Shield Nickel: Rays or No Rays?
Only 1867 Shield nickels come both ways. Look between the stars on the reverse, and see why the With Rays coin is the one that matters.
Read Full Guide →Coin Identification Guides
Master the art of coin identification with our expert guides. Whether you're a seasoned numismatist or just starting your collection, our articles provide the knowledge and techniques you need to identify, authenticate, and value coins.
1907 Double Eagle: MCMVII or Just 1907?
Four twenty-dollar gold pieces are dated 1907. Read the date, edge and motto to separate a Liberty Head from a low-relief or MCMVII Saint.
Read Full Guide →Standing Liberty Quarter: Type 1 or Type 2?
Count the stars under the eagle to type a Standing Liberty quarter. Bare breast or chain mail, the 1925 recessed date, and 1917 mintages.
Read Full Guide →1909 VDB Cent: Which of the Four Do You Have?
Tell the 1909 VDB, 1909-S VDB, 1909 and 1909-S cents apart. Where the initials and mint mark sit, mintages, and how the key date is faked.
Read Full Guide →Indian Coins Identification Guide: How to Read, Date, and Value Indian Coinage
Learn to identify Indian coins with confidence, from punch-marked silver of the sixth century BC to the coins in Indian pockets today. Covers the five-step identification path, how the script on a coin places its era, converting Hijri, regnal, Ilahi, Vikram Samvat, Saka and Fasli dates, punch-marked karshapana, Indo-Greek and Kushan portrait coins, Gupta gold dinars, the Delhi Sultanate tanka and the Tughluq token coinage, reading a Mughal rupee that has no picture on it, Jahangir's zodiac coins, the frozen-date trap and the Shah Alam II rupees, princely states from Hyderabad to Travancore, the East India Company presidencies, the Uniform Coinage of 1835, Victoria as Queen and Empress, the 1911 pig rupee, the scalloped anna and the shapes that name a denomination, silver fineness before and after 1940, mint marks under the Raj and the Republic, the 1939 rupee and other key dates, the 1947 to 1950 frozen series, the anna series, decimalisation and the naya paisa, modern rupee coins and the ₹ symbol, telling Indian coins from Pakistani and Nepali ones, realistic 2026 values, and counterfeit detection.
Australian Coins Identification Guide: How to Read, Date, and Value Australian Coinage
Learn to identify Australian coins with confidence, from cut-up Spanish dollars to the coins in Australian pockets today. Covers the four-step identification path, the 1813 holey dollar and dump, the 1852 Adelaide Pound, branch-mint sovereigns and the S, M, and P mint marks, the 1910 first Commonwealth coinage, the pre-decimal denomination ladder, the 1908 and 1912 coats of arms, the Kruger Gray kangaroo and ram designs of 1938, the five monarchs and the 1937 gap, the 1946 silver debasement, penny dot mint marks, the 1930 penny and other key dates, commemorative florins and the two crowns, the 14 February 1966 decimal changeover, Stuart Devlin's animal designs, the 1966 round silver 50 cent, the 2000 dollar mule and the wavy baseline 20 cent, coloured commemoratives, Perth Mint bullion, telling Australian coins from British and New Zealand look-alikes, realistic 2026 values, and counterfeit detection.
Korean Coins Identification Guide: How to Read, Date, and Value Korean Coinage
Learn to identify Korean coins with confidence, from cast cash with square holes to the coins in South Korean pockets today. Covers the five eras of Korean coinage, the Sangpyeong Tongbo and why its inscription never changes, reading mint marks and furnace numbers on the reverse, the Thousand Character Classic system, telling Korean cash from Chinese and Japanese cash, the Dangbaekjeon and Dangojeon inflation coins, Goryeo coins and vase-shaped silver, the 1888 machine-struck trials, the yang and won coinages of the Korean Empire, all four Korean dating systems (Kaeguk, Gwangmu and Yunghui, Dangi, Gregorian), the 1910 to 1945 colonial gap, the 1959 hwan coins struck in Philadelphia, the six modern denominations, key dates like the 1998 500 won, North Korean star markings, realistic 2026 values, and counterfeit detection.
Japanese Coins Identification Guide: How to Read, Date, and Value Japanese Coinage
Learn to identify Japanese coins with confidence, from Edo-period mon to the coins in circulation today. Covers the five eras of Japanese coinage, reading era-name dates (Meiji, Taisho, Showa, Heisei, Reiwa) and the gannen rule for year one, Japanese numerals and the right-to-left reading direction on pre-war coins, the Kan'ei Tsuho and why its name does not date it, counting the waves on the four-mon reverse, telling Japanese cash from Chinese cash, the oval Tenpo Tsuho, koban and oban gold plus chogin and mameita-gin silver, the 1871 New Currency Act, the Meiji dragon yen and its large and small types, the Japanese trade dollar and how to separate it from a silver yen, gin countermarks, wartime clay coins, the six modern denominations and the three types of 500-yen coin, modern key dates like the Showa 62 50-yen, realistic 2026 values, and counterfeit detection.
Chinese Coins Identification Guide: How to Read, Date, and Value Chinese Coinage
Learn to identify Chinese coins with confidence, from the square-hole cash coin to modern Panda bullion. Covers the four great eras of Chinese coinage, reading the four characters on a cash coin in their fixed top-bottom-right-left order, the ten Qing reign titles from Shunzhi to Xuantong and how they date a coin, the Manchu mint marks on the reverse (Boo-chiowan, Boo-yuwan and the provincial mints), the Kangxi twenty-mint set, ancient spade and knife money, ban liang and wu zhu, the Xianfeng inflation and its large-denomination cash, provincial dragon dollars and the 7 mace 2 candareens standard, Republic-era Fat Man and junk dollars, renminbi circulation coins, the Panda series and its 2016 switch to metric, chop marks on foreign silver, telling charms from real coins, realistic 2026 values, and counterfeit detection.
Spanish Colonial Reales Identification Guide: How to Read, Date, and Value Pieces of Eight
Learn to identify Spanish colonial reales and pieces of eight with confidence. Covers the three great eras from cob to pillar dollar to portrait dollar, the reales silver ladder (½, 1, 2, 4, 8) and the escudo gold ladder up to the doubloon, the twin Pillars of Hercules and the PLVS VLTRA motto, reading mint marks (Mo, P/PTS, L/LM, NG, NR, So) and assayer initials as the classic attribution pair, the silver-content lines from .9306 to .9028 fineness, the great colonial mints (Mexico City, Potosí, Lima and the branches), the Habsburg and Bourbon kings and their portraits, shipwreck coins and chop marks from the Manila galleon trade, famous rarities like the 1732 Mexico pillar dollar and the Royal presentation cobs, key dates, grading cobs vs milled coinage, realistic 2026 values, and counterfeit detection.
French Coins Identification Guide: How to Read, Date, and Value France's Coins
Learn to identify French coins with confidence. Covers the great eras from royal France to the euro, the livre-sol-denier system and the great silver écu and gold louis, the Revolution and the birth of the franc, the Franc Germinal standard, the beloved types (the Sower / Semeuse, Marianne, the Gallic rooster, Ceres, and Hercules) and how each dates a coin, reading mint marks and the little privy marks beside the date, the silver-content lines from .917 to .900 to base metal, the famous gold 20-franc Napoleon and Rooster, the 1960 "new franc," key dates and famous rarities, error coins, grading, realistic 2026 values, and counterfeit detection.
