San Francisco: the S mint mark
S is San Francisco. A real branch mint from 1854. Proofs, common S Morgans, and a few dates that actually…
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Charlotte and Dahlonega: the C and D gold mints
C is Charlotte. D on old gold is Dahlonega, not Denver. Small southern gold mints. Soft strikes. Real money when…
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Hairlines, toning, and wear are three different things
Wear flattens the design. Hairlines are scratches from cleaning. Toning is color from air. Mixing them up is how a…
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How to look at a coin with a loupe
A 5× or 10× loupe, a lamp, and a tilt. That is how a shop decides wear from hairlines. Not…
Read →America the Beautiful quarters: parks on a quarter
2010–2021 park and site quarters. Five a year. Clad in change, silver in some collector sets. Five-ounce silver bullion versions…
Read →Sacagawea dollars: the golden dollar that is not gold
Sacagawea dollars are manganese-brass clad, not gold. 2000 on. Cheerios dollars and a few varieties are collected. A jar of…
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West Point: the W mint mark
W is West Point, New York. A bullion and commemorative mint. A W on a modern Eagle is a mint…
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New Orleans: the O mint mark
O is New Orleans. The mint ran, stopped for the Civil War, then ran again. An O on a Morgan…
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Carson City: the CC mint mark
CC is Carson City, Nevada. A small mint. A loud mint mark. Most CC coins are collected. Not every CC…
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