The rule of thumb is that a silver coin lasted 20 to 25 years. Since the half dime was replaced and became obsolete in 1873, I image that the mint...
I agree, @Spark1951. In the vast majority of cases, when coin is too worn or too damaged, it becomes uncollectable in the eyes of many collectors....
In case you missed the memo, the south lost the war and therefore is in no position to prosecute those who counterfeit their currency. More...
According to the Dave Bowers story, he found a cigarette machine that was dispensing packs with 1955 doubled die cents in them. You put 30 cents...
The flat, dull, light grey surfaces at the indicators. This is not the look that circulated coin would have in its original state. The color would...
Ch VF sharpness, cleaned with an mild abrasive, like baking soda. It will not get a straight grade.
This political parade medal is similar. It is almost five inches in diameter, but it is hollow; it's just a shell. A piece like this would have...
It's hard to come up with rules for this that would give you a precise number. There are factors to consider: · How well is the engraving...
Yes, the Smithsonian has not been kind to its coins over the years with respect to cleaning. I still remember seeing one of their 1804 Dollars...
This medal, which was awarded to U. S. Grant for his victories at Chattanooga and Vicksburg, measures 105 mm. Believe or not the piece that was...
My grade would be VG-10. There are coins graded Fine that are more appealing than this piece. It looks like someone went over the high points of...
What the mint needs to do is issue enough coins to satisfy collector demand. It should not be in the business of satisfying flippers’ desire to...
The hair detail on the Peace Dollar looks flat like it does on most 1921 and early 1920s pieces. That’s disappointing. I was hoping that the...
I have heard that the mint is going to charge over $100 for the new silver Proof sets. That might have me waiting to buy them in the secondary...
All of these coins are collectible. The trouble is they don't have much of a following which keeps the prices down. That's a good thing if you...
The least expensive dates are 1859-O and 1860-O. They came from the Treasury hoards that were released in the early 1960s. The coins are usually...
Hairlines are very thin, very shallow scratches that usually result from a coin or medal getting cleaned with a mild abrasive. A cotton ball can...
We can’t see the reverse. The obverse is Cam. If the reverse is also Cam, it should get it. If not, maybe that’s why they gave it the star.
Hairlines are much more noticeable on Proofs than they are on business strikes. It also easier to hairline a Proof than a business strike. The...
Proofs that were stored in coin cabinets tend to get hairlines because velvet is not nearly as soft as it might seem to be. Opening and closing...
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