German Coins Identification Guide: How to Read, Date, and Value Germany's Coins
Learn to identify German coins with confidence. Covers the six eras from the pre-1871 German States to the euro, the thaler and gulden systems and the great silver crowns, the unified Empire and its gold mark, reading the all-important mint letters (A, D, E, F, G, J), the German eagle and how its style dates a coin, the silver-content dividing lines from .900 to .500 to base metal, the Weimar Republic with its hyperinflation coins and Notgeld emergency money, the coins of the Third Reich, the divided coinages of West and East Germany, key dates and famous rarities, error coins, grading, realistic 2026 values, and counterfeit detection.
Mexican Coins Identification Guide: How to Read, Date, and Value Mexico's Coins
Learn to identify Mexican coins with confidence. Covers the four eras from Spanish colonial to modern Mexico, the reales system and the famous pieces of eight (pillar and portrait dollars), the decimal peso and its denominations, the 1993 "new peso" (N$) revaluation, the national eagle-and-cactus emblem and how its style dates a coin, reading mint marks (Mo, Zs, Go, Ca, Do) and assayer initials, the silver-content dividing lines from .903 to .720 to base metal, the great types (cap-and-rays eight reales, the Caballito peso, the gold Centenario), key dates and scarce branch mints, Revolution-era issues, error coins, the Libertad bullion series, grading, realistic 2026 values, and counterfeit detection.
Byzantine Coins Identification Guide: How to Read, Date, and Value the Coins of Byzantium
Learn to identify Byzantine coins with confidence. Covers the coinage of the Eastern Roman Empire from Anastasius's reform of 498 CE to the fall of Constantinople in 1453: the self-describing bronze system (M, K, I, E marks of value), the gold solidus, histamenon, and hyperpyron, the silver hexagram, miliaresion, and stavraton, reading legends as they shift from Latin to Greek, dating by ANNO regnal years, mint marks and the CONOB gold signature, the five great periods, Christ and Virgin iconography, the anonymous folles, the cup-shaped trachea, famous rarities like the Justinian II Christ solidus, realistic 2026 values, grading, and counterfeit detection.
Canadian Coins Identification Guide: How to Read, Date, and Value Canada's Coins
Learn to identify Canadian coins with confidence. Covers the anatomy of a Canadian coin and its British-style monarch obverse, dating a coin by the reigning sovereign from Victoria to Charles III, every denomination from the vanished large cent and half cent to the loonie and toonie, the crucial 1919, 1967, and 1968 silver-content dividing lines, the great designs (caribou, beaver, Bluenose, voyageur, loon), mint marks and the Heaton "H", key dates and famous rarities like the 1911 dot cent, the 1936 dot coins, and the 1948 dollar, Canadian error coins, the Gold and Silver Maple Leaf bullion coins, grading, realistic 2026 values, and counterfeit detection.
British Coins Identification Guide: How to Read, Date, and Value UK Coins
Learn to identify British coins with confidence. Covers the pre-decimal pounds-shillings-pence (£sd) system and its denominations (farthing, penny, sixpence, shilling, florin, half crown, crown), the decimal coinage introduced on Decimal Day 1971, reading Latin legends and titles, dating a coin by monarch from Victoria to Charles III, the 1920 and 1947 silver-content dividing lines, the gold sovereign and its branch-mint marks, Britannia and the great reverse designs, key dates like the 1933 penny, error coins, grading, 2026 values, and counterfeit detection.
Ancient Greek Coins Identification Guide: How to Read, Date, and Value Greek Coins
Learn to identify ancient Greek coins like a numismatist. Covers the three periods of Greek coinage and their denominations (obol, drachm, tetradrachm, stater, decadrachm), reading Greek legends and the city ethnic, the civic badges that name a city at a glance (owl, Pegasus, sea-turtle), dating coins by Archaic, Classical, and Hellenistic style, the gods and heroes on the designs, royal portraits of the Hellenistic kingdoms, famous types from the Athenian owl to Alexander the Great and the Syracusan decadrachms, Magna Graecia, grading and values, and counterfeit detection.
Ancient Roman Coins Identification Guide: How to Read, Date, and Value Roman Coins
Learn to identify ancient Roman coins like a numismatist. Covers the three eras of Roman coinage and their denominations (denarius, sestertius, antoninianus, follis, aureus, solidus), reading abbreviated Latin legends, naming the emperor from portrait and titles, dating coins by tribunician power, the gods and personifications on reverses, late Roman mint marks, famous types from the Tribute Penny to the fallen horseman, uncleaned coin lots, grading and values, counterfeit detection, and RIC attribution.
Third-Party Coin Grading Guide: PCGS, NGC, ANACS & CAC, Submission, Costs, Slabs, and Crossovers
Understand coin grading services and how to use them. Compares PCGS, NGC, ANACS, and the CAC sticker (and CACG), explains why third-party grading exists, how to read every line on a slab label, what "Details" grades mean, how to submit coins step by step, grading costs and pricing tiers, turnaround and guarantees, crossovers, regrades and reholders, registry sets and population reports, how to spot fake slabs, and the key question of when grading is actually worth it.
Junk Silver Coins Identification Guide: 90% Silver US Coins, Values, and Stacking
Learn which US dimes, quarters, and half dollars are 90% silver and how to spot them at a glance. Covers the 1965 cutoff, the exact coin series that qualify, 40% silver Kennedy halves and wartime nickels, silver content by denomination, the rim test, how to calculate melt value from spot, the face-value multiplier and bag sizes, where to find junk silver, coin roll hunting, buying by premium, storage, common mistakes, and how junk silver compares to bullion coins.
Doubled Die Coins Identification Guide: Hub Doubling vs Machine Doubling, DDO & DDR, the 1955, 1969-S, 1972 & 1995 Cents, Attribution & Values
Identify doubled die coins and tell true hub doubling from worthless machine doubling. Covers how doubled dies are made, DDO versus DDR, the classes of hub doubling, single-squeeze modern varieties, the decisive diagnostics (raised rounded doubling, notching, split serifs), the famous 1955, 1969-S, 1972, 1983 DDR, 1984 doubled ear, and 1995 cents, doubled dies beyond the cent, FS attribution and the Cherrypickers' Guide, grading, certification, current values, and how to find them in circulation.
Key Date Coins Guide: What Makes a Date Rare and How to Find the Valuable Ones
Learn why a few dates in every series are worth a fortune while the rest are worth face value. Covers what a key date really is, the difference between keys, semi-keys, and common dates, how mintage and survival rate drive scarcity, why low mintage isn't everything, condition rarity and full-strike designations, the famous keys every collector should know (1909-S VDB, 1916-D, 1893-S, 1932-D/S), how to read any series for its keys, finding keys in old collections and rolls, spotting added mint marks and altered dates, and buying keys wisely.
Coin Toning Guide: Natural vs. Artificial Color and How It Affects Value
Learn how coin toning forms, why natural rainbow color is prized, and how to tell it from artificial toning. Covers the chemistry of toning, how silver, copper, gold, and nickel differ, the natural color sequence, named patterns (target, album, tab, and bag toning), how toning moves value in both directions, spotting artificially toned and doctored coins, how grading services flag "Questionable Color," why you should not strip toning, storage to control it, and buying toned coins safely.
