Tracking American History with Commemorative Coins

Those interested in numismatics will know that the world of coins can be fascinating, fun, and profitable, too! For as long as human civilization has existed, some form of currency exchange has always been a part of it. Currency is a way to understand the society of the times, and how it might have worked. Modern and early American commemorative coins may not exactly be ancient, but they celebrate some of the most important instances in the journey of our country, and offer a wonderful insight into the history of the nation.

So let’s look at some of the most important commemorative coins in the USA and see if we can track some of America’s history with them.

The first commemorative coin in the US is often considered to be the coin that celebrated the discovery of gold in California. This 2 ½ dollar gold piece minted in 1848 has the word ‘CAL’ stamped on it to celebrate the Californian gold rush. The next commemorative coin is more widely accepted to be the first commemorative coin in US history.

This is the half dollar coin minted in 1892, for the Columbian exposition held in Chicago in 1893, which celebrated the anniversary of Columbus’s epic journey to North America. Ever since then, several important moments in the evolution of the nation are seen reflected in commemorative coins minted down the times.

For instance, in 1932 a commemorative coin celebrating the 200th anniversary of the birth of George Washington, known as the Washington Quarter was minted. This coin was made a regular issue design for a quarter later on, but in fact began by being minted as a special edition commemorative coin. The design of this truly epic coin founded the way for other modern American commemorative coins. It showed George Washington on horseback, with a grand view of the president’s iconic Mount Vernon home on the back side.
This coin was also circulated as a commemorative coin for the United States Bicentennial in the mid-1970’s, celebrating the events that led to the creation of the independent nation of the United States of America. 

Celebratory coins during the Bicentennial also included the Eisenhower Dollar and the Kennedy half Dollar. All the commemorative coins minted during the 1970’s United States Bicentennial were dated 1775 – 1976, which added a great sense of occasion to the coins. More recently, the State Quarters program began minting five commemorative coins every year – with each of the states in the order of admission to the union.

These are simply some examples of how commemorative coins track back the history of America and how they imbibe many relevant parts of the journey of the nation. Commemorative coin enthusiasts understand the fascination of putting together a chronological collection, or perhaps starting a collection of a single commemorative issue and charting its journey through the times. These coins are not only wonderful objects to own, but rare commemorative coins also make for a very sound investment.

Why Silver Eagles are proving to be Such a Sound Investment

These are tough economic times. With inflation at an all-time high, and no real signs of a global economic recovery, finding sound financial investments can be exceptionally difficult. If there is one investment that can hedge against devaluation and inflation, and give guaranteed results, it is in precious metals, especially gold and silver.

So why are precious metals a hedge against inflation? The global economy is already under huge pressure thanks to massive government debts. This means that governments have to print more money, and the more money they print, the more devalued currencies become.

Unlike money which is essentially relative in value and extremely vulnerable to global currency fluctuations, hard money like precious metals are more secure in their demand. In recent times, there has been a huge surge in demand for silver, and this has pushed silver prices up even further. Experts believe that this trend is set to continue notwithstanding day to day fluctuations in silver prices.

In fact, looking over the longer term, silver seems to have gone up over 700% since 2000, making it an extraordinarily rewarding investment for those who have managed to ride the wave and benefit from this huge rise. Silver continues to be a sound investment option in a diverse portfolio for those who are prepared to hold on to it until it hits the top of the current rising trend.

American silver eagles are the official silver bullion coin of the USA. Silver eagles remain one of the, or rather the most popular forms of holding silver. These coins are 99.9% pure silver in content, and contain a guaranteed one troy ounce of pure silver. They have a face value of one US dollar.

This means that the legal value of the American Silver eagle coin is 1 US dollar. However, their real value is far higher than a single dollar, and is determined by the silver content in the coin, as well as the current spot price of silver.

Silver eagles have been in demand since they became available for the very first time in 1986. At this time, initial inventories are known to have sold out instantly due to huge public demand for these coins. Since then, many people invest in American silver eagles regularly, many purchasing coins annually. This continued demand for the silver eagles can well be reassuring to those considering investing today.

Silver has seen a steady rise in demand for a long time now, and experts see no reasons for this demand to wane anytime soon. Investing in precious metals like gold and silver as part of a diverse portfolio only makes sense from the long term perspective.

The demand for silver for industrial purposes continues to increase. A limited supply of silver, combined with a continued interest in it means that silver is set to rise even further than it has over the past years. This not only makes the American silver eagle a sound investment until now, but a good investment for the future, too.

