The American Silver Eagle Coin and Why Is It More Precious Than Other Coins

By: Victor Epand

The United States Mint officially released the American Silver Eagle Coin on November 24, 1986. It is the only eagle coin offered in only one denomination, which is the one ounce size. It has a face value of $1 and is 1.598 inches in diameter.

These rare coins were given a face value of one dollar basically to protect it from various counterfeiting laws and this value was low enough to ensure they would never actually be in market circulation. The one dollar face value also holds sentimental appeal to those who remember the circulating silver dollars of long ago.

The American Silver Eagle coins, which are also known as American Eagle Silver Bullion Coins, are the only official investment-grade silver bullion coins whose weight, content, and purity are guaranteed by the United States Government. The Liberty Coin Act became Public Law: 99-61 on July 9, 1985 and amended federal law to direct the Secretary of Treasury to issue the one dollar silver bullion coins of specified size, weight, design and quantities through the United States Mint.

During the release ceremony for the American Silver Eagle coins on October 29, 1986, the Secretary of the Treasury, James Baker III, stated that these coins would provide investors with high qualities of silver, which will be a source of pride and enjoyment for the owner.

The American Silver Eagle coins contains exactly one ounce of .999 fine silver with an additional 0.0007 copper giving it a gross weight of 31.101 grams, and containing exactly one ounce of silver. The exact quantity and quality published officially give a kind of special guarantee to the buyers.

The legislation that originally authorized the American Gold Eagle coins had omitted any reference to a silver issue. Therein lies the big difference between the two. However, this was ultimately corrected with a second bill passed that same day on December 17, 1985.

Gold coins have always been a favorite of collectors. That attitude is aided by the assurance that gold coins are a sure offset to financial risks and a guarantee against inflation. They will surely increase portfolio returns as well in any market.

Another special characteristic of the Gold Eagle Coins is their artistic beauty and their historical significance. The most valuable gold coins are those minted before 1933. Of them, perhaps the most charming one is the $20 gold Double Eagle, first minted in 1907.

Now let us look at the peculiarities of American Platinum Eagle Coins. Their features are changed every year and as a result of these changes the design shows an entirely new look. The design we find on the reverse side is different in certain respects from the one on the obverse.

The wonderful platinum coins have been designed by John M Mercanti. On every such coin we find the inscription "Liberty" and the motto "In God We Trust." These are found on both sides and the date too is provided. There have been special series like the "Vistas of Liberty" series of 1998-2002.

Have you not compared the special features of the silver coins with two other famous coins? Now the decision is yours. Make sure that you go for quality and artistic value.

Author Resource:-> Victor Epand is an expert consultant about rare coins, stamp collections, and rare collectibles. Follow these links to find the best marketplace for: rare coins, collectibles, and american eagles.

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The Lincoln Cent Gets Ready for Its 100th Birthday

By: Michael Zielinski

In 2009 the Lincoln Cent will celebrate its 100th birthday. This will also mark the 200th anniversary of the birth of Abraham Lincoln. To celebrate the occasion, there are many important numismatic events planned.

The Lincoln Cent was first introduced in 1909 to celebrate the 100th anniversary Lincoln's birth. The coin was unique at the time since it was the first circulating US coin to bear the image of an actual person. All previous coins had featured the image of the mythical Liberty figure.

The coin's designer was Vincent D. Brenner. The obverse design was based on a Matthew Brady photograph of President Lincoln. Brenner had created a plaque of Lincoln based on the photograph, which would later become the basis for the bust of Lincoln used on the cent. The original reverse design of the Lincoln Cent featured two Wheat Ears. Throughout its history of the Lincoln Cent has undergone a number of changes from the original design.

The reverse design of the coin was changed in 1959 to coincide with the 150th anniversary of Lincoln's birth. The new design featured a rendition of the Lincoln Memorial by Frank Gasparro. Close examination will show that the Lincoln Monument appears within the Lincoln Memorial. As a result, Lincoln appears on both the obverse and the reverse of the coin.