Coin Cleaning and Preservation Guide: What Helps and What Destroys Value
Learn why cleaning coins usually destroys their value and how to preserve them properly. Covers hairlines and lost luster, why collectors prize natural toning, how to spot a cleaned coin and the "Details" grade, the home methods you should never use, the narrow exceptions, the safe distilled-water and acetone approaches, professional conservation vs. cleaning, correct handling, archival storage and holders, the PVC "green slime" problem, and what to do with a dirty found coin.
Braided Hair Large Cent Identification Guide: 1839-1857 Date Run, 1857 Final Year, 1855 Knob on Ear, Newcomb Attribution, EAC Grading, and Values
Identify Braided Hair Large Cents from 1839 to 1857, the last of the big copper cents, designed by Christian Gobrecht. Covers the transitional 1839 Head of 1840, the Petite Head versus Mature Head portraits, the famous 1857 final-year key date, the 1855 Knob on Ear die break, the 1844/81 and 1851/81 inverted-date blunders, the 1843 portrait-and-reverse trio, Newcomb variety attribution, EAC grading, counterfeit detection, and current market values across every date.
American Women Quarters Identification Guide: All 20 Honorees, Mint Marks, Silver Proofs, Errors, and Values
Identify the 2022-2025 American Women quarters, the four-year series honoring twenty trailblazing women from Maya Angelou to Althea Gibson. Covers all 20 designs, how to tell which honoree you have, the new right-facing Laura Gardin Fraser obverse, the P, D, and S mint marks, clad vs .999 silver proofs, the collectible errors (the Bessie Coleman doubled die, the Edith Kanakaʻole die clash, the Jovita Idar strike-through, and missing-clad-layer coins), grading, complete-set values, and current 2026 market prices.
Fugio Cent Identification Guide: The 1787 First U.S. Coin, Franklin's Design, Varieties, and Values
Identify the 1787 Fugio Cent, the first coin struck under the authority of the United States. Covers its origins in the 1787 Congress resolution, the failed James Jarvis contract and the New Haven mint, Benjamin Franklin's sundial design with "FUGIO" and "MIND YOUR BUSINESS," the linked-rings "WE ARE ONE" reverse, the major Pointed Rays, Club Rays, and STATES UNITED varieties, Newman die attribution, the 1859 New Haven restrikes, grading early copper, counterfeit and copy detection, and current 2026 values.
Counterfeit Coin Detection Guide: How to Spot Fake and Altered Coins
Protect yourself from fake coins with objective tests any collector can perform. Covers the weight and dimension check, the magnet test, the ping (sound) test, edge and seam inspection, and strike and font analysis, plus the most counterfeited coins (Morgan and Trade dollars, Silver and Gold Eagles), added mint marks and altered dates, deceptive counterfeit slabs, testing gold and silver bullion, buying red flags, and when to get a coin professionally certified.
America the Beautiful Quarters Identification Guide: Parks, Mint Marks, 2019-W Coins, Errors, and Values
Identify the 2010-2021 America the Beautiful quarters, the national-parks series that followed the 50 State Quarters. Covers all 56 designs, how to tell which park you have, the complete year-by-year release order, the P, D, S, and W mint marks, the rare 2019-W and 2020-W West Point coins (with the V75 privy mark), clad vs 90% and .999 silver proofs, the 5-ounce silver coins, errors, grading, complete-set values, and current 2026 market prices.
50 State Quarters Identification Guide: Release Order, Mint Marks, Errors, and Values
Identify the 1999-2008 50 State Quarters, the most successful coin series in U.S. history. Covers how to tell which state you have, the complete year-by-year release order, the P, D, and S mint marks, the 2009 DC and territories coins, clad vs 90% silver proofs, and the famous errors — the 2004-D Wisconsin extra leaf, the 2005-P Kansas "In God We Rust," and the Minnesota extra trees — plus grading, complete-set values, fake-error detection, and current 2026 market prices.
Proof Coins Identification Guide: Mirror Fields, Frosted Cameo Devices, Proof Sets, Reverse Proofs, PR Grading, and Values
Learn what a proof coin really is (a minting method, not a grade) and how to tell one from an ordinary business strike. Covers the mirror fields, frosted cameo and deep-cameo devices, squared rims, the seven tell-tale signs, matte and reverse proofs, proof sets, the "S" mint mark, PR/PF grading, impaired and cleaned proofs, the famous No S proof errors like the 1975 dime, and current 2026 market values.
Civil War Tokens Identification Guide: Patriotic Pieces, Merchant Store Cards, Fuld Numbers, Die Varieties, and Values
Identify Civil War Tokens (1861-1865), the copper and brass money Americans struck when the cent vanished during the war. Covers the patriotic pieces with their flags, eagles, cannons, and Union slogans, the merchant store cards that advertised Northern businesses, the regiment-named sutler tokens, the famous "Dix" token, the Fuld cataloging numbers and rarity ratings, the die-sinkers, grading copper tokens, counterfeit detection, and current 2026 market values.
Coin Mint Marks: What the Letters on Your Coin Mean
Decode the small letter near the date on any U.S. coin. Covers every mint mark (P, D, S, W, CC, O, C), the history of each mint, exactly where to look on pennies through dollars, why the location moved from reverse to obverse in 1968, the strange story of the Philadelphia "P," how mint marks drive value and rarity, and the famous no-mint-mark errors like the 1922 No D cent and 1982 No P dime.
Hard Times Tokens Identification Guide: Political Satire Pieces, Merchant Store Cards, Low and HT Numbers, Copper Varieties, and Values
Identify Hard Times Tokens (1832-1844), America's protest money from the Jacksonian crisis. Covers the political satire pieces mocking Andrew Jackson and the national bank, the merchant store cards, the "NOT ONE CENT" legal loophole, the Feuchtwanger German-silver cent, the Low and HT cataloging numbers, the die-sinkers, grading copper tokens, counterfeit detection, and current 2026 market values.
Colonial and Early American Coins Identification Guide: The Fugio Cent, Continental Dollar, State Coppers, Massachusetts Silver, and Values
Identify colonial and early American coins, the oldest and most storied field in US numismatics. Covers the 1652 Massachusetts pine tree silver, the Spanish milled dollar that was America's real money, the 1785-1788 Connecticut, New Jersey, Massachusetts and Vermont state coppers, the 1776 Continental dollar, the 1787 Fugio cent (the first US-authorized coin), the Washington pieces, grading crude coppers, counterfeit detection, and current 2026 market values.
Classic Commemorative Coins Identification Guide: The 50 Types, 144 Varieties, Columbian and Hawaiian Keys, Gold Issues, and Values
Identify US classic commemorative coins (1892-1954), one of the most artistic and accessible fields in numismatics. Covers the 50 types and 144 varieties, the 1892 Columbian first issue, the 1928 Hawaiian key, the Isabella quarter and Lafayette dollar, the gold commemoratives and the Panama-Pacific $50 giants, types vs. PDS sets, the 1936 boom and 1939 halt, grading, cleaning detection, and current 2026 market values.
Modern Commemorative Coins Identification Guide: 1982-Present Silver Dollars, Clad Half Dollars, $5 and $10 Gold, Mintages, Grading, and Values
Identify US modern commemorative coins (1982-present), the Mint's ongoing series of collector coins sold by mail and online. Covers the clad half dollar, 90% and .999 silver dollar, and $5 and $10 gold denominations, proof vs. uncirculated finishes, P/D/S/W mint marks, surcharges and original packaging, the famous low-mintage keys like the 1995-W Olympic gold and 1996 Atlanta dollars, grading modern coins, avoiding overpayment, and current 2026 market values.
