What “.999 fine” on a bar actually guarantees (and what it doesn’t)
The stamp is the refiner saying 99.9% pure. It is not a police escort. We still weigh it, measure it,…
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What a planchet is (and why error collectors care)
A planchet is the blank piece of metal a mint strikes into a coin. Wrong planchets and clipped planchets are…
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What fineness means (.999, .9999, .900, .925)
Fineness is parts per thousand of pure metal. .999 is 99.9% pure. .900 is 90%. Jewelry karat is the same…
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What a troy ounce is (the unit gold and silver actually use)
A troy ounce is 31.1035 grams. It is the unit for gold, silver, and platinum. It is heavier than a…
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What an authorized purchaser is (US Mint bullion)
The Mint does not sell bullion Eagles one at a time to the public. It sells them in large lots…
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What a dollar is
A dollar is the unit the United States uses to count money. It is not a piece of silver anymore.…
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2026 Eagles are out. That does not make last year’s coin old.
West Point strikes the new year. Authorized purchasers take the first delivery. Your 2024 and 2025 Eagles did not turn…
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What a Mexico Libertad is
The Libertad is Mexico’s bullion coin, gold and silver. Modern pieces often have no face value. Shops treat them as…
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What a China Panda gold or silver coin is
China’s Panda is official bullion with a design that usually changes every year. “I have a Panda” is not enough.…
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