TheCoinHQ

Coin collecting guides

Coin collecting & selling guides

Genuinely useful, jargon-free guides for buyers and sellers — written to help you make confident decisions before you walk into a shop.

How to Choose a Local Coin Shop
Collector Basics

How to Choose a Local Coin Shop

What to look for, questions to ask, and red flags to avoid before you walk in.

By TheCoinHQ Team
Coin Shop vs Bullion Dealer: What's the Difference?
Bullion Guide

Coin Shop vs Bullion Dealer: What's the Difference?

They overlap, but they are not the same. Learn which one fits what you are trying to do.

By TheCoinHQ Team
What to Know Before Selling a Coin Collection
Selling Guide

What to Know Before Selling a Coin Collection

How to organize, value, and sell a collection without leaving money on the table.

By TheCoinHQ Team
How Coin Appraisals Work
Appraisals

How Coin Appraisals Work

When you need one, what it includes, and how grading affects the number.

By TheCoinHQ Team
Questions to Ask Before Buying Gold or Silver
Bullion Guide

Questions to Ask Before Buying Gold or Silver

Premiums, authenticity, storage, and buyback terms to ask about before handing over money.

By TheCoinHQ Team
What Are My Coins Worth? How to Value Any Coin
Coin Values

What Are My Coins Worth? How to Value Any Coin

The four things that set a coin's value, and how to tell a face-value coin from a valuable one.

By TheCoinHQ Team
Are Dollar Coins Worth Anything? A Value Guide
Coin Values

Are Dollar Coins Worth Anything? A Value Guide

Which dollar coins are worth exactly $1, and which are worth far more.

By TheCoinHQ Team
Silver Coin Melt Value: How to Calculate It
Coin Values

Silver Coin Melt Value: How to Calculate It

Turn any silver coin into a dollar figure using its silver content and the live spot price.

By TheCoinHQ Team
What US Coins Are Silver? A Year-by-Year Guide
Coin Values

What US Coins Are Silver? A Year-by-Year Guide

The simple date rule for silver coins, plus the exceptions worth knowing.

By TheCoinHQ Team
American Silver Eagle: A Beginner's Buyer Guide
Bullion Guide

American Silver Eagle: A Beginner's Buyer Guide

The most recognized silver bullion coin, and what to know before you buy one.

By TheCoinHQ Team
Coin Grading Explained: The 70-Point Scale
Collector Basics

Coin Grading Explained: The 70-Point Scale

What the grades mean, how PCGS and NGC certify coins, and why grade can multiply value.

By TheCoinHQ Team
How to Buy Gold: Coins, Bars, and Premiums
Bullion Guide

How to Buy Gold: Coins, Bars, and Premiums

Coins vs bars, premiums over spot, what to buy first, and how to store it safely.

By TheCoinHQ Team
How to Spot Fake Coins and Counterfeit Bullion
Collector Basics

How to Spot Fake Coins and Counterfeit Bullion

The magnet, weight, dimension, and ping tests — plus the red flags that catch most fakes.

By TheCoinHQ Team
Wheat Penny Value: Key Dates Worth Money
Coin Values

Wheat Penny Value: Key Dates Worth Money

Most are worth a few cents — but a handful of key dates are worth hundreds. How to tell them apart.

By TheCoinHQ Team
Morgan Silver Dollar Value: What Yours Is Worth
Coin Values

Morgan Silver Dollar Value: What Yours Is Worth

The silver floor, the key dates, and how mint mark and grade decide what yours is worth.

By TheCoinHQ Team
Coin Shows: The Complete Guide to Buying, Selling, and Grading
Collector Basics

Coin Shows: The Complete Guide to Buying, Selling, and Grading

How the bourse floor works, what to bring, and how to buy, sell, and grade coins at a show.

By TheCoinHQ Team
2026 America 250 Coins: The Semiquincentennial Coin Guide
Coin Values

2026 America 250 Coins: The Semiquincentennial Coin Guide

The new 1776–2026 designs, the Liberty Bell '250' privy mark, and whether to save them.

By TheCoinHQ Team
Are My Old Coins Worth Anything? Why Most Are Worth Face Value
Coin Values

Are My Old Coins Worth Anything? Why Most Are Worth Face Value

The honest answer — most are common. Here's how to spot the few that aren't.

