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…

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…

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…

Have you ever laid eyes on a single coin worth more than a down payment on a house? Well if not, you can now. Bellevue Rare Coins recently acquired a 1930 S Indian Head Gold Eagle $10 coin worth an astonishing $89,000. This coin’s beauty is only trumped by its history. Among coin collectors, the…

Did you know there used to be a mint in Dahlonega, Georgia? Many people don’t. The short-lived mint only issued three types of gold coins, making them exceptionally rare. In fact, gold coins produced at Dahlonega are some of the most sought-after collectable coins in the U.S. Like many of the original U.S. mints, the…

Proof sets—in particular this one—are a must-have for any serious coin collector. Last month the US Mint released the official 2014 proof set. And despite the release of popular coins like the Baseball Hall of Fame commemorative and the Golden Eagle, it’s very likely that this year’s proof set will be 2014’s top-selling coin product….

The United States Mint recently announced that the 50th anniversary of the enactment of the Civil Rights Act of 1964 will be commemorated with the release of a brand-new silver dollar. In a 1963 civil rights speech, President John F. Kennedy asked for legislation that would give all Americans the right to be served in…

If one of your New Year’s resolutions is to start a coin collection but you’re not sure where to start, here are some tips from the staff at West Seattle Coins and Bellevue Rare Coins. First, choose a series of coins you would like to collect. Start small, with modern coins, before jumping into more…

The most talked-about coin of 2013 isn’t made of metal, produced by a mint, or accepted in vending machines (yet). This year may be remembered as the year of the bitcoin. And while the bitcoin has captured headlines and imaginations worldwide, don’t count out the humble metal coin just yet—unless it’s the Canadian one-cent piece….

The United States Mint just announced the design selections for the 2014 Presidential Dollars, which will feature the 29th to 32nd presidents of the United States: Warren Harding, Calvin Coolidge, Herbert Hoover, and Franklin D. Roosevelt. Back in 2007, the presidential dollar program began with a directive from Congress to the U.S. Mint to release…

On November 21, the United States Mint opened sales for the newest release of the First Spouse Gold Coin Program, which features Edith Roosevelt, the wife of Theodore Roosevelt, the 26th president of the United States. The seventh year of this half-ounce gold coin series that highlights the spouses of the presidents began a week…

People all over the world resolve arguments and make decisions using the time-honored tradition of flipping a coin, but did you ever wonder how the practice started? It turns out that there’s not a whole lot of information out there about the origins of the coin flip, but here’s what we know: Where it all…