The original composition of the Lincoln Cent was 95% copper and 5% tin and zinc. During the coin's long history, this composition was changed twice. In 1943 the composition was changed to zinc coated steel in order to preserve copper for the war effort. The composition reverted to its original the following year. In 1982 the composition was permanently changed to copper coated zinc in response to rising copper prices.

After all of these changes the Lincoln Cent is preparing for more. The 2009 celebration of the 200th anniversary of Lincoln's birth and the 100th anniversary of the Lincoln Cent will be centered around four new reverse designs. These different designs will be released into circulation approximately every three months. Each design will represent an important stage from Lincoln's life. The obverse of the coin will continue to bear the likeness of Lincoln as designed by Vincent D. Brenner.

In 2009, the composition of the Lincoln Cent may also have a brief rebirth. There are provisions for the US Mint to produce and issue collector's versions of the 2009 Lincoln Cents in the original composition of 95% copper and 5% tin and zinc. These versions would likely be included in special numismatic coin sets.

The final important numismatic item planned for 2009 is a commemorative silver dollar honoring Lincoln. These numismatic coins will be minted and issued in a quantity of up to 500,000 coins and sold directly by the US Mint. The coins will contain 90% silver and bear a design emblematic of the life and legacy of Abraham Lincoln.

Starting in 2010, the reverse design of the Lincoln Cent will be changed once again. The new design will be emblematic of Lincoln's preservation of the United States as a unified country. This new design will permanently replace the former Lincoln Memorial reverse.

Author Resource:-> Michael Zielinski is an internet entrepreneur and coin collector. Learn more about the 2009 Lincoln Cent as the coin's release date approaches. Stay up to date with the latest coin collecting news.

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The American Platinum Eagle Coins Are Unique

By: Victor Epand

It is no wonder that some special coins are so popular with collectors around the world. In fact, the number of people who are interested in the collection of coins is astonishingly high. The attraction increases when it is a special series like the American platinum eagle coins. You may wonder what differences are there from other popular special coins like the American Silver Eagle coin and the special gold coins.

There the specialty is that on every change each year, the design features an entirely new look. On the reverse or back side, there is a bald eagle with different regions of America. The obverse side or front side of the coin features the powerful and striking image of the "Lady Liberty" as she is looking into the future, which symbolizes vigilance, faithfulness to duty, and the spirit and character of Americans. This marvelous creation on these rare coins was designed and engraved by famous sculptor and engraver John M. Mercanti. These astonishing rare coins bear the inscription "Liberty" and the mottos, "In God We Trust", and "E Pluribus Unum", which are also on the obverse along with their date of issue. Within the curve located at the bottom of these coins you will find the face value and the West Point "W" mint mark, which is also found on the obverse.

On the reverse side of these rare coins, the design features a bald eagle soaring across a setting sun within different regions of America, which changes each year with the release of that year's coins. Watching over our firm foundation of democracy is the bald eagle, the nation's symbol of power, courage, and freedom, which was shown in different designs between the years of 1998 and 2002 known as the "Vistas of Liberty" series.

The American Silver Eagle coins were released on 24 November 1986. One major peculiarity of the silver coin is that silver eagle coin is offered in only one denomination. That is the one ounce size. The face value is $1 and its diameter is 1.598 inches.

These rare coins were given a face value of $1 to protect it from existing counterfeiting laws and this value was low enough to ensure they would never actually circulate in the money market. The small face value also holds sentimental appeal to those who remember the circulating silver dollars of long ago.

The American Silver Eagle Coins are also known as American Eagle Silver Bullion Coins. They are true collectibles as the weight, content, and purity are guaranteed by the United States government.

Gold coins, minted in the United States and Europe, are becoming the choice collectible coins in the world. It is particularly so in the case of coins minted before 1933. Every day the media comes to you with the attractions of the bullion. That is reported to be the best way to offset risk, and to combat inflation.

Another advantage of the gold coins is that they are historically important and artistically beautiful. Often they are regarded as perfect works of art. Some peculiar gold coins are the $20 gold Double Eagle, first minted in 1907, and featuring an impressive image of Liberty striding gloriously out of dawn. So the world of special coins is out there beckoning you to its several attractions.