Capped Bust Quarter Eagle Identification Guide: 1796 No Stars, 1804 13-Star, Capped Right and Capped Head Types, and Values
Identify Capped Bust Quarter Eagles ($2.50 gold, 1796-1834), the first US quarter eagle. Covers the famous 1796 No Stars, the Capped Bust Right (Draped Bust) and John Reich's Capped Head Left types, the one-year 1808, the 1804 13-Star reverse, the 1826/5 and 1834 With Motto keys, the 1829 reduced-diameter change, Bass-Dannreuther die marriages, grading early gold, counterfeit detection, and current 2026 market values.
Capped Bust Eagle Identification Guide: Small Eagle and Heraldic Eagle Types, the 1804 Key Date, Star Arrangements and Values
Identify Capped Bust Eagles ($10 gold, 1795-1804), the first ten-dollar coin struck by the US Mint. Covers Robert Scot's Turban Head design, the Small Eagle and Heraldic Eagle reverse types, the obverse star arrangements, the legendary 1804 Plain 4 vs Crosslet 4, the 1798/7 overdate and 1795 9 Leaves keys, the 1804 suspension, grading soft early gold, counterfeit and altered-date detection, and current 2026 market values.
Capped Bust Half Eagle Identification Guide: 1822, 1815 Keys, Small Eagle and Heraldic Eagle Types, Mint Marks and Values
Identify Capped Bust Half Eagles ($5 gold, 1795-1834), the first gold coins struck by the US Mint. Covers the Scot and Reich designs, the Small Eagle and Heraldic Eagle types, the legendary 1822 ($8.4 million) and 1815 keys, the 1829 reduced diameter change, overdates and die marriages, grading soft early gold, counterfeit detection, and current 2026 market values.
Classic Head Quarter Eagle Identification Guide: 1838-C, 1839 Branch Mint Keys, Mint Marks and Values
Identify Classic Head Quarter Eagles ($2.50 gold, 1834-1839), the first U.S. gold coins light enough to actually circulate. Covers William Kneass's No Motto design, the new Charlotte, Dahlonega, and New Orleans branch mints, the 1838-C first Charlotte gold, the 1839-D one-year Dahlonega key, the 1839-O, Classic Head vs Capped Head, grading weak branch-mint strikes, counterfeit detection, and current 2026 market values.
American Gold Buffalo Identification Guide: .9999 Fine Gold, the 2008-W Fractionals, Proofs, Key Dates, and Values
Identify American Gold Buffalos (2006-present), the first pure .9999 fine 24-karat gold coin in US history. Covers James Earle Fraser's Buffalo Nickel design, the one-year-only 2008 fractionals and scarce 2008-W burnished keys, the 2013 reverse proof, bullion vs proof finishes, Gold Buffalo vs Gold Eagle, grading, counterfeit detection, and current 2026 market values.
Lincoln Shield Cent Identification Guide: Key Dates, Mint Marks, and Values
Identify Lincoln Shield Cents (2009-present), the penny in circulation today. Covers the Union Shield reverse by Lyndall Bass and Joseph Menna, the four 2009 bicentennial designs and their scarce copper collector versions, the first-ever 2019-W West Point cents in three finishes, the one-year 2017-P mint mark, doubled dies, plating errors, grading, color designations, zinc rot, authentication, and current 2026 market values.
Coin Grading Guide: The Sheldon Scale, Mint State Grades, and Third-Party Grading
Master the Sheldon 1-to-70 grading scale and learn what every grade really means. Covers circulated grades from Good to About Uncirculated, mint state grades from MS-60 to MS-70, proof and cameo designations, strike, luster, eye appeal, toning, third-party grading by PCGS and NGC, and how to spot cleaned, damaged, and details coins before you buy.
Liberty Cap Large Cent Identification Guide: 1793 Chain Cent, Wreath Cent, Liberty Cap, AMERI. and LIHERTY Varieties, Sheldon Attribution, Grading, and Values
Identify the first United States large cents from 1793 to 1796. Covers the legendary 1793 Chain cent and its AMERI. variety, the 1793 Wreath cent and Strawberry Leaf, the 1793-1796 Liberty Cap design, the Head of 1793/1794/1795 portraits, the 1794 Starred Reverse, the 1795 Jefferson Head, the 1796 LIHERTY error, Vine and Bars versus lettered edges, Sheldon die-variety attribution, EAC grading, counterfeit detection, and current market values.
1793 Chain Cent Identification Guide: America's First Federal Coin, AMERI and AMERICA Reverses, Sheldon Varieties, Grading, Authentication, and Values
Identify the 1793 Chain Cent, the first coin struck by the US Mint. Covers the Flowing Hair obverse and chain reverse, the rare AMERI. versus AMERICA legend, the Periods obverse, the four Sheldon die marriages (S-1 to S-4) plus the legendary NC rarities, grading porous copper, counterfeit and replica detection, and current market values from low-grade fillers to seven-figure condition rarities.
1793 Wreath Cent Identification Guide: America's Second Cent, Vine and Bars vs Lettered Edge, Sprig Above Date, Strawberry Leaf, Sheldon Varieties, Grading, and Values
Identify the 1793 Wreath Cent, the second coin struck by the US Mint, which replaced the Chain Cent. Covers the Flowing Hair obverse and wreath reverse, the sprig above the date, the crucial Vine and Bars versus Lettered edge, the legendary Strawberry Leaf rarity, the Sheldon die marriages (S-5 to S-11c) plus NC varieties, grading porous copper, counterfeit detection, and current market values.
Classic Head Large Cent Identification Guide: John Reich Design, 1809 Key Date, 1810/09 and 1811/0 Overdates, Sheldon Varieties, Grading, and Values
Identify Classic Head Large Cents from 1808 to 1814 designed by John Reich. Covers the 1809 key date, the porous-planchet quality problem that defines the series, the 1810/09 and 1811/0 (S-286) overdates, the 1812 Small and Large Dates, the 1814 Plain 4 and Crosslet 4, Sheldon die-variety attribution, EAC grading, counterfeit and altered-date detection, and current market values across every date.
Error Coins & Mint Errors Identification Guide: Doubled Dies, Off-Center Strikes, Repunched Mint Marks, Clipped Planchets, Broadstrikes, Mules, Grading & Values
Learn to identify valuable mint errors and tell them from ordinary damage. Covers the three families of errors (planchet, die, and striking), doubled dies versus worthless machine doubling, off-center strikes, broadstrikes, repunched mint marks, clipped planchets, brockages, struck-throughs, wrong-planchet and mule errors, the famous 1955 and 1969-S doubled dies, the 1943 copper and 1944 steel cents, grading, authentication, and current values.
Coronet Head Large Cent Identification Guide: Matron Head, Coronet Head, 1823 Key Date, 1839 Head Varieties, Newcomb Attribution, Grading & Values
Identify Coronet Head (Matron Head) Large Cents from 1816 to 1839. Covers the Matron Head versus modified Coronet Head portraits, the 1823 key date and 1823/2 overdate, the famous 1839 head varieties (Silly Head, Booby Head, Petite Head, Head of 1838) plus the rare 1839/6 overdate, the 1817 15 Stars, the Randall Hoard, Newcomb die-variety attribution, EAC grading standards, counterfeit detection, and current market values across every date.
