How a coin die works
A die is the steel that stamps the picture. Two dies, a planchet, and a press. Wear on the die…
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The public coin and money library, plus dealer guides — what people bring to a shop, how money works, and how shops run.
Start in the library · Coin history · Visitors · SpotPro for dealers
British coins at a US shop
Large pennies, shillings, and crowns are usually type copper or silver — not dollars. A sovereign is gold. We weigh…
Read →Civil War tokens: the cents that are not cents
1860s private copper pieces when cents vanished. Patriotic tokens and store cards. Not US legal tender. Not Confederate notes. Common…
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Large-size vs small-size US paper
Before 1929 the notes were big. After that they are the size in your wallet. Large is not automatically rare.…
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US commemorative coin programs: classic, modern, and the box
Classic commemoratives (1892–1954) are a type set. Modern commemoratives (1982-on) are usually a Mint product. The box matters more than…
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State quarters: 50 designs, almost all still a quarter
1999–2008 50 State Quarters. Clad in circulation. Silver in some proof sets. Your map book is a collection. It is…
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Presidential dollars: one president per coin, still a dollar
2007–2016 (and a few later) Presidential dollars. Manganese brass. Edge lettering. Common dates are face. Missing-edge errors are a real…
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Draped Bust coins: the silver after Flowing Hair
Draped Bust is the US look from the late 1790s into the 1800s. Liberty with a draped neckline. Small eagle,…
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Gobrecht dollars: the seated dollar before Seated dollars
1836–1839 silver dollars by Christian Gobrecht. Liberty seated, eagle flying. Patterns, originals, and later restrikes. Not a Morgan. Not a…
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