Author Resource:-> Victor Epand is an expert consultant about rare coins, stamp collections, and rare collectibles. Follow these links to find the best marketplace for: rare coins, collections, and collectibles.

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United States Commemorative Coins - People, Places and Events

By: Taylor Turnstone

The U.S. Mint has been authorized by the U.S. Congress to produce a variety of United States Commemorative Coins over the years. These coins are produced to commemorate (celebrate and/or honor) people, places, events or institutions and are usually divided into Old (1892-1981) and Modern (1982-present) coins.

There have been many people that have been memorialized on U.S. Commemorative Coins. In recent years, famous people like Benjamin Franklin, Chief Justice John Marshall, Thomas Edison and Leif Erickson have been honored. In 1992, Christopher Columbus was commemorated on a Commemorative Gold Coin ($5) as well as a Silver Dollar and half dollar. Older examples of people commemorated include Queen Isabella of Spain, Daniel Boone and Ulysses S. Grant.

Examples of places that were honored include the White House with the 200th Anniversary Dollar issued in 1992, the West Point Bicentennial Coin (2002) and the Smithsonian 150th Anniversary in 1996 with a Commemorative $5 Gold coin.

The Korean War Memorial Silver Dollar was produced as a Mint Commemorative Coin in 1991 and the Vietnam War Memorial Silver Dollar was produced in 1994 for the 10th Anniversary of the Memorial, but it could be argued that both Memorials honor the men that fought and died in these wars as much if not more than the memorials themselves.

Same is true for the Statue of Liberty that was honored with three Coins in 1986, a $5 Gold Coin, a Silver Dollar coin and half dollar. The Statue of Liberty is a place to be honored, but also it represents the gift that was given to the U.S. by France and has become a symbol of freedom and democracy.

There are many examples of events that have been memorialized on U.S. Commemorative Coins. In 2007, a Silver Commemorative Dollar was issued to remember the Little Rock Central High School, where the desegregation movement began. The Wright brother's First Flight and the Bicentennial of the Lewis & Clark Expedition were also honored.

The Olympic Games have been honored many times including the most recent Olympics held in the U.S., the 2002 Olympic Winter Games (Salt Lake City, Utah). The Centennial Olympics were honored in 1995 and 1996 with at least 16 different Commemorative Coins. The Olympic Games were produced on U.S. Commemorative Coins in 1992 (France and Spain), 1988 (Seoul, Korea), and 1983 and 1984 to honor the Olympic Games held in Los Angeles.

All four of the following; the Bill of Rights, Civil War Battlefield, World War II and the Constitution Bicentennial were memorialized with commemorative five dollar gold coins and Silver Dollars (all but the Constitution Bicentennial were also issued in half dollar Commemorative coins as well).

And finally, institutions have been memorialized on U.S. Commemorative Coins including the U.S. Marine Corps (230th Anniversary) with a Commemorative Silver Dollar and in 2000, the Library of Congress.

Author Resource:-> Please visit Commemorative Coins for more information about the history and types of US Coins, such as the Bald Eagle Commemorative Coin.

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What Stories Can Your Coin Collection Tell

By: Victor Epand

Have you ever thought about the stories that your coin collection could tell you if only they could talk? Several times I have considered this, especially when looking at a particular coin from a particular era of time I seem to become lost in nostalgic dreams that I find inescapable at times.

For instance, when ever I view a silver dollar that was minted back in the late 1880s I can imagine a time of the old west when cowboys were fighting Indians and miners had traveled west to work in the mines. Miners were extracting silver ore from the famous Comstock Lode and in the nearby Virginia City the saloons were going strong. Maybe this silver dollar that I am holding was actually at one time on a stage coach and outlaws decided to hold that particular stage coach up.

There is no telling who could have held this silver dollar in their hands at one time or another. In that era Mark Twain, Helen Keller, Wyatt Earp, Doc Holliday, Jesse James, and Billy the Kid could have held my coin, but there is really no way of every really knowing. For some collectors it is the value of the coin that they are mostly concerned with, but for many of us it is the hidden historical value that these tiny pieces hold. Can you imagine owning a piece of history that could have a one time been used in a poker game with members of the Hole in the Wall Gang?