Draped Bust Half Dollar Identification Guide: 1796 Small Eagle, Heraldic Eagle, 15 vs 16 Stars, 1806/5 Overdate, and Values
Identify Draped Bust Half Dollars (1796-1807). Covers Robert Scot's draped Liberty, the legendary 1796 Small Eagle in 15 and 16 Stars, the 1801-1807 Heraldic Eagle issue, the seven-year production gap, the famous 1806/5 and 1805/4 overdates, the 1806 Knobbed 6 and Pointed 6, the rare Stem Not Through Claw, Overton variety attribution, grading, authentication, and current 2026 market values.
Draped Bust Large Cent Identification Guide: Sheldon Varieties, 1799 & 1804 Key Dates, Reverse Styles, EAC Grading & Values
Identify Draped Bust Large Cents from 1796 to 1807 designed by Robert Scot. Covers the great 1799 key date and its overdate, the famous 1804 broken-die rarity, the 1801 "3 Errors" reverse, stems versus stemless wreaths, Small versus Large Fraction reverses, the 1807/6 overdate and "Comet" variety, Sheldon and NC die variety attribution, EAC grading standards, counterfeit detection, and current market values across every date.
Liberty Cap Half Cent Identification Guide: 1793 Head Left, 1794-1797 Head Right, With Pole and No Pole, Key Date 1796, Cohen Varieties, Grading, and Values
Identify Liberty Cap Half Cents from 1793 to 1797, the first half cent ever struck. Covers the 1793 Head Left first-year issue, the 1794-1797 Head Right portraits, the With Pole versus No Pole varieties, the great 1796 key date and its LIHERTY error, lettered, plain, and gripped edges, Cohen die variety attribution, EAC grading standards, counterfeit detection, and current market values across every date.
American Platinum Eagle Identification Guide: Sizes, Finishes, Changing Reverses, Key Dates, and Values
Identify American Platinum Eagles (1997-present), the only US coin struck in .9995 platinum and the only one with a $100 face value. Covers John Mercanti's Statue of Liberty obverse, the soaring-eagle bullion reverse, the annually changing proof reverse designs (Vistas of Liberty, Preamble to the Constitution), all four sizes from 1 oz to 1/10 oz, bullion vs proof vs burnished finishes, the rare 2008-W burnished keys, grading, counterfeit detection, and current 2026 market values.
American Gold Eagle Identification Guide: Sizes, Mint Marks, Type 1 vs Type 2, Key Dates, and Values
Identify American Gold Eagles (1986-present), America's official gold bullion coin. Covers Saint-Gaudens' striding Liberty obverse, the family-of-eagles vs eagle-portrait reverse (Type 1 vs Type 2), all four sizes from 1 oz to 1/10 oz, bullion vs proof vs burnished finishes, the Roman numeral dates, the 1999-W Unfinished Proof Dies variety, key dates, grading, counterfeit detection, and current 2026 market values.
Draped Bust Dime Identification Guide: Small Eagle, Heraldic Eagle, the 1796 First Year, Star Counts, JR Varieties, and Values
Identify Draped Bust Dimes (1796-1807), the very first US ten-cent coins. Covers Robert Scot's Gilbert Stuart design, the delicate Small Eagle (1796-1797) vs the Heraldic Eagle (1798-1807), the legendary 1796 first-year issue, the 13/15/16-star varieties, the 1798/97 overdate, the rare 1804 13-star and 14-star reverses, the missing 1799 and 1806 years, JR die-variety attribution, grading, authentication, and current 2026 market values.
American Silver Eagle Identification Guide: Key Dates, Type 1 vs Type 2, Mint Marks, and Values
Identify American Silver Eagles (1986-present), the world's best-selling silver bullion coin. Covers Weinman's Walking Liberty obverse, the 2021 Type 1 vs Type 2 reverse switch, bullion vs proof vs burnished vs reverse proof finishes, the 1995-W proof king, the 1996 bullion key, the 2008-W Reverse of 2007 error, the 2011-S and 2021 emergency issues, grading, counterfeit detection, and current 2026 market values.
Draped Bust Quarter Identification Guide: Small Eagle vs Heraldic Eagle, the 1796 One-Year Type, 1806/5 Overdate, Key Dates and Values
Identify Draped Bust Quarters (1796, 1804-1807), the coins that began the US quarter dollar. Covers the legendary 1796 one-year Small Eagle type, the 1804-1807 Heraldic Eagle dates, the famous 1806/5 overdate and 1806 C-over-A blunder, the seven-year production gap, Browning variety attribution, grading early silver, authentication of a heavily counterfeited series, and current 2026 market values.
Draped Bust Half Dime Identification Guide: Small Eagle, Heraldic Eagle, Key Dates, and Values
Identify Draped Bust Half Dimes (1796-1805), among the scarcest early-silver type coins. Covers Robert Scot's draped Liberty, the Small Eagle (1796-1797) vs Heraldic Eagle (1800-1805) reverses, the legendary 1802 key date, the famous 1796 LIKERTY and 1800 LIBEKTY blundered dies, the 1797 13/15/16 stars, the 1803 Large/Small 8, V- and LM-variety attribution, open-collar strike characteristics, grading, authentication, and current market values.
Lincoln Memorial Cent Identification Guide: Key Dates, Mint Marks, and Values
Identify Lincoln Memorial Cents (1959-2008). Covers Frank Gasparro's Memorial reverse, the 1982 copper-to-zinc transition and seven varieties, the 1969-S and 1972 doubled dies, the 1970-S Small Date, the 1983 Doubled Die Reverse, the 1992 Close AM and 1999 Wide AM transitionals, the rare 1982-D Small Date copper, grading, color designations, error coins, authentication, and current market values.
Flowing Hair Half Dime Identification Guide: 1794 First US Half Dime, 1795 LIKERTY Blunder, Logan-McCloskey Varieties, and Values
Identify Flowing Hair Half Dimes (1794-1795), America's first half dime. Covers Robert Scot's wild-haired Liberty, the small eagle reverse, the reeded edge, the low-mintage 1794 key date, the four 1794 die marriages, the famous 1795 LIKERTY (LM-8) blunder, Valentine and Logan-McCloskey attribution, the separate 1792 half disme, adjustment marks, strike weakness, counterfeit detection, and current market values.
Flowing Hair Half Dollar Identification Guide: 1794 First US Half Dollar, 1795 Overton Varieties, Two vs Three Leaves, and Values
Identify Flowing Hair Half Dollars (1794-1795), America's first half dollar. Covers Robert Scot's wild-haired Liberty, the small eagle reverse, the low-mintage 1794 key date, the dominant Overton O-101 die pair, Two Leaves vs Three Leaves reverses, the bold 1795 Recut Date, the "A over E in STATES" blunder, adjustment marks, strike weakness, counterfeit detection, and current market values.
Flowing Hair Dollar Identification Guide: 1794 First Silver Dollar, 1795 Varieties, Bowers-Borckardt Attribution, and Values
Identify Flowing Hair Dollars (1794-1795), America's first silver dollar. Covers Robert Scot's wild-haired Liberty, the unique 1794 BB-1 die marriage, the 1795 Head of 1794 vs Head of 1795 obverse hubs, Two Leaves vs Three Leaves reverses, the rare silver plug planchets, Bowers-Borckardt attribution, characteristic strike weakness, adjustment marks, the $10M+ Neil-Carter-Contursi specimen, counterfeit detection, and current market values.