Why Silver Dollars Are So Collectible

Silver dollars are some of the most highly collected coins by professional and amateur collectors alike. The reason that these coins are so popular is because they are valuable, they were made throughout several different periods of American history and are therefore unique; and also because they are, essentially, very beautiful. There are several different designs to choose from, each of which has its own history and unique qualities.

The first silver dollar was minted in 1794, at a time when the amount of metal in a coin was directly related to its worth. At that time, a silver dollar contained enough silver to make up a full dollar. Silver was very scarce during that period and silver dollars were minted on and off in the successive years, with several breaks in production and many different designs created.

Because there are many different designs and many different time periods during which these coins were printed, it’s easy to understand why the general populace has an interest in them. In short, many of these designs are beautiful and unique, making them the ideal basis for a new coin collection or a stunning addition to an existing one.

Morgan Dollars, which were produced between 1878 and 1921, are one of the most popular designs for collectors. These are good beginner coins, as they can be acquired for a nominal cost. Reputable coin dealers are a good source of information regarding the different collections of silver dollars. Value varies depending upon the date that it was produced, the mint that produced it, and how many others exactly were created in that series.

Coin collecting can be a fun and sometimes profitable undertaking. As the value of silver has fluctuated depending on the amount available, the US has produced many different types of coins with different percentages of silver mixed with other metals. This was necessary to maintain the rule that the value of the metal involved in making the coin remains no more expensive than the coin itself was worth at the time of mint.

Purchasing silver coins can be a reliable way of investing; assuming the value of silver will go up in the next few years. Whether you are collecting for aesthetic or financial reasons, silver dollars are a great place to start. With many different designs and types to collect, they are guaranteed to prove an interesting and beautiful collection. Whether you are looking to collect coins on a budget or have money to invest, you will be able to find a type of silver dollar to add to your collection.

Making a Hobby of Collecting World/Ancient Coins

Coin collecting is a brilliant way to get involved with a pastime that many people enjoy. It doesn’t necessarily have to be expensive, depending on what you want to collect, but it will always be a rewarding exercise. There are several ways to get involved and several stages that may be of interest to you.

Getting Started
One of the key elements of coin collecting is research. You want to know what you’re getting, after all. Once you’ve decided what type of coins you want to collect, you can get started. The wonderful thing about coin collecting is that it isn’t limited to your own culture. People have been using coins of one type or another for centuries. Ancient coins can make for very interesting collectibles. Perhaps you’d like to focus on one region of the world, or on a specific time period. Either way, coins from around the world will provide insight into fascinating histories and cultures that you’ve never had the chance to experience before.

Moving Forward
Once you’ve selected an area or a time period, you can start researching and collecting. By speaking with coin dealers and doing research online you can find out what coins are rare, which are available, and what you might be interested in seeking out. There are many different themes you may pursue for your collection and part of the fun is to explore the worlds that your coins have come from. Whether you are buying from dealers, auctions, or other sources, part of the fun is knowing what you have and what it is worth. Consider speaking with other collectors or looking at museums for inspiration and information.

Set Up
Once you’ve started your collection, consider keeping a notebook or spread-sheet detailing what sort of coins you have and their histories. Don’t keep your prize collection in a shoe box beneath the bed, but find a way to display and easily look through what you have. Showing off is half the fun. If you are collecting rare or valuable coins, make sure that you take the proper precautions to keep them safe. Keep them out of sight if you are having strangers in the house or consider opening up a safety deposit box in which you can keep your treasures. It would be such a shame to lose the collection you’ve invested time and money into making.

Coin collecting is a great way to get into history. Each coin you collect has its own personal history and by collecting it you have a piece of the world in your very own hands. Collecting is good for all ages and may prove to be an exceptional bonding experience. The process of researching, saving and purchasing or trading for a collection is a worthwhile experience and will result in what may become an amazing heirloom or a valuable monetary asset.

Certified Coins - Grading Services

Anyone who is interested in starting a coin collection will soon realize that they will need to collect certified coins. The reason for this is that the condition grade or rarity of a coin is validated, and the chances of purchasing a counterfeit coin are removed. Sometimes referred to as slab coins, a certified coin typically comes in an air tight plastic container, with a label attached that states which coin it is and the grade of its condition. Several reputable services offer a certifying service, with the main ones are listed below.