When I happen to catch a glimpse of a coin that was minted during 1916, then immediately I begin thinking about America preparing for the World War I. I wonder if perhaps that coin traveled across the ocean to Europe with one of our soldiers, who was fixing to face conflict for our nation. Perhaps the coin was given to the sweetheart of a soldier to hold until he returned back from war.

When all copper was being sent to help the Americans during World War II in 1943, the Lincoln pennies were instead made of zinc-coated steel. This is one penny, although not that valuable, I am proud to have in my own personal collection. For me and probably other collectors as well, this coin represents a pivotal time during the great history of our nation. I begin remembering Pearl Harbor and the many battles leading up to it and all that our great nation had to go through.

Stories from ancient Roman times tend t tell fascinating stories as well. In fact, one such coin tells of the insane Roman Emperor Caligula, who believed he son was a god. His son had an affair with on of the sisters of his father and Caligula murdered them both and then ate their offspring. Later he was assassinated when he was found on the wrong side of the government. This coin shows Caligula on one side and his sisters on the other, which represents the story of incest, murder, and cannibalism.

There is another truly amazing coin that can tell the entire story of the entire Roman era. Septimius Severus, who was one of the greatest Roman Emperors, is depicted upon the obverse and the reverse of this fabulous coin. His complete name was Imperator Caesar Lucius Septimius Severus Pertinax Augustus Arabicus, Adiabenicus, Pius, Parthicus Maximus, Britannicus Maximus, which has a variety of meanings. This Emperor ascended to the throne through a series of murder and defeat of political rivals, which took some time doing, but he succeeded and then continued to hold a firm grip on the empire and conquered many lands. Like Adam from biblical times, he had two sons and one was notoriously cruel, who murdered his brother, his wife, and his father-in-law.

With all of these stories and more to found within your own collection, take the time to research your own coins to find out what incredible stories your collection has waiting for you to uncover.

Author Resource:-> Victor Epand is an expert consultant about rare coins, stamp collections, and rare collectibles. Follow these links to find the best marketplace for: coin stories, collections, and rare coins.

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Students Play Among the Stars in Branson

By: Ann Knapp

Located in the heart of the Ozark Mountains, Branson, Missouri is within a day's drive of many Midwestern cities, making it an easily accessible destination for student group travelers. With its "G"-rated entertainment and a great return for the dollar, Branson offers diversified experiences for students and peace of mind for parents.

In Branson, student performing groups don't just watch the show, they take center stage as a part of the cast and crew in one of the destination's many theaters. A variety of opportunities exist for groups to participate as the pre-show entertainment - performing on the same stages as many of Branson's biggest stars. For instance, performing groups can experience a pre-show sound check and clinic orchestrated by professional musicians from the area. Among the many performance venues are the Showboat Branson Belle, Dixie Stampede, Welk Resort Theatre, and American Bandstand Theater.

Through workshops, master classes, and behind-the-scenes programs, students can engage with theater professionals. More than 100 live shows featuring entertainment personalities, performing families, impersonators, illusionists, and comedians afford performance groups a rich and entertaining destination from which to learn and grow. In addition, year-round music festivals offer interactive musical competitions for bands, chorales, and orchestras.

But it's not all work and no play in Branson. As one of the fastest-growing student performance destinations in America, Branson offers student group traveler's not only top-notch performance venues, but exciting attractions as well.

The 1880s-themed Silver Dollar City features 100 demonstrating craftsmen, unique shops, live shows, and six exciting festivals throughout the year. On one end of the town, the newly introduced GIANT Swing sends students skyward as they experience the rush of back-to-back G forces. The explosive PowderKeg sends riders into a thrill zone on this rollercoaster ride that launches from 0 to 53 miles per hour in just seconds. On the other side of the park, students may meet craftsmen whose skills have been passed down from generations of artisans. Crafters include a silversmith, candy maker, coppersmith, basket maker, and a furniture craftsman.