Indian Head Half Eagle Identification Guide: Key Dates, Mint Marks, Incuse Design, and Values
Identify Indian Head Half Eagles ($5 gold, 1908-1929). Covers Bela Lyon Pratt's revolutionary incuse (sunken-relief) design, the legendary 1909-O (last New Orleans gold), the 1911-D and 1929 keys, the 1909-D/D RPM, matte proofs, all four mints, grading challenges unique to incuse coins, counterfeit detection, and current market values.
Liberty Head Quarter Eagle Identification Guide: 1848 CAL Counterstamp, 1841 Little Princess, 1875 Key Dates, Mint Marks and Values
Identify Liberty Head Quarter Eagles ($2.50 gold, 1840-1907). Covers Christian Gobrecht's coronet design, the five mints (Philadelphia, Charlotte, Dahlonega, New Orleans, San Francisco), the famous 1848 CAL. counterstamp (America's first commemorative), the 1841 Little Princess proof-only key, the 1854-S, 1856-D, 1875 keys, Civil War rarities, branch mint history, grading, authentication, and current market values.
Seated Liberty Half Dime Identification Guide: Types, Key Dates, and Values
Identify Seated Liberty Half Dimes (1837-1873). Covers Gobrecht and Hughes's design, the five major sub-types (No Stars, Stars No Drapery, Stars With Drapery, Arrows, Legend Obverse), the unique 1870-S, the famous 1846, the 1838-O No Stars, the 1844-O, the 1853-O No Arrows, the Civil War keys, Valentine varieties, grading, authentication, and current market values.
Capped Bust Quarter Identification Guide: Large Size vs Small Size, Browning Varieties, 1823/2 Overdate, Key Dates and Values
Identify Capped Bust Quarters (1815-1838). Covers John Reich's design, the Large Size vs Small Size sub-series, the Browning variety system, the famous 1823/2 overdate, the 1822 25/50 C. blunder, 1825 overdates, 1827 Original vs Restrike, the 1829-1830 production gap, proof issues, grading, authentication, and current market values.
Indian Head Quarter Eagle Identification Guide: 1911-D Key Date, Bela Lyon Pratt's Incused Design, Mint Marks and Values
Identify Indian Head Quarter Eagles ($2.50 gold, 1908-1929). Covers Bela Lyon Pratt's incused (sunken-relief) design, the two mints (Philadelphia and Denver), the famous 1911-D Strong D vs Weak D varieties, the 1914 and 1914-D semi-keys, matte and sandblast proofs, grading the incused design, authentication, jewelry damage, and current market values.
Three Dollar Gold Identification Guide: 1854-D, 1870-S, 1875, 1876 Key Dates, Mint Marks, and Values
Identify Three Dollar Gold Pieces from 1854 to 1889. Covers James Longacre's Indian Princess design, the four mints (Philadelphia, Dahlonega, New Orleans, San Francisco), the famous 1854-D, 1854-O, 1865, 1881, 1885 keys, the proof-only 1875 and 1876, the 1873 Open 3 vs Closed 3, the unique 1870-S, grading, authentication, jewelry damage, and current market values.
Capped Bust Half Dime Identification Guide: LM Varieties, Key Dates, and Values
Identify Capped Bust Half Dimes from 1829 to 1837. Covers John Reich's design reduced by William Kneass, the Logan-McCloskey (LM) and Valentine die-variety systems, the 1837 Small 5C, the 1836 3-over-inverted-3, the 1835 date and denomination varieties, grading, authentication, and current market values.
Capped Bust Dime Identification Guide: Large Size, Small Size, JR Varieties, Key Dates, and Values
Identify Capped Bust Dimes from 1809 to 1837. Covers John Reich's design, the Large Size (open collar) vs Small Size (close collar) sub-types, the JR die variety system, the legendary 1822 series king, the 1809 first year, the 1811/9 overdate, the 1829 Curl Base 2, the 1828 transition, grading, authentication, and current market values.
Liberty Head Half Eagle Identification Guide: No Motto, With Motto, Key Dates, Mint Marks, and Values
Identify Liberty Head Half Eagles from 1839 to 1908 across both major types. Covers Christian Gobrecht's coronet design, the legendary 1854-S (three known), the 1861-D Confederate Dahlonega issue, the 1864-S Civil War rarity, the proof-only 1875 and 1887 keys, the 1842-C Small Date, Carson City rarities, all seven branch mints (P, C, D, O, S, CC, D-Denver), grading, authentication, and current market values.
Susan B. Anthony Dollar Identification Guide: Wide Rim, Key Dates, and Values
Identify Susan B. Anthony Dollars from 1979-1981 and 1999. Covers Frank Gasparro's design, the famous 1979-P Wide Rim (Near Date) variety, the 1979-S and 1981-S Type 1 and Type 2 proof mint marks, the proof-only 1981 P/D/S Mint set business strikes, the 1999 revival year, the Apollo 11 eagle reverse, the 11-sided inner border, copper-nickel clad composition, grading, authentication, and current market values.
Gold Dollar Identification Guide: Type 1, 2, 3 Key Dates, Mint Marks, and Values
Identify Gold Dollars from 1849 to 1889 across all three major types. Covers James Longacre's Liberty Head (Type 1), Indian Princess Small Head (Type 2), and Indian Princess Large Head (Type 3) designs, the famous 1849 Open Wreath and Closed Wreath varieties, the legendary 1849-C Open Wreath rarity, the 1855-D, 1856-D, 1861-D Confederate-struck Dahlonega keys, the 1875, mint marks across Philadelphia, Charlotte, Dahlonega, New Orleans, and San Francisco, jewelry damage, grading, authentication, and current market values.
Indian Head Eagle Identification Guide: Key Dates, Types, Mint Marks, and Values
Identify Indian Head Eagles ($10 gold) from 1907 to 1933. Covers Saint-Gaudens's design with Liberty in an Indian war bonnet, the 1907 Wire Rim and Rolled Rim Periods experimental types, the No Periods and With Motto production types, the legendary 1933 Eagle, the 1920-S and 1930-S keys, mint marks across Philadelphia, Denver, San Francisco, and New Orleans, grading, authentication, and current market values.
Liberty Head Eagle Identification Guide: Types, Key Dates, Mint Marks, and Values
Identify Liberty Head (Coronet) Eagles ($10 gold) from 1838 to 1907. Covers Christian Gobrecht's coronet design, the No Motto and With Motto types, the 1838-1839 head varieties, the legendary 1875 and 1858, the Civil War 1864-S, the Carson City and New Orleans branch issues, mint marks across five mints, grading, authentication, and current market values.
Draped Bust Dollar Identification Guide: Small Eagle, Heraldic Eagle, 1804 Key Date, and Values
Identify Draped Bust Dollars from 1795 to 1804. Covers Robert Scot's design from Gilbert Stuart, the Small Eagle (1795-1798) and Heraldic Eagle (1798-1804) reverses, the legendary 1804 dollar in Class I, II, and III, Bowers-Borckardt (BB) die varieties, the 1799/8 and 1802/1 overdates, the 1800 AMERICAI and Dotted Date, grading, authentication, and current market values.
