, making it one of the lowest mintages. This is a rare coin in any grade and is highly desirable among coin collectors. In 2022, the MS67 graded coin featured on the left sold for $192,000.

10 Most Valuable Dimes 10 most valuable dimes that are worth big money for collecting. Check out our list of rare coins to look for!

10 Most Valuable Pennies

The 1877 Indian Head Cent is considered a major key date in the series, with a mintage of only 850,000 these can be hard to find in good condition, and nearly impossible to find in uncirculated condition. In 2009, an MS66RD graded coin (pictured left) sold for $149,500!

10 Most Valuable Pennies If you’re just starting out collecting coins and you’re not sure what to keep your eyes peeled for, or if you have been collecting for years and just need a refresher, we’ve made a list for you of 10 valuable pennies you need to have in your collection. Check out our list of rare coins to look...

10 Valuable Coins To Collect

The 1969-S Lincoln Doubled Die penny is a popular rare coin that can bring in–well to overuse the saying–quite the pretty penny!

This coin features doubling on the obverse (which is the front) of the coin, and it’s quite prominent. The doubling appears in a south-east direction and the coin and shows strongly on the date, and on the words LIBERTY and IN GOD WE TRUST. The highest price this coin has sold for is $126,500 for a MS64 graded coin in 2008.

10 Valuable Coins To Collect 10 Valuable coins to add to your collection that are worth looking out for! Check out our list of rare coins to look for

Valuable Serial Numbers on Dollar Bills

Bills are a bit different than coins, while there are specific bills that are worth more than face value, mainly it’s interesting numbers that will fetch you a higher price in the paper money collecting world.

Say you find a dollar bill that has the serial number 12345678, that’s going to be worth a lot more than a bill that has a “plain” or “boring” number. With dollar bill serial numbers, the cooler and more unique, the better.

There are a few types of numbers that you’ll want to look out for, read on to find out what dollar bills are worth collecting.

Valuable Serial Numbers on Dollar Bills Say you find a dollar bill that has the serial number 12345678, that’s going to be worth a lot more than a bill that has a “plain” or “boring” number. With dollar bill serial numbers, the cooler and more unique, the better. There are a few types of numbers that you’ll want to look out fo...

The Beginner's guide to collecting coins

You’ve found some of the coins you want to collect, now you have to determine the quality of said coin. Is it worth keeping in this condition? Should I hang onto it, but continue looking for a better quality coin?

Make note of the things you notice about your coin. Does it look very worn down? Does it have any of its luster left? What Mint is it from?

Grading a coin evaluates the wear it has gone through in its life. Grading can be very subjective from person to person. While that definitely sounds like things could get confusing, there are some recognized standards of grading that most people seem to agree on.

The Beginner's guide to collecting coins Beginning to collect coins may feel a little daunting at first, but really you can start just by checking out the coins in your pocket.

What Are Bullion Coins?

In the 1930s, the U.S. began to move away from the gold-standard. This was mainly due to the Great Depression, and was put into motion in an effort to save the economy, by President Franklin D. Roosevelt. Naturally, the price of gold began to increase after this.

And finally in the 60s, due to the rising costs of the precious metal, silver was also removed from the U.S. coinage. If you look, you can usually still find silver coins, especially if you have an old coin jar that’s been sitting for many years. Look for Mercury head dimes, as well as dimes and quarters prior to the year 1965; these were all made with silver!

What Are Bullion Coins? Are you wondering just what exactly is bullion? No it’s not those soup stock cubes, that’s bouillon. Bullion refers to precious metals (like gold or silver) valued by weight! They’re usually produced in coins or bars.

The History of the Sacagawea Dollar

In 1999, twelve Sacagawea dollar coins were struck in .9167 fine (22-karat) gold. These were struck to “commemorate the historic flight of the space shuttle Columbia in July 1999”. They were sent aboard the shuttle, and after returning to earth they were stored in Fort Knox. They stayed in Fort Knox until 2007, when they were shown at the ANA’s World’s Fair of Money. They were returned to Fort Knox after the exhibition, and is where they remain to this day.