Student group travelers may experience Branson sightseeing from a duck's-eye view on Ride the Duck tours, where passengers travel on land and water in one amazing vehicle. The amphibious vehicles are based on the famous World War II DUKW design, which allows the vehicles to travel through historic Branson and then splash into Lake Taneycomo for a cruise.

For more cruising fun, Showboat Branson Belle offers lake and dinner cruises of Table Rock Lake. Students can explore the three decks of the ship while capturing glimpses of wildlife along the shore. Dinner cruises include a three-course meal followed by a spectacular show in the 700-seat dinner theater. Performance groups are also invited to entertain guests as they board the ship at White River Landing.

Another popular dinner-show venue, the Dixie Stampede features a full-scale production with American buffalo, horses, racing ostriches, and dozens of talented performers. Students thrill to trick riders, amazing stunts, and audience participation, including a four-course dinner. Prior to the show, students may visit the open-air stables to see the show's Quarter Horses, Palomino, Appaloosa, and Paint breeds. The Carriage Room opening act begins 50 minutes before the Dixie Stampede main show and features juggling and physical comedy acts. Choir and band performance opportunities at the Dixie Stampede are also available.

Student group travelers will play all day and enjoy night life at night at Celebration City, Branson's biggest nighttime attraction. From thrill rides and midway games to a go-kart track and Coney Island-style Boardwalk, Celebration City is an all-in-one destination of fun. In the evening, student groups have a blast at Ignite the Night, the Midwest's largest laser and fireworks spectacular. The show features colorful lasers, dazzling water illusions, and sizzling fireworks set to music. Shows begin at 9:30 p.m. nightly, weather permitting.

When the fun gets too hot to handle, student group travelers can dive into Branson's White Water Park. The only outdoor water park in Branson, the attraction offers water-blasters, super-soakers, speed water slides, and Kalani Towers - with two 75-foot freefall drop lanes. White Water is home to the largest selection of water rides and attractions in the Ozarks.

Author Resource:-> travel adventures Travel Adventures is staffed by educators who understand the needs of teachers. Serving over one half million students since our inception, we provide hassle-free travel arrangements while empowering teachers to create change by expanding the classroom to the world.

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Do You Have Any Have Collectable Coins?

By: Uchenna Ani-Okoye

Old coins that is. Try looking under that old dresser, or up the attic where grandma or grandpa's things may be stashed away patiently waiting for you to discover them. Who knows, you might find a coin there, an old coin that - at today's rate - may be worth a few dollars; probably three or four or five, even ten times what the coin was worth back then.

A penny a day, is worth okay

Fortunately or unfortunately, there was a shortage of copper during the year 1943 and all pennies made at that time were minted using steel. There were however, some Lincoln pennies that were incorrectly minted on bronze that turned out to be blanks. A few years or decades later -these bronze pennies became a rarity and are valuable. The steel ones though, because of their commonality, are worth only between one to three dollars each.

Be aware and be wary as there are schemes where gullible coin collectors are sold coins that are copper plated in an attempt to make these pennies appear to be bronze. Also, keep your guard up anytime someone offers you a circa 1943 penny made out of a metallic white alloy.

Old coins are good coins

Coins, specifically the silver dollars made and circulated between the years 1878 and 1935, are worth between twelve dollars and twenty five dollars for the circulated coins. The coins that were not in circulation are worth considerably more.

Meantime, those quarters, dimes, or half dollar coins made and circulated prior to 1965, are usually made out of ninety percent silver and therefore worth as much as today's silver (with an additional premium, albeit small, put on the coin's face value).

Wrong pennies are right

There is a Lincoln penny issued in 1972 on which the date and the letters on it appear to have been doubled. This rare coin is currently worth about sixty dollars, assuming the pennies are in standard condition. The Philadelphia Mint during that time period accidentally misaligned the die used in minting the coins causing the portrait of Lincoln to look like it was doubled. Fortunately or unfortunately, eighty thousand of these were circulated before the error was discovered.

In summary, coin collecting is similar to collecting bits of history and trivia from the past. In addition to the face value its worth as a treasure - pennies, dimes and coins - often are worth more in the long run.