By TheCoinHQ Team
Coin Collecting for Beginners: How to Start
Collector Basics

Coin Collecting for Beginners: How to Start

Choose a focus, handle coins right, learn the basics, and buy from people you trust.

By TheCoinHQ Team
Junk Silver: How to Buy and Sell Pre-1965 90% Silver Coins
Bullion Guide

Junk Silver: How to Buy and Sell Pre-1965 90% Silver Coins

What counts as junk silver, how much silver it holds, and how to buy and sell it well.

By TheCoinHQ Team
Buffalo Nickel Value: Key Dates and What Yours Is Worth
Coin Values

Buffalo Nickel Value: Key Dates and What Yours Is Worth

Most are worth a little; a few key dates are worth thousands. How to tell which you have.

By TheCoinHQ Team
Mercury Dime Value: Key Dates and Full Bands Explained
Coin Values

Mercury Dime Value: Key Dates and Full Bands Explained

The 1916-D key date, the Full Bands premium, and the silver floor under every coin.

By TheCoinHQ Team
Indian Head Penny Value: Key Dates and What Yours Is Worth
Coin Values

Indian Head Penny Value: Key Dates and What Yours Is Worth

The 1877 key date, the scarce 1909-S, and how to tell a common cent from a rarity.

By TheCoinHQ Team
How to Store and Protect Your Coins
Collector Basics

How to Store and Protect Your Coins

The right holders, what to avoid, and how to handle coins so they keep their value.

By TheCoinHQ Team
Gold vs. Silver: Which Should You Buy?
Bullion Guide

Gold vs. Silver: Which Should You Buy?

How gold and silver differ on price, volatility, and storage — and how to choose.

By TheCoinHQ Team
Buy the Best You Can Afford: Coin Collecting's Golden Rule
Collector Basics

Buy the Best You Can Afford: Coin Collecting's Golden Rule

Why a few high-quality coins almost always beat a drawer full of mediocre ones — and when to break the rule.

By TheCoinHQ Team
How to Build a Coin Collection on a Budget
Collector Basics

How to Build a Coin Collection on a Budget

Focus, pocket change, and a few smart habits go further than a big budget. Here's how to start cheap.

By TheCoinHQ Team
Coin Show Calendar: The Major U.S. Coin Shows
Collector Basics

Coin Show Calendar: The Major U.S. Coin Shows

The big national shows, when they run, and how to find one near you. Always confirm dates with the organizer.

By TheCoinHQ Team
Coin Grading Companies: Which to Trust and Which to Avoid
Collector Basics

Coin Grading Companies: Which to Trust and Which to Avoid

PCGS and NGC lead the market; ANACS and ICG are legitimate; unrecognized 'self-slabbers' are a red flag. Here's how to tell them apart.

By TheCoinHQ Team
Kennedy Half Dollar Value: 1964 to Today
Coin Values

Kennedy Half Dollar Value: 1964 to Today

1964 is 90% silver, 1965–1970 are 40% silver, and most later ones are clad. Here's how to tell and what they're worth.

By TheCoinHQ Team
Peace Dollar Value: What Yours Is Worth
Coin Values

Peace Dollar Value: What Yours Is Worth

Every Peace dollar holds about 0.7734 oz of silver as a floor. Key dates and grade decide the rest.

By TheCoinHQ Team
Walking Liberty Half Dollar Value: Key Dates and Worth
Coin Values

Walking Liberty Half Dollar Value: Key Dates and Worth

About 0.3617 oz of silver as a floor, scarce early dates, and a popular late-date short set. Here's what yours is worth.

By TheCoinHQ Team
Franklin Half Dollar Value: Key Dates and Full Bell Lines
Coin Values

Franklin Half Dollar Value: Key Dates and Full Bell Lines

Every Franklin holds about 0.3617 oz of silver. The 1949-S and Full Bell Lines coins bring the premiums.

By TheCoinHQ Team
Washington Quarter Value: Silver Years and Key Dates
Coin Values

Washington Quarter Value: Silver Years and Key Dates

1932–1964 quarters are 90% silver; 1965 and later are clad. The 1932-D and 1932-S are the keys.

By TheCoinHQ Team
1943 Steel Penny Value: Common Cents and the Rare Copper Error
Coin Values

1943 Steel Penny Value: Common Cents and the Rare Copper Error

Most 1943 steel cents are worth only cents. The rare 1943 copper error is the six-figure coin — here's how to tell.

