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Finally. After much delay, the 2014 Mexican Silver Libertads have been released to the public. It’s not just the delay that makes these bullion coins a sensation. Like the gold Libertads, which were released in March, these silver coins typically have a relatively low mintage. The Mexican Mint is notorious for releasing a limited amount…
You never know what you’ll get when you sort a roll of coins. One lucky man in New Orleans got the find of a lifetime. He found a very special 1861-O Seated Liberty half-dollar hiding in a roll of Kennedy half-dollars. After undergoing knee surgery, this unnamed coin collector decided to sort through rolls of…
You’re digging through a giant jar of pennies you’ve ignored for years, hoping to find something special. That’s when it happens. You come across a rare Indian Head Cent from 1909, a coin that’s generally worth over $400. Pretty good for one cent! But wait — it’s very dirty and tarnished. What do you do?…
This is the first in a series of articles about the United States mints. It’s 1776 and the ink is still drying on the U.S. Constitution. One of our Founding Fathers’ first actions was to create a continental currency, thinking that it would ease trade and unify the emerging country. A dream team of Benjamin…
In 1896, the United States Treasury produced silver certificates. Many believe these notes to be the most beautiful paper currency in U.S. history. These certificates debuted to the delight of art lovers and numismatists alike. Commonly dubbed educational currency, these notes were short-lived. Battles between artists — and between puritanical and artistic ideals — were…
One of the world’s oldest coins was recently sold in Germany. The price? Over $380,000. Issued between 600 and 625 B.C., this coin is unique because of the stamp of Phanes. The exact identity of Phanes remains unknown. And perhaps it’s the not knowing that makes this ancient coin so valuable. “I am the badge…
Who can forget that day in February when Seattle won Super Bowl XLVIII? Not only did the Seahawks beat the Denver Broncos, they beat them in a landslide. While many were confident in their victory, no one guessed they’d win 43-8. An incredible win deserves an incredible Super Bowl championship ring. And an incredible ring…
The most wonderful thing about vintage jewelry is not the timeless style and gorgeous design. When you look at those dazzling pieces of vintage gemstones and precious metals, you can imagine the changing world the piece has lived through. Each piece of antique jewelry has a past and a story all its own. Did that…
The year 1795 was a pivotal one in our nation’s history. Our forefathers were still establishing the government of the United States. George Washington submitted the Jay Treaty to the Senate; the 11th amendment to the Constitution was ratified; and it was also the first year the U.S. Mint struck gold coins. Owning any item…
Last month at Chicago’s Heritage Auctions, all kinds of rare coins and currency were bought and sold. The most exceptional among them was a Newfoundland $2 gold coin so rare that the only other known example is owned by the British Museum. The 1865 coin sold for over $100,000 on April 10th. This coin isn’t…
Europe was mired in the middle of World War I. Germany was spreading rumors that Britain couldn’t back their currency. These rumors triggered turmoil in India, a British colony at the time. Whether it was true or not was not important. People panicked. Only bold action from the United States could protect one of its…
The financial sector has never been known for its transparency or forthrightness. In fact, it’s probably the single most mysterious industry there is. Bullion banking is so shrouded in secrecy that even most bankers don’t understand it. Recently, bullion bankers have come under fire for allegedly dishonestly fixing gold and silver prices. Whether or not…
Like the leaning tower of Pisa, error coins demonstrate the alluring appeal of human error. Errors happen for lots of different reasons, from complex production issues to simple human error. But one thing’s for sure: sometimes it pays to make mistakes. The three coins listed below represent a classic error coin in the 1969…