Author Resource:-> Uchenna Ani-Okoye is an internet marketing advisor and co founder of Free Affiliate Programs



For more information and resource links on collectable coins visit: Rare Coins

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The History of the 1943 Steel Cent

By: Keith Scott

From 1909 to 1942, the Lincoln Cent was composed of 95% copper and 5% tin and zinc. That all changed in 1943, as for the first and only time, a coin was made out of steel, which was quite a contradiction from gold, silver, copper or bronze.

Even before the United States entered the war, there were inklings that the cent, as well as the nickel were in trouble. The nickel was made out of 75% copper. Copper was in huge demand due to its use by defense contractors in the manufacturing process of various supplies and equipment needed in case of the US going to war.

After the attack on Pearl Harbor, the rumors only grew and in January 1942, The Numismatic Scrapbook Magazine reported that Treasury officials were giving serious consideration to using different metal contents for some coins. The first step occurred on January 23rd, 1942, when the Treasury ordered the removal of all but a trace of tin from the cent from the already small amount that had been in use. The existing supply of strips and planchets were used and it is speculated that cents produced in 1942 were produced of both metal compositions. This small change was expected to save 100,000 pounds of tin.

Throughout 1942, there were repeated attempts and pleas to the public to turn in their cents and nickels. Even with these pleas, the shortages continued and for the last six months of the year the mint scaled back production of cents and nickels. During this time, experiments were conducted with various metal compositions, fibers, plastics and even glass.
On December 18, 1942, Public Law 77-815 was enacted. This law called for the melting of more silver dollars and for the authorization of metal substitutes for the one cent and five cent coins not to go beyond December 31st, 1946. The nickel had already seen its change utilizing more silver in its content. The Treasury wasted no time and on December 23, 1942, Treasury Secretary Henry Morgenthau, Jr. ordered that all cents produced after January 1st 1943 be comprised of low-carbon steel coated with zinc. The zinc plating was to provide a thin coating to prevent rust and was to be no more than .001 inches thick. The same diameter of coin was maintained, but the weight was reduced from the standard 48 grains to 42 grains, due to the use of a lighter alloy. It took some time to produce sufficient supplies of planchets and production commenced on February 23, 1943 at the Philadelphia Mint with the Denver and San Francisco Mints beginning production the next month.

On February 27th, the first delivery of cents was made to the Treasury and within a few weeks, the steel cents were in circulation. Although the Treasury Department assured the public that the coin, after being in circulation for a while, would gain a distinct appearance, many people noticed the color resemblance of a dime. Complaints continued to pour into the Treasury. For example, due to there magnetic property, many mechanical devices treated the new cent as a slug. Back then, there were quite a few uses for the cent and this was a big deal.

The new cent was so much hated by the public that the Treasury was moved to issue them only when bronze-copper cents were not available. Still, demand for cents for business was so great, that the public was forced to use them as that was what was available. In the fall of 1943, the Treasury announced that no steel cents would be produced after December 31, 1943 and that the mint would produce cents from the pre-war alloy, but without tin. These cents, from 1944 through 1946 were to be known as shell-case cents, as the metal generally came from spent shell-casings. It was also announced that there would be no recall of the steel cent.
After the war, the Treasury did begin recalling steel cents for the next 20 years. Although not publicized, coins were to be returned to the treasury in the normal course of business. By 1950, steel cents were becoming scarce and by 1960, nearly non-existent. By this time, steel cents had deteriorated quite a bit. The Mint had coated the steel strips before punching leaving the edge of the coin subject to rust and corrosion. Even though a recall was in effect, the Mints own records indicate over 930 million remained in circulation.

By the end of 1943, the three Mint facilities had produced 1,093,838,670 of the one-cent coins. The copper released for the war effort was enough to meet the combined needs of 2 cruisers, 2 destroyers, 1,243 flying fortresses, 120 field guns and 120 howitzers, or enough for 1.25 million shells for our big field guns.

Author Resource:-> Keith Scott has been a collector for over 30 years. His website has US coins for sale. He also writes Coin Collecting Articles for fun. Visit his websites for a history of US coins, metal market updates and news about your favorite coins.