PCGSG: The Professional Coin Grading Service have one of the best reputations out there. They will not grade a coin that has been damaged or may even be slightly considered to be a problem coin. This means that coins graded by this service command a premium price. Each coin comes back sealed in a hard plastic case, and the coin can not be removed from this without completely destroying the case. As well as offering security when buying coins that are pre-certified, it also means that a higher price can be asked when it comes to selling them.

ANACS: The American Numismatic Association Certification Service is another service that is held in high esteem. Their most notable asset is that they do not have any ties with other commercial interests such as jewelers or dealers. This makes them perhaps the most independent of all the major coin grading services in the United States.

NGC: The Numismatic Guaranty Corporation was founded in 1987. The sole purpose of this organization is to grade coins, and an interesting fact is that their full time graders are not allowed to trade in coins themselves. Many collectors find this to be very reassuring. The graded coins are returned in a sealed plastic case, complete with relevant information and a bar code which is registered to the coin on their database.

ICG: The fourth of the major coin grading services offer to grade, authenticate and then seal the coins in a plastic case. They will grade coins not just from the United States, but also from around the world, and they have a high degree of professional respect.

Whilst to the novice it would seem that four different organizations offering the same service is a bit of an oddity, it does provide for a more fluid market place, where it is still quite possible to buy a coin graded by for example ICG, and then have it re-graded by PCGS. Some coin owners do indeed choose to have extremely rare coins graded by more than one source.

As a general rule, coin collectors should really only buy certified coins in order to ensure that they have the genuine article. The reality is though, that much of the fun of collecting comes from spotting a bargain at a sale or at an auction, and then getting it graded afterwards. Like anything, the road to becoming an authority on coins is a long one, where quite often mistakes lead to progress.

Pre-1965 Silver Coins

1965 marks an important point in coinage history: it’s the time when silver coins that were made primarily with silver ceased to be minted; they were either replaced by coins made primarily from nickel or the amount of silver was reduced for a few more years and then the coins were made from different and more common minerals. The main reason for this is simple: the amount of silver in the coins became more valuable than the coins themselves, thus making them too expensive to mint as they were.

For investors and collectors, pre-1965 coins are special because no matter what coin they are, they will be silver coins (at least 90% silver). After 1965, the content of silver in the coin will depend on the coin itself and where it came from (some countries abandoned silver before others). But why would investors and collectors even care about coins that aren’t all that old and really aren’t worth all that much?

Known as ‘junk silver coins’, these pre-1965 silver coins are sold by the bag and they can sell at below spot price, (if you buy plenty of it and even if you don’t, the premiums are incredibly low), meaning that you can collect them for less money and sell them for more money if you find that you have a rare coin in the mix or you just find a coin someone else wants. Furthermore, your bag of junk silver is cheap to purchase (between $100 and $1000) and then you can sort through the silver and use it as a vehicle for investment and sell them when the prices go up again.

Junk silver refers to any coin which is government issued and contains any amount of silver. It has little or no numismatic or collectible value beyond the value of the metal found in the coins. They’re not literally junk of course and if you collect enough of them, you can build up quite a nest egg for yourself.

If you’re going to purchase junk silver coins by the lot, it’s important to know where to get your stash.

Wholesalecoinandmore offers the Best 90% Silver Pre 1965 US Coin Lot 8oz
Each Lot from Wholesalecoinandmore.com Includes:

 •One Pre-1904 Morgan Silver Dollar over 100 Years old!(collectable grade) Guaranteed in each one
•A Full Half Pound (8 ounces) of Unsearched 90% Silver Coins
•Each Lot will have $9.00 Face Value of old 90% US Silver Coins

Coins that May Be in your Unsearched Silver Lot from Wholesalecoinandmore:

Morgans, Peace Dollars, Trade Dollars, Walking Dollars, Franklins halves, Walking halves, Barbers, Walking Liberty, Standing Liberty Quarters, Pre-1964 Kennedy Halves, Washington and Barber Quarters,  Roosevelt, Barber and Mercury Dimes  Many of these are in AU and BU condition and many key dates some with mint marks in these silver lots.

What is not in our lots:

Filler, Cents, Nickels and Junk

In Conclusion:

Pre-1965 silver coins may have the moniker of being ‘junk silver’, but there’s nothing actually junky about them. Instead, you can get a wide range of silver coins that are worth their weight in gold for prices that are often far less than what you would pay for things like the Silver Eagles. If you’re just getting into silver investing or you want to round out a collection, take a look at these bags of silver coins. Who knows what treasures you may find?

