Information for Coin Collectors & Investors
In the middle of 1982 the composition of the penny was drastically changed. Previous cents were minted from 95% copper but were changed to 0.05% copper in the form of a micro-coating of copper over a zinc core. Copper had become too valuable to be used for something with so little buying power as the … Read more
1892–1916 The Barber dime was designed by Charles E. Barber and first minted in 1892. Barber was Chief Engraver of the U.S. Mint at that time. The Barber dime was minted of 90% silver and 10% copper and used the same design as the half dollar and quarter dollar. The Barber dime displays Lady Liberty … Read more
1916 – 1945 The Winged Liberty dime was designed by Adolph A. Weinman and first minted in 1916. This U.S. coin was minted of 90% silver and 10% copper. The Winged Liberty Dime is commonly known as the Mercury Dime. It is assumed that the obverse of the coin depicts the Roman god Mercury but … Read more
We have all heard, “A penny saved is a penny earned,” but did you know that it has never held more truth than it does today? Right now there is a real opportunity to invest in your future just by keeping an eye on your pocket change for copper pennies. While these coins are getting … Read more
2009 Two commemorative coins were issued for 2009, honoring two very important men; Abraham Lincoln and Louis Braille. Lincoln, as our sixteenth President, led the country during one of its darkest periods, the War Between the States. Louis Braille, a man from France who developed the Braille method of reading and writing for the visually … Read more
1907 – 1933 The St. Gaudens Double Eagle was minted from 1907 to 1933 (During the years 1917 through 1919 no Double Eagles were minted). These massive $20 face value gold coins contain slightly more than 30 grams of gold. But its more than the gold content in these beauties that determine their value. Each … Read more
1909 – 1958 The Lincoln Wheat Cent was designed by Victor David Brenner, and is well known by several different names, but is probably most often referred to as the Wheat Penny. In average circulated grades most Wheat Cents are valued at around $0.10 or less, but some high grade specimens can fetch in tens … Read more
1793 – 1857 From 1793 through 1857 the US cent was much larger than what we are accustomed to today. These cents ranged from 27 mm to 29 mm in diameter, quite large when compared to the modern Lincoln Cent which is only 19 mm in diameter. Different designs were used for US Large Cents: … Read more
1964 – Current Three months after the assasination of President Kennedy the US Mint changed the design of the silver half dollar to honor JFK. In 1964, when the Kennedy Half Dollar was first minted, it contained the usual 90% silver content (11.25 g) that Americans were familiar with. A year later the silver content … Read more
Since the release of the individual state quarters, coin collecting has become a more popular hobby. The U.S. State Quarter program began in 1999 and each state was released in the order in which it joined the union. The U.S. Mint estimates that around 147 million people have been collecting the state quarters since their … Read more