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How To Value Collectible Coins

By: Lee Dobbins

Coins have been always been a part of our country's history. Prominent people are featured on them. A change of government is sometimes accompanied by a change of currency. The look and feel of these coins reflects the advancements in technology as scientists find more complex metal combinations.

Coins being of historical value is one of the many factors why people collect them. Beauty and variety also contribute to the collector's growing numbers.

To be a collector, you must be aware of how to ascertain the worth of your coins. Who knows, you might just be holding on to a very rare artifact, or one that would cost millions on an auction or bidding.

First step in being a coin collector is to look up literature. You need to be in the know of what coins are available out there, where to get them and how to get them. This is extremely valuable to one who'd see the coins as a form of investment.

You also need to determine four things before you take a coin to your collection. You need to identify them, have them authenticated and examine them for damage. This would be vital points to consider in collection coins.

To identify them, you need to look at your coins very thoroughly and note the shape, the colors, and the writings. You also need to verify which country issued that coin. If there is no denomination on the face of the coins, it's just a token or probably a medal.

Authentic coins should be treasured and prized. They're hard to find, especially if they are rare, limited issues. A lot of fakes and counterfeit coins are available in the market, so beware!

The value of your coin will depend upon its grade. Coin catalogs usually have their own, specific grading guidelines but here's a general list of them.

• Mint State Perfect Uncirculated (MS-70) is an uncirculated coin. It should show no apparent damage and be in top shape. It is considered to be the best quality of coin possible.




• Uncirculated (MS-60) is another uncirculated coin having a few scratches on contact marks and that have lost some of its sheen.




• About Uncirculated (AU-50) is a coin which has evidence of light wear on most parts but still retains at least half of its original sheen.




• Extremely Fine (EF-40) is coin wherein the coin design is lightly worn off but the features can be still distinguished and are still quite sharp.




• Very Fine (VF-20) is another coin wherein some of fine details like hair or eyebrows are mostly worn off. There is evidence of modest wear on some points of the design but all major parts are still clearly etched.




• Very Good (VG-8) is a coin wherein even though the rim is still clearly visible, the design is almost worn off and only few details of it are clear.




• Good (G-4) are coins that are heavily worn but the design and the legend are still visible. Much of the details are gone.




• About Good (AG-3) are coins that are very heavily worn that some of the lettering and the original design are not discernible anymore.

Damaged coins come across frequently in the course of a collector's quest. Most collectors steer off coins that have undergone cleaning or re-polishing. Corroded, scratched and drilled into coins are also a big turn off. Although it's sometimes hard to find one, it's better to find an untampered specimen.

The question on most beginners minds is this: How much do I get paid for a particular coin. The answer is: It varies everywhere. It depends on the qualities of the coin as well as the guide the buyer is using. For a general idea of pricing, here's a quick list.

1. U.S. wheat cents (1958 and earlier) that were in circulation goes for a few cents to 3 dollars each.




2. 1943 "steel pennies are very uncommon and of high value 1943 cents set on a normal bronze planchet. They are tested to determine if it attracts magnets and if so, it is plated using copper. They are sold for 5 to 50 cents if circulated, and up to a dollar or two if not in circulation.




3. Silver dimes, quarter and half dollars from 1964 or earlier are composed of almost 90% silver. So their amount depends on their silver content.




4. Silver dollars from 1935 and up are collector favorites and can be usually be sold for more than their value in silver . The less common the date, the higher the pricing goes.




5. Susan B. Anthony dollars are worth about one dollar.




6. Bicentennial quarters, half and dollars are usually worth what's on their face value.




7. Coins in commemoration of the wedding of Prince Charles and Princess Diana are spotted to cost from $5 to $30.




8. A coin with two heads, tails or those that have different designs of two coins have no value to collectors because they are coins that have been change to introduce a novelty item.

There are also the kinds of coins that are made by mistake. These are called 'mules' and are often produced because of an error in pairing different dies. Expect rare coins like these to cost a little higher than most.

So with these things in mind, have fun in making your own collection grow. Who knows what part of history you'll discover by finding rare specimens.