The History of the Sacagawea Dollar There are a few types of Sacagawea Dollar coins that can be quite valuable and are worth looking out for. The Sacagawea dollar has since become the Native American Dollar coin. Did you know that 12 Sacagawea dollars flew into space in 1999?

What Are Modern Coins Made of?

At one time, our coins were made of gold, and silver!

Now it’s a bit different, the United States’ coinage has switched to a composition of different metals. This was mainly due to the rising costs of precious metals. The Mint needed to make the cost of producing coins cheaper.

So what metals do they use in coins instead?

What Are Modern Coins Made of? From the penny to the quarter, we've broken it down for you. From the year 1792 to present day modern coins, here's what coins are made of.

The Most Rare Pennies, Nickels, Dimes, and Quarters

Remember, when looking for rare and valuable coins, always be sure to keep an eye out for especially good looking specimens; these are the coins that will earn you big bucks. Uncirculated (meaning they show no signs of wear from being used) coins will always fetch a higher price than circulated coins.

The Most Rare Pennies, Nickels, Dimes, and Quarters What pennies, nickels, dimes and quarters are worth money? We’ve got a list for you of the 10 most rare and valuable coins, pennies, nickels, dimes, and quarters to look for all in one place.

What is a Mint Mark and How Important is it?

Philadelphia

Coins that are produced here will either contain no mint mark, or a P mint mark. The P mint mark appears on all denominations except the cent from 1978-present, with the two exceptions being in 2017 the P mint mark appeared on cents to commemorate the U.S. Mint’s 225th anniversary, and from 1942-1945 the P mint mark appeared on Jefferson Nickels

What is a Mint Mark and How Important is it? How important are mint marks and where do I find them on a coin? Mint marks are letters indicating where that particular coin was made, they are usually located...

Chief Engraver of the U.S. Mint: John R. Sinnock

During his time as Chief Engraver, Sinnock produced a number of coins, such as the 1926 Sesquicentennial American Independence Half Dollar for the 150th anniversary of the signing of the Declaration of Independence. This coin was actually designed by John Frederick Lewis, and Sinnock sculpted it for the coin. Sinnock had originally designed the coin, but it was so disliked that they brought in a different designer.

Chief Engraver of the U.S. Mint: John R. Sinnock John R. Sinnock was the eighth Chief Engraver of the United States Mint. He is most famous for designing the Roosevelt Dime.

5 Income Earning Side Hustles You Can Do From Home

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But for everyone who’s willing to buckle up and get at it? Let’s get started!

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The Liberty Head V Nickel

It didn’t take long before enterprising fraudsters realized that the new five-cent piece looked very much like the $5 gold coin. If they just plated the five-cent piece with gold, it could pass as one of the $5 gold coins that were currently circulating!

One story of fraudulent $5 coins claims that a man would buy something at a store for .05 cents or less using the fake $5 coin, and the clerk would give him change for $5.00, which the man accepted as a “gift”!

Supposedly the law had nothing they could charge him with as he never bought anything worth more than five cents!

The Liberty Head V Nickel 1913 Liberty head V nickels, no one knows where the coins came from, or who at the Mint decided to unofficially strike them. Three coins are all privately owned by collectors, and in August of 2018, one specimen sold for $4.5 million!

Chief Engraver of the U.S. Mint: Charles Barber

Charles also designed many pattern coins, one of them being the $4 Gold Stella, the first and last of its kind. This coin was meant for joining the Latin Monetary Union, which would essentially allow the coin to be used across the world. There were two types of the Stella made, the flowing hair (designed by Barber) and the coiled hair (designed by Morgan)

Chief Engraver of the U.S. Mint: Charles Barber Charles Barber was the sixth Chief Engraver of the US Mint, and designed many famous coins that are quite valuable today. Most notably the Liberty Head V nickel. He also designed the Barber series of coinage, and the Liberty Head series, as well as many pattern coins.