Purchasing Silver Bullion for Investing

As a silver coin bullion investor your goal is to purchase coins which are easy to sell when the time comes to do it. This means opting ones which have the following characteristics:

•    Are marked with their silver fineness
•    Are backed by a major government or a reputable mint

The most common ones are the American Silver Eagles and the Silver Maple Leaves, but many countries have their own silver versions that are great for investing. They tend to sell well above spot price both online and in shops and though they are a bit standardized, they are still very attractive to hold on to.

There are a few places to purchase silver coins. Brand new investors would be well advised to go through an established retail coin shop or online coin dealer because they can be more certain that their coins are legitimate and a reputable silver dealer won’t try to cheat you. Shopping online at our wholesalecoinandmore.com, you get the best of both. In business since 1975, we operate both a retail store and an online website which makes it easy to compare prices so you know you are getting a deal and we even offer free shipping!

As for when it’s right to buy silver, well there is no bad time. You can buy silver whenever you want to and there’s little purpose in waiting since price fluctuations are rarely very dramatic. You can also start small and work your way to a larger collection with greater ease if you start right away.

The Major Difference from Gold
Silver is often called gold’s ‘little brother’, but this one major difference between the two: supply. Silver tends to get thrown out, not recycled, so the supply is actually dwindling while the demand is slowly increasing due to technological needs. Gold on the other hand is overwhelmingly recycled so there is a constant supply.  Gold may be more valuable, but silver will start increasing in price over the long haul because of the reduced supply.

Silver coins are great for investors who are just starting out or experienced investors who want something a little more affordable with which to hedge their portfolio. The prices tend to stay at a good level due to demand and they sell well above spot price online and off. Furthermore, even the most standard sorts of silver bullion are still pretty attractive and nice to hold on to while you have them. You may not get rich from your silver collection, but you also won’t have to worry about all of your wealth being ruined by a change in the stock market.

If you are interested in silver coins, take a look around our site and see what we offer.

A Brief History of Gold and Silver Coins

For as long as humans have clustered together into groups, they’ve needed ways in which to deal with one another when it came to trade and currency was one of the earliest forms of dealing in trade, though it wasn’t referred to currency early on.

The first coin ever minted was minted by the Lydian people between 643 and 630 BC. They were made from a combination of gold and silver called electrum which could be mined very easily—in fact, it was often found above ground. The earliest coins were pretty crude; they were hammered out and the imprint of an image was hammered on the ‘coin’. The end result was something that was rarely perfectly round, but functioned perfectly well for its people.

The first gold and silver coins were minted around 560 BC when humans learned how to separate gold and silver coins. Right away, gold was delineated as the most valuable one; it started to be used by the Royalty. The silver coins were used by the more common folk. When the Persians swept in and took over, they also took over the currency structure and kept it the same since they too held gold in the highest regard.

What’s interesting at this point is that gold and silver coins were not only different in their worth and which classes of people used them, but the decision of which coins to use also rested along geographical lines. Greece for example stuck largely with silver coins because silver was far easier to mine. Persia on the other hand stuck with gold coins because gold was easier to get. And when the Romans rose, they used both, depending on where they got their trade from. Silver coins were the norm for a while, but as the Romans expanded their influence, they came into contact with nations that used gold and so the gold currency was absorbed.

When the Romans fell, two kinds of coins emerged from the rubble; the Byzantine coin which held on until it fell in the 13th century and the Islamic Dinar which had been in use for a while before the Romans fell, but became more prominent as the Muslims expanded their territory. However, both of these coins would ‘bow’ before the Venetian Ducat-the first truly standardized gold coin. It weighed precisely 3.5 grams, was round, and was .986 pure gold. The standardization of this coin was important to Venice because the city-state wanted to expand its influence through trade and knew that the best route would be through the best gold coins. It succeeded beyond their wildest expectations; the ducat not only became the global currency of the time, but also inspired many other countries to create their own types of ducats.

Silver coins were also being minted right alongside the gold ones, but they were even more strongly intended for trade. While gold coins were often flaunted more for show than to actually spend (unless a ruler had a lot of bills to pay), silver trade coins were minted all over the known world, used by many people and then brought in from the new world. They were used to prop up old empires such as the British and Spanish and to create new ones such as the new economies in Peru and Mexico. Over time, silver coins would actually end up dwarfing gold, particularly in ‘the New World’ where silver was more easily attainable. America for example had many silver coins that were just used in every day currency and were used from the 1700s right up until 192. England too created silver coins long after they stopped creating gold coins for currency because it was easier to get a hold of and use silver.