Author Resource:-> Lee Dobbins writes for http://collecting.leisure-webzone.com where you can learn more about coins and other antiques and collectibles.

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Collector Coins: A Hobby of History

There are many different hobbies with which one can find enjoyment, but one of the most popular is coin collecting. People have collected and hoarded coins for as long as mankind has been using them. It was not until the modern age, however, that collector coins become common enough for the hobby to reach its current levels of popularity.

In past eras collector coins were most likely held for the value of the bullion itself rather than any aesthetic value. There were certainly some people who collected and exchanged coins from far-off places, but unlike today's money, which is largely symbolic with little or no inherent value, early ones were made with actual gold, silver and other precious metals. Coins, and money in general, were much more scarce and more valuable in past centuries than they are today. Coin collecting was once known as "The Hobby of Kings" during the Renaissance and earlier, because the endeavor was mostly limited to noblemen: people with enough disposable wealth to own money and not have to spend it all.

Nowadays, coin collecting is so widespread that it has become known as the "King of Hobbies." It has a very broad appeal and its proponents collect for all sorts of reasons. Coin fans know no age boundaries. Collectors range from the ten-year-old kid with a jar full of loose change to history buffs with a collection of ancient and rare coins. Just about every nation in the world has pieces in circulation and out, so it is a hobby that can easily cross cultural and language barriers.

Many collectors simply collect for the fun of it while others take it quite seriously. Some even manage to make a successful living doing it. Most cities of decent size will often have at least a couple of coin dealers who are usually quite knowledgeable in the field of numismatics, the systematic study of currency.

Numismatists are not always collectors, but some level of numismatic knowledge is helpful for owners of potentially valuable collections. The field also includes an extensive grading system that is used to rate the condition and value of collector currency. Of course, the exact makeup of a coin collection can vary widely. Many hobbyists have very generalized collections from all sorts of eras, nations, or commemorative events. Others might specialize in a particular area. For example, one collector might try to acquire every year of the Wheat Penny while another's collection features every national version of the Euro coin. For some, only the rarest specimens will do; these can get quite

Author Resource:- Author is a freelance copywriter. If you would like to learn more about collector coins, visit http://www.davidlawrence.com/.
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How To Value Coins Using A Coin Value Guide

One of the most important pieces of information that a coin collector will want to know is how much a coin is worth. By knowing what a coin is worth will affect what they are willing to pay or sell it for. Plus it will help you to look and appreciate your coins much more. There are plenty of US coin value guides available both off and online. But some are certainly more accurate than others. However, what should be remembered is no one guide is foolproof. All the guides available will only provide you with an approximation of the market value and actual coin prices. So if you really want to know the market you should also see what coins are actually selling for.

A great place to look for such information is on auction sites such as eBay as well as various auction houses such as Heritage, Teletrade, Bowers and Merena and Stacks to name a few. Also you could take a look in your local and national coin shows as well as local coin shops to see what prices they have. But below are details of some of the more common US coin value guides that are in use today.

1. US Coin Digest
This is much like the Red Book but it includes coin pricing for more grades. Where in the Red Book has only pricing for six grades of the Morgan Dollars in the US Coin Digest it has pricing for 11 grades. It also contains a bit more background information in relation to coins in general.

2. Greysheet
This is officially called the Coin Dealer Newsletter and is an expensive subscription periodical ($98 per year). It is most commonly used price guide to be used by dealers when setting their own prices. However, it does contain wholesale prices also (so it is a wise choice for the more savvy collectors out there). The prices in this are based on coins graded according to industry standards. But they also include pricing for properly graded raw coins when compiling their figures. However, the biggest weakness of this publication is that it ignores the current state of grading services.

3. Numismedia Price Guide
This is an online service and is similar to the PCGS Price Guide. But the prices on this site can be somewhat higher than those that appear in printed guides. However, this site has been a subscription service since 2003 and costs $96 per year for you to be able to see the pricing of grades above MS-60.

So as you can see from above there are plenty of different US coin value guides available not just in book format but also online also.

Author Resource:- For more information all about coin collecting values visit http://www.find-coins.com where will find useful tips, articles and resources to help you find old coins.
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