Coins

kid in a candy store

In 1958, I was going to a small three-room schoolhouse in central Montana. At lunch time, rather than all the kids going to the general store, they would designate only one person to go buy candy. You would tell that person what candy you wanted, then you would give them the money and they would return with your candy. This particular day it was my turn to go to the store. This girl came up to me, told me what candy she wanted, and placed a nickel in my palm. I looked down at the coin and realized this was something completely different. I never saw anything like this before. Upon further examination, I found it to be a 1903 Liberty Head “V” nickel. I knew this was something that…

reviewing ‘lost and found coin hoards’ 2nd edition

Have you ever dreamed about finding coins, perhaps buried or just lying on the ground? If so, then you would probably enjoy the book I’m reviewing in this column. It’s the second edition of Q. David Bowers’ Lost and Found Coin Hoards and Treasures. Q. David Bowers has been a major figure in the coin world since he began as a teenaged coin dealer in 1953, and he has received more accolades for his efforts than probably any other living numismatist. The author of more than 60 books, he is currently chairman emeritus of Stack’s Bowers Galleries. As testament to his writing ability, “His books have earned more ‘Book of the Year Award’ honors bestowed by the Numismatic Literary Guild than have those of any other author.” In other words, you…

junk silver: is there a better buy instead?

OVER THE YEARS, coin collectors/hoarders of all types have asked me to help them acquire some “junk” silver for its ability to appreciate in value over time. In other words, they were interested in having some bullion silver coins for the next time silver values take off, as they’re doing as I write this. My advice invariably has been to purchase silver coins with at least a modicum of numismatic potential rather than truly junk silver. Instead of buying a large number of circulated 1964 Kennedy half dollars or late-date Franklin halves in similar condition, for example, why not opt for circulated Walking Liberties with perhaps a Barber half or two thrown in? Similarly, instead of looking for circulated rolls of silver Roosevelt dimes, why not look for solid uncirculated rolls of…

the “other” white metals

COLLECTORS NOW HAVE more than three decades of gold and silver bullion coins from which to choose; and assembling collections of them can be a great deal of fun. The United States Mint has pounded out a river of gold one-ounce, half-ounce, 1/4-ounce and 1/10 ounce gold Eagles, and more recently has come out with high purity gold Buffaloes as well. For those of us who don’t quite have the means to assemble a full date run of something like one-ounce United States gold eagles with proof finishes – especially with the recent rise in the price of gold – the silver one-ounce eagles can be a much more attractive alternative. But what about the “other” white metals? What collecting possibilities exist for bullion coins made from platinum, palladium, or…

the rise and fall of america’s first bullion coin

THE TRADE DOLLAR WAS, for many years, a stepchild in American numismatics. Few collectors were actively involved in acquiring these coins and little was known about the coinage history of this era. In the past few years all of this has changed and at present there is strong interest in the series of Trade dollars. It all began in the late 1850s. Although there had been a shortage of silver coins in the early 1850s, a law of February 1853 solved this problem by lowering the weights of the minor silver coins so that they would not be bought up by bullion dealers and melted. The dollar was a special case, however, as the public could still bring in silver bullion in exchange for this denomination; minor coins were on government…

selling gold and silver while it’s hot

The COVID-19 pandemic and subsequent economic uncertainty have driven the prices of gold and silver to record levels. Gold value has been pushed up by $400 since the first of the year. Silver, likewise, is up about $8 on the year. Those are approximate gains of 28 percent and 45 percent, respectively. These increases have caused the average consumer to be interested in selling gold and silver items they already own to cash in while the market is hot. When gold and silver prices get this high, it’s clearly a perfect time to sell any chains, necklaces, rings, utensils, coins, medals or bars of gold or silver that you own but don’t need. The process of selling your scrap gold and silver can be tricky, but we’re here to help with…