Assigning a grade to a coin is an art, not a science. It is often highly subjective, especially when working with Mint State coins where small differences in grade make big differences in price. Even so,...
Beginning in 2004, PCGS began designating coins delivered by the U.S. Mint in the 30 day period following the initial sales date of a new product as "First Strike". For instance, new American Silver Eagles...
After the discovery of gold in the southern United States a new mint was constructed in Dahlonega, Georgia. The first coinage exited its doors in 1838 and it continued minting until it was closed due to the...
Those 1921 Morgan dollar Proofs supposedly struck for coin dealer Henry Chapman. These have cameo devices and deeply mirrored surfaces like most Morgan dollar Proofs. (George Morgan did bill Henry Chapman for...
Burnishing is a process by which the surfaces of a planchet or a coin are made to shine through rubbing or polishing. This term is used in two contexts – one positive, one negative. In a positive sense, Proof...
The Utah quarter shows two locomotives moving toward the Golden Spike that joined the Central Pacific and Union Pacific railroads, creating the nation’s transcontinental railroad in 1869. The inscription says,...
The first strong doubled die obverse reported for the 2006 Lincoln cent! The coin boasts a Lincoln portrait with a strongly doubled earlobe with the secondary lobe fully displaced from its point of origin to...
ƈ-Headed' Coins DO NOT come from the U.S. mint. Why is it impossible for the 2-headed coin to come from the U.S. mint? The U.S. Mint (and most other world mints) have built-in protections against accidentally...
New Washington Dollar Scam One of the hottest items on Ebay is the new Washington dollar with the plain edge. Yes, the Mint did make some errors where they did not put the edge lettering on some of the P Mint...
All Lincoln cent collectors are very much aware of the 1955 Doubled-Die Wheat cent (Philadelphia minted). Definitely the King of Doubled Dies for the series. Every collector wants one, but not everyone can...