Both silver coins and gold coins faded out of currency all over the world by the 1960s. They were getting too expensive to use in every day use and the coins made from things like nickel worked just as well anyway. Instead, silver and gold coins now are usually ‘bullion’ coins; ones that are meant for investing or coins that you would collect or both. This doesn’t decrease their usefulness one bit; some people believe that the gold/silver coin currency may come back someday, or at least that the gold standard will return and furthermore, both of these metals are still fairly valuable in their own rights.

Benefits of Investing in Gold Bullion

The idea of investing in gold bullion coins is certainly a tempting prospect for many investors. Gold has a number of attributes associated with it that make it a fantastic way to diversify your portfolio and derive some very material enjoyment. There are a couple of ways to invest in gold, including gold ETFs, but if you’re mostly just interested in hedging your portfolio, then gold bullion coins are the way to go.

The biggest benefit of gold bullion coins is that it is considered a ‘bedrock’ investment; the price of gold doesn’t rely on other factors such as the performance of a bank or how much a company is trusted. Gold is gold; it always has some value and when the economy is wavering, it actually does better. It’s a great way to protect your money from inflation/deflation, stock market problems and currency problems. There are those who even claim that someday we may go back to the gold standard or gold currency! (Not terribly likely given the vast population of the earth and the dwindling supply of gold).

Gold bullion has some other great advantages for the savvy investor. Contemporary bullion coins trade at small, but meaningful premiums over their gold melt value, making them more valuable than just a lump of gold. Historic gold coins do too, but the contemporary ones are usually more marketable since the historic ones only appeal to certain niches. Bullion is also easy to store and provides a tangible investment-even if you don’t feel that selling your gold is a viable option at the moment you at least have something to show for your money which is psychologically empowering. Gold is a metal with strong ties to much of human history after all and certainly the lust for it and the sentimental value we ascribe to it is still strong. And finally, many of these coins are quite beautiful, making them nice to display or simply look at every so often.

Getting Started

Precious metals including gold are distinctive from other investments in that there is no point in waiting for prices to change. Certainly there are low and high points, but you can and should get into the game as soon as you decide you’re going to rather than holding off. The only time to hold off is when the desire for gold is very high; a high demand can lead to problems with supply causing premiums to shoot up which makes it harder to get into the game.

Otherwise, buy when you want it and need it because investing here is all about diversifying and protecting your portfolio, not necessarily getting wealthy (though you may well do that as well!) Bottom line: there’s no point in waiting when you could own some gold bullion coins right now. And you can also start buying and start collecting at the same time; there’s no need to buy lots of coins right away when you can buy a few at a time.

How Much Should You Invest in Gold?

This depends on your comfort level. Generally speaking, between 10% and 30% is best; you don’t want to overdo it on the gold investing because it is primarily a long term, protective investment over a money maker, but you don’t want to invest too little or it’s pointless. It’s really up to you and you can always talk to your financial advisor about your options.

Gold bullion coins are of course only one part of the precious metal investing plan; you may also choose to invest in silver coins for example or do a combination of investing and collecting. In these times where the economy is still very shaky, the old methods of investing stocks is less popular than it once was and physical objects to invest are a safer and more tempting way to go.

You may not get filthy rich on your gold coin collection, but you’ll also never have to worry about losing everything you have because of it. If all of this sounds interesting to you, feel free to look around our web site and see the many different gold coins and silver coins we have to offer the savvy investor. Enjoy and good luck!

Coin Collectors Melting Coins For Precious Metal Value

As you may be aware, the prices for both gold and silver have skyrocketed over the past few years, reaching record high levels. Coin dealers, jewelry stores, and pawn shops are all doing brisk business in buying gold and silver coins from collectors looking to cash in. Many of the gold and silver coins they take in are melted down for their precious metal content.

One advantage to melting down old coins that the pure bullion is much easier to sell than trying to sell the coins themselves to a narrower market of coin collectors. In many cases, the precious metal value of the coin surpasses its value to coin collectors. This is particularly true in cases where the coin is in poor physical condition, making its collectible value low. However, the metal content of the coin is still worth something.