Sacagawea Dollar Identification Guide: Reverses, Key Dates, and Values
Identify Sacagawea Dollars from 2000 onward. Covers the Soaring Eagle and Native American reverses, the famous 2000-P Cheerios Dollar, the Wounded Eagle, Goodacre Presentation strikes, the 2000-P / Washington Quarter Mule, the 2000-W $10 gold pattern, edge-lettering errors, manganese-brass alloy, grading, authentication, and current market values.
Presidential Dollar Identification Guide: Edge Lettering, Errors, and Values
Identify Presidential Dollars (2007-2016, 2020). Covers all 39 presidents, the Statue of Liberty reverse, edge lettering, the famous 2007 Godless dollar, plain-edge and doubled-edge errors, wrong-planchet mules, the First Spouse gold series, manganese-brass alloy, grading, authentication, and current market values.
Seated Liberty Dime Identification Guide: Types, Key Dates, and Values
Identify Seated Liberty Dimes from 1837 to 1891. Covers Gobrecht and Hughes's design, the six major sub-types (No Stars, Stars No Drapery, Stars With Drapery, Arrows, Legend Obverse, Legend With Arrows), the unique 1873-CC No Arrows, the 1844 "Orphan Annie," the 1846, the Carson City keys, Fortin varieties, grading, authentication, and current market values.
Seated Liberty Quarter Identification Guide: Types, Key Dates, and Values
Identify Seated Liberty Quarters from 1838 to 1891. Covers Gobrecht and Hughes's design, the six major sub-types, the four legendary Carson City keys (1870-CC, 1871-CC, 1872-CC, 1873-CC No Arrows), the 1853 Arrows and Rays, the 1842 Small Date, the 1849-O, Briggs varieties, grading, authentication, and current market values.
Liberty Head Double Eagle Identification Guide: Type 1, 2, 3 Key Dates, Mint Marks, and Values
Identify Liberty Head Double Eagles from 1849 to 1907 across all three major types. Covers Longacre's coronet design, the unique 1849 pattern, the legendary 1854-O and 1856-O New Orleans rarities, the 1861 Paquet Reverse, the 1870-CC, the 1879-O, Carson City and branch mint history, grading, authentication, and current market values.
Twenty Cent Piece Identification Guide: 1876-CC, Key Dates, Mint Marks, and Values
Identify Twenty Cent Pieces from 1875 to 1878. Covers William Barber's Liberty Seated design, the legendary 1876-CC rarity, the high-mintage 1875-S, the proof-only 1877 and 1878 issues, the plain edge diagnostic, distinguishing the coin from the Seated quarter, grading, authentication, and current market values.
Large Cent Identification Guide: Chain, Wreath, Liberty Cap, Draped Bust, Classic Head, Coronet, Braided Hair, Key Dates, and Values
Identify US Large Cents from 1793 to 1857 across all seven major types: Chain, Wreath, Liberty Cap, Draped Bust, Classic Head, Coronet/Matron Head, and Braided Hair. Covers the legendary 1793 Chain and Wreath, the 1799 great key, the 1804, the 1839 transitional varieties, the 1857 final year, Sheldon and Newcomb variety attribution, EAC grading, authentication, and current market values.
Seated Liberty Half Dollar Identification Guide: Types, Key Dates, and Values
Identify Seated Liberty Half Dollars from 1839 to 1891. Covers Christian Gobrecht's design, the six major sub-types (No Drapery, Drapery, Arrows and Rays, Arrows, With Motto, With Arrows), Carson City rarities, the 1853 Arrows and Rays, the 1878-S key, the 1866 No Motto unique, Wiley-Bugert varieties, grading, authentication, and current market values.
Barber Half Dollar Identification Guide: Key Dates, Mint Marks, Micro O, and Values
Identify Barber Half Dollars from 1892 to 1915. Covers Charles Barber's Liberty Head design, the famous 1892-O Micro O variety, the 1913, 1914, and 1915 Philadelphia keys, the 1904-S condition rarity, LIBERTY headband grading, proof varieties, authentication, and current market values.
Braided Hair Half Cent Identification Guide: Christian Gobrecht Design, 1849 Small Date and Large Date, Proof-Only Dates, Restrikes, Grading, and Values
Identify Braided Hair Half Cents from 1840 to 1857 designed by Christian Gobrecht. Covers the critical 1849 Small Date versus Large Date, the proof-only dates of 1840-1848 and 1852, the First Restrike and Second Restrike reverses, the last half cent of 1857, Cohen die variety attribution, EAC grading standards, counterfeit detection, and current market values across every date.
Classic Head Half Cent Identification Guide: John Reich Design, Key Dates 1811 and 1831, Cohen Varieties, Grading, and Values
Identify Classic Head Half Cents from 1809 to 1836 designed by John Reich. Covers the 1809/6 overdate, the 1811 great business-strike key date, the 1828 12 Stars variety, the proof-only 1831 and 1836 originals and restrikes, Cohen die variety attribution, EAC grading standards, counterfeit detection, and current market values across every date.
Draped Bust Half Cent Identification Guide: Spiked Chin, Stems Varieties, Key Date 1802, Cohen Attribution, Grading & Values
Identify Draped Bust Half Cents from 1800 to 1808 designed by Robert Scot. Covers the famous 1804 Spiked Chin, Plain 4 versus Crosslet 4, stems versus stemless reverses, the 1802 key date and its overdates, the 1808/7, Cohen and Breen die variety attribution, EAC grading standards, counterfeit detection, and current market values across every date.
Half Cent Identification Guide: Liberty Cap, Draped Bust, Classic Head, Braided Hair, Key Dates, and Values
Identify Half Cents from 1793 to 1857 across all four major types: Liberty Cap, Draped Bust, Classic Head, and Braided Hair. Covers the 1793 first-year issue, the legendary 1796 rarity, the 1811 key, the proof-only 1840-1848 originals and restrikes, Cohen and Breen variety attribution, grading, authentication, and current market values.
Three Cent Piece Identification Guide: Silver Trime, Nickel Three-Cent, Key Dates, and Values
Identify Three Cent Pieces across both versions: silver trimes (1851-1873) and nickel three-cents (1865-1889). Covers Type 1, Type 2, and Type 3 silver trimes, the 1851-O branch mint issue, the 1855 Type 2 key, the proof-only 1877 and 1878 nickel keys, the 1873 Closed 3 and Open 3, James Longacre's designs, grading, authentication, and current market values.
Two Cent Piece Identification Guide: Small Motto, Key Dates, and Values
Identify Two Cent Pieces from 1864 to 1873. Covers the famous 1864 Small Motto vs Large Motto, the 1872 key date, the 1873 Closed 3 and Open 3 proof-only varieties, James Longacre's Union Shield design, the first "In God We Trust" motto, grading, authentication, and current market values.
Capped Bust Half Dollar Identification Guide: Overton Varieties, Key Dates, and Values
Identify Capped Bust Half Dollars from 1807-1839. Covers John Reich's design, the Overton variety system, lettered edge vs reeded edge, the 1815/2 and 1817/4 overdates, the 1838-O proof, grading, authentication, and current market values.