As a result of soaring precious metal markets, the metal in U.S. nickels and pennies is now worth more than the coin's face value. A cent, comprised mainly of zinc, has a scrap metal value of around 1.1 cent, while a nickel (75% copper and 25% nickel) is worth almost 7 cents. As of 2006, it is now illegal to melt down pennies and nickels for their metal content. However, it remains legal to melt other coins containing gold or silver.

Which coins contain precious metals? In the United States, gold coins were in standard circulation until 1933, when other metals replaced gold. Silver coins were produced through 1964, and are still commonly found in pocket change and cash registers across the nation. It is legal to melt down these silver dollars, half dollars, quarters, and dimes for their precious metal content. There are also a number of foreign coins that contain gold, silver, or other precious metals.

The melt value of older coins – in particular, those containing gold or silver – is frequently many times the face value of the coin. For example, a 1942-1945 nickel has a silver value approaching $2. The 1971-1976 Eisenhower Dollar (40% silver) is worth more than $10 in silver content, despite its face value of $1. Meanwhile, a 1849-1854 Liberty Gold Dollar has a face value of $1.00, but a gold value of $80 or higher. If you are interested in investing in coins for their precious metal content, it's best to focus on those containing high percentages of gold or silver, but which are relatively common and therefore don't command a premium when sold to coin collectors.

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As a coin collector, your collection's value may benefit from the melting of precious metal coins even if you don't partake in the practice. This mass melting of U.S. coinage is said to increase the value of the remaining coins. The melting of thousands of coins increases the scarcity of those remaining, driving up their value.

Collecting Gold and Precious Metal Coins

Are you a coin collector who hopes to someday profit from your collection? If so, consider investing in coins that contain precious metals, such as solid gold coins, also known as bullion. It is now easier than ever to trade in precious metals. With the markets for gold and other precious metals approaching all-time highs, thousands of coin collectors have already cashed in their precious metal coins. Many investors expect the markets to continue climbing, making now an excellent time to invest in gold coins.

There are many ways to purchase precious metals for investment. Some gold coins are better investments than others. For example, gold bullion coins or bars are 24k, 99.99% gold. If your main purpose is buying gold as an investment, buy generic gold bullion bars and ingots, which have a guaranteed metal content. The market for modern bullion has flourished since 1974, when Americans were once again permitted to invest in gold bullion.

Generally speaking, the price of such bullion bars and rounds is dictated by the spot price of the metal. Unlike other coins, the price is not determined by rarity, grade, or other collectible factors. Bullion bars enjoy great liquidity, which makes them attractive to investors whose eventual goal is selling their precious metal investment at a profit.

If you prefer collecting beautiful coins that also have the long-term investment potential of gold,
Collector coins do not always have the same high percentage of gold content as gold bullion; if you plan to invest in these for the metal content, pay attention to the percentage they contain. Opt for numismatic coins such as the popular American Eagles, Gold Buffalo, or Canadian Maple Leafs. These have a standard precious metal content, and benefit from increased collectability because each minting of a particular coin is done in a fixed supply. The precious metals in them will always be worth bullion value, but the fact that the bullion is stored in a coin that is popular among coin collectors will increase its value. These coins will only grow rarer and more sought-after over time, though much of their value will still be based on the spot price of the metal contained in the coin. To invest in either gold coins or bullion, it is critical to pay attention to the spot price of the metal.

Finally, there are numismatic coins minted prior to 1933 that contain precious metals. These were not minted for collectors, but rather as everyday currency. While many of them do contain a high level of precious metal, they are valued primarily for their numismatic value, rather than the value of the metal contained in the coin. In such cases, the value is significantly affected by the condition or grade of the coin, and it is particularly important to pay attention to the quality of the coin's appearance. When buying or selling such coins, expect the price to be above – and in many cases, substantially above –  the spot price for the previous metal it contains.

Collecting US Quarters for Beginning Coin Collectors

Collecting coins is a fun past time for many people. It is an easy activity for children to get involved in by just going through mom and dad’s pocket change.  If you are just getting started as a coin collector, starting with Quarters is an easy option. Here are a few tips on how to get started using the US quarter.

Collecting US Quarters
With the development of the Washington US quarter in 1932, it has opened up a lot of opportunities for collecting.  From 1932 to 1998, the US Mint produced the Washington head quarter.  Starting in 1999, the mint switched to the 50 states quarters which was a program where the Mint produced 5 quarters a year depicting the states in the Union that ratified the Constitution or were admitted into the Union.  These coins were produced until 2008 with the final coin being released for Hawaii.