Trade Dollar Identification Guide: Key Dates, Chop Marks, and Values
Identify Trade Dollars by mint marks, key dates, chop marks, and Type 1 vs Type 2 reverses. Covers William Barber's Liberty-on-bales design, the 1878-CC, the legendary 1884 and 1885 proofs, demonetization, grading, authentication, and values from 1873 to 1885.
Flying Eagle Cent Identification Guide: 1856 Pattern, Key Dates, and Values
Identify Flying Eagle Cents from 1856 to 1858. Covers the famous 1856 pattern, 1858 Large Letters vs Small Letters, the 1858/7 overdate, James Longacre's design, copper-nickel composition, strike weakness, grading, authentication, and current market values.
Saint-Gaudens Double Eagle Identification Guide: Key Dates, High Relief, and Values
Identify Saint-Gaudens Double Eagles by mint marks, key dates, and High Relief vs Low Relief types. Covers the 1933 rarity, 1927-D, 1920-S, 1921, 1907 MCMVII Ultra High Relief, Augustus Saint-Gaudens design, grading, authentication, and values from 1907 to 1933.
Seated Liberty Dollar Identification Guide: Key Dates, Mint Marks, and Values
Identify Seated Liberty Dollars by mint marks, key dates, and With Motto vs No Motto types. Covers the 1870-S rarity, 1873-CC, original 1851/1852, the 1858 proof-only, Christian Gobrecht's design, grading, authentication, and values from 1840 to 1873.
Gobrecht Dollar Identification Guide: Die Alignment, Originals vs Restrikes, and Values
Identify Gobrecht Dollars by die alignment, signature placement, and original vs restrike status. Covers the 1836 name-on-base and name-in-field, 1838 and 1839 stars-obverse types, the flying eagle reverse, grading, authentication, and values.
Eisenhower Dollar Identification Guide: Key Dates, Bicentennial Varieties, and Values
Identify Eisenhower Dollars by mint marks, key dates, and Bicentennial varieties. Covers 1971-S silver, the 1972 Type 1/Type 2/Type 3 reverses, FS-901 doubled die, Friendly Eagle, grading, authentication, and values from 1971 to 1978.
Shield Nickel Identification Guide: Key Dates, Rays Varieties, and Values
Identify Shield Nickels by date, type, and rays variety. Covers 1866 With Rays, 1867 No Rays, the proof-only 1877 and 1878 keys, 1869/8 and 1883/2 repunched dates, striking problems, grading, authentication, and values from 1866 to 1883.
Liberty Head V Nickel Identification Guide: Key Dates, Mint Marks, and Values
Identify Liberty Head V Nickels by mint marks, key dates, and Type 1 vs Type 2 varieties. Covers the 1885, 1886, 1912-S, the famous 1913 rarity, the racketeer nickel scandal, grading, authentication, and values from 1883 to 1912.
Barber Quarter Identification Guide: Key Dates, Mint Marks, and Values
Identify Barber Quarters by mint marks, key dates, and varieties. Covers the 1901-S series king, 1896-S, 1913-S, 1892 Type 1 vs Type 2 reverse, LIBERTY grading, authentication, and values from 1892 to 1916.
Roosevelt Dime Identification Guide: Key Dates, Mint Marks, Silver vs Clad, and Values
Identify Roosevelt Dimes across silver (1946-1964) and clad (1965+) eras. Covers the 1949-S semi-key, 1975 No-S proof rarity, 1982 No-P error, 1996-W anniversary issue, Full Torch designation, grading, authentication, and values.
Kennedy Half Dollar Identification Guide: Key Dates, Mint Marks, and Values
Identify Kennedy Half Dollars across 1964 silver, 40% silver transitional, clad, and modern collector issues. Covers the 1964 Accented Hair, 1970-D, 1987-P/D, 1998-S matte, Bicentennial, grading, authentication, and values.
Complete Coin Identification Guide: How to Identify, Date, and Value Coins
Master the art of coin identification with our comprehensive guide. Learn to identify, date, authenticate, and value coins from various civilizations and historical periods. Covers mint marks, grading techniques, and authentication methods.
Morgan Silver Dollar Identification Guide: Key Dates, Mint Marks, and Values
Learn to identify Morgan Silver Dollars by mint marks, key dates, and VAM varieties. Covers grading, authentication, Carson City issues, and current market values for every year from 1878 to 1921.
Indian Head Penny Identification Guide: Key Dates, Varieties, and Values
Identify Indian Head Pennies by date, variety, and condition. Covers key dates like the 1877 and 1909-S, error coins, grading tips, color designations, and current market values from 1859 to 1909.
Buffalo Nickel Identification Guide: Key Dates, Mint Marks, and Values
Identify Buffalo Nickels by key dates, mint marks, and varieties. Covers the 1937-D three-legged error, 1913-S Type 2, overdates, grading, dateless coins, and current market values from 1913 to 1938.
Peace Dollar Identification Guide: Key Dates, Mint Marks, and Values
Identify Peace Dollars by mint marks, key dates, and die varieties. Covers grading, authentication, high relief vs low relief types, VAM varieties, and market values from 1921 to 1935.
Walking Liberty Half Dollar Identification Guide: Key Dates, Mint Marks, and Values
Identify Walking Liberty Half Dollars by mint marks, key dates, and varieties. Covers grading, strike quality, authentication, die varieties, and market values from 1916 to 1947.
Mercury Dime Identification Guide: Key Dates, Mint Marks, and Values
Identify Mercury Dimes by mint marks, key dates, and Full Bands designation. Covers the 1916-D rarity, overdate varieties, grading, authentication, and market values from 1916 to 1945.
Lincoln Wheat Penny Identification Guide: Key Dates, Mint Marks, and Values
Identify Lincoln Wheat Pennies by mint marks, key dates, and doubled dies. Covers the 1909-S VDB, 1914-D, 1922 Plain, 1943 copper, 1955 DDO, grading, authentication, and values from 1909 to 1958.
Franklin Half Dollar Identification Guide: Key Dates, Mint Marks, and Values
Identify Franklin Half Dollars by mint marks, key dates, and Full Bell Lines varieties. Covers the 1949-S, 1953-S, 1955 Bugs Bunny, proof cameos, grading, authentication, and values from 1948 to 1963.
Jefferson Nickel Identification Guide: Key Dates, Mint Marks, War Nickels, and Values
Identify Jefferson Nickels by mint marks, key dates, and Full Steps varieties. Covers war nickels (1942-1945), the 1950-D, 1939 Doubled Monticello, 1954-S FS, grading, authentication, and values from 1938 to today.
Barber Dime Identification Guide: Key Dates, Mint Marks, and Values
Identify Barber Dimes by mint marks, key dates, and die varieties. Covers the 1894-S rarity, 1895-O key, 1905-O Micro O, LIBERTY grading, authentication, and values from 1892 to 1916.
Washington Quarter Identification Guide: Key Dates, Mint Marks, Silver vs Clad, and Values
Identify Washington Quarters across the full series from 1932 to today. Covers silver vs clad, the 1932-D and 1932-S keys, the 1937 DDO, Bicentennial, 50 State Quarters, America the Beautiful, grading, authentication, and values.
Standing Liberty Quarter Identification Guide: Key Dates, Mint Marks, and Values
Identify Standing Liberty Quarters by Type 1 vs Type 2, mint marks, key dates, and Full Head designation. Covers the 1916 key, 1918/7-S overdate, grading, authentication, and values from 1916 to 1930.
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