By collecting quarters, you have several choices on what to collect depending on your preference.  Many people started collecting the States coins as they were distributed from the Mint.  Using special coin collecting books helps keep the coins in order and clean. Since the state coins were only produced for about 10 weeks in the year they were minted, it can be a bit difficult to find perfect coins. Using a coin dealer may be a good choice to find uncirculated coins.

Another choice in collecting US Quarters is collecting the original Washington head coins.  There are 2 different ways that a collector can collect these and that has to do with the silver content.  From the time they were first minted in 1932 to 1964, the content contained 90% silver.  After 1964, the content changed to a copper and nickel based coin.  The value difference is different by year and also by mint.  So many collectors will break down their collection by year, silver or non-silver content and the mint.

Many of the coins you may be able to find in circulation, but the older the coin, the more likely you will need to use a dealer.  Keep in mind that the less wear and tear, the better the value. Also if you want un-circulated coins, then you are looking at investment pieces that will make your coin collections more valuable both in outlay and in overall value.

Tips for Starting a Coin Collecton

Coin collecting seems like it can be a relatively simple process but there are a lot of details that can go into it especially if you are looking to collect for a profit. Many people are not sure what to actually do when they want to turn their past time into something more substantial.  Here are a few tips on how to get started with some coin collecting that can make an impression in later years.

Decide on What to Collect
Since there are thousands of different coins circulating and un-circulated, it can be hard to decide on what coins to actually start collecting.  Much of it will mostly like be determined on how much you want to spend on your collection.

If you are a casual collector, starting with circulated coins could be the easiest.  For instance, in the US, many people collect the Wheat pennies that you can still find in circulation somewhat today.  Steel pennies are also a great find and looking for ones in good condition can get a bit tough.  Nickels have a lot of interest for collectors as do the Half Dollars. Once you decide what your interest is, move on to the next section.

Storing or Displaying Your Coin Collection
If you are going to be a serious coin collector, there are some supplies that you will need to decide on depending on how you want to display your pieces.  Many collectors that are just starting use coin books.

These are leather bound or fabric bound books with slots for specific coins.  These books will protect your coins and let you know what is still needed for your collection.

There are also many other different ways to protect your coins such as tubes, sleeves, 3 ring binders, plastic cases for individual coins. Mint cases and many more.  Once your collection grows, then it is time to look at display cases, wall mounting options and other ways to share your treasured coins.

Collecting coins is a pleasure for so many people and it is a great hobby to share with your children too. Find a favorite coin you want to work with and get started today.

4 Ways to Display your Coin Collection

To coin collectors the world over, the money is in the coin, literally. So protecting your coins is a critical step in the preservation of the coin and the value of the coin too. Regardless if you are collecting to resell later or just collecting for the love of the coin and history, storage of your coins is an important part of the collection process and there are methods of preservation that allow you to display your collection too. Here are 4 examples of the many ways collectors display their collections.

Individual Coin Display Boxes - These types of boxes typically hold only one coin or medal. They are made of clear plastic or clear glass and the coin is visible inside the box. These boxes can be placed on tables, shelves, mantles or desk tops individually. This is a great way to showcase a prized coin.

Coin Collection Chests - These types of chests are rectangular in shape and hold two or more collectible coins. They are created in various sizes for small to large collections. The storage areas are lined and amply sized to allow for coins to be stored in their original packaging or protective coverings. They can be placed on tables, shelves, mantles, or desk tops. These types of display cases are great when you have two or more coins in a series, they can be displayed or shown off together.

Wall-Mount Coin Display Cases - These types of display cases are typically made from wood. The display cases can have a protective front (clear plastic or glass door) and contain several display shelves to hold your collectible coins. These types of cases are nice for a serious collector with a large collection of coins to display.

Curio Cabinet Display Cases - These types of display cases are large wooden floor units, just like a display curio cabinet that is used to hold curios and figurines. The difference is that these display cases are specifically made for the coin collector. The cases are typically pricey and are for serious collectors with extensive collections. You will often see these cases being used at trade shows or stores that sell collectible coins.

The right case for your collection will depend on your needs and the amount of coins to be displayed. You can create beautiful displays for your coin collection using several of these options and enjoy the security and preservation that they offer.