By TheCoinHQ Team
Eisenhower Dollar Value: Clad, Silver, and Bicentennial Ikes
Coin Values

Eisenhower Dollar Value: Clad, Silver, and Bicentennial Ikes

Most clad Ike dollars are worth a dollar or two. The 40% silver collector versions hold real metal value.

By TheCoinHQ Team
Bicentennial Coins Value: Are 1776–1976 Quarters Worth Money?
Coin Values

Bicentennial Coins Value: Are 1776–1976 Quarters Worth Money?

Most Bicentennial quarters are worth 25 cents. Here's the honest picture — and the few that are worth more.

By TheCoinHQ Team
Standing Liberty Quarter Value: Key Dates and Types
Coin Values

Standing Liberty Quarter Value: Key Dates and Types

About 0.1808 oz of silver as a floor. The 1916 and the 1918/7-S overdate are the prizes; dateless coins are worth least.

By TheCoinHQ Team
Coin Errors Explained: Doubled Dies, Off-Center Strikes, and More
Collector Basics

Coin Errors Explained: Doubled Dies, Off-Center Strikes, and More

What counts as a coin error, the main types, what they're worth, and how to tell an error from plain damage.

By TheCoinHQ Team
What Is a Mint Mark? How to Read One and Why It Matters
Collector Basics

What Is a Mint Mark? How to Read One and Why It Matters

A mint mark is the small letter showing which mint struck a coin — and it can make a big difference in value.

By TheCoinHQ Team
Roosevelt Dime Value: Silver Years and Key Dates
Coin Values

Roosevelt Dime Value: Silver Years and Key Dates

1946–1964 Roosevelt dimes are 90% silver; later ones are clad. Here's what yours is worth.

By TheCoinHQ Team
Sacagawea Dollar Value: Why It's Probably Worth Exactly $1
Coin Values

Sacagawea Dollar Value: Why It's Probably Worth Exactly $1

Your 'gold' Sacagawea dollar isn't gold, and almost all are worth $1. A handful of rarities are the exception.

By TheCoinHQ Team
Susan B. Anthony Dollar Value: What Yours Is Worth
Coin Values

Susan B. Anthony Dollar Value: What Yours Is Worth

Most SBA dollars are worth $1. The 1979 Wide Rim and a few proof varieties are the exceptions.

By TheCoinHQ Team
Presidential Dollar Value and the 'Godless' Dollar Error
Coin Values

Presidential Dollar Value and the 'Godless' Dollar Error

Most Presidential dollars are worth $1. The 'Godless dollar' missing-edge-lettering errors are the ones to find.

By TheCoinHQ Team
How to Sell an Inherited Coin Collection
Selling Guide

How to Sell an Inherited Coin Collection

Don't clean it, don't rush, get it appraised, then choose the right buyer. A calm, step-by-step plan.

By TheCoinHQ Team
American Gold Eagle: A Buyer's Guide
Bullion Guide

American Gold Eagle: A Buyer's Guide

The U.S. Mint's flagship gold coin, in four sizes. Here's the gold content, premiums, and how to buy safely.

By TheCoinHQ Team
Lincoln Cent Key Dates: From the 1909-S VDB to the 1955 Doubled Die
Coin Values

Lincoln Cent Key Dates: From the 1909-S VDB to the 1955 Doubled Die

A short list of Lincoln cents is worth real money. Here are the key dates and famous errors to check for.

By TheCoinHQ Team
Jefferson Nickel Value: Wartime Silver and Key Dates
Coin Values

Jefferson Nickel Value: Wartime Silver and Key Dates

Most Jefferson nickels are worth 5 cents. The 1942–1945 silver war nickels and a few key dates are the exceptions.

By TheCoinHQ Team
Barber Coins Value: Dimes, Quarters, and Half Dollars
Coin Values

Barber Coins Value: Dimes, Quarters, and Half Dollars

Barber dimes, quarters, and halves are 90% silver and over a century old. Key dates like the 1894-S dime are legendary.

By TheCoinHQ Team
Liberty Head 'V' Nickel Value: Key Dates and the Racketeer Nickel
Coin Values

Liberty Head 'V' Nickel Value: Key Dates and the Racketeer Nickel

Most V nickels are worth a few dollars. The 1883 'No Cents,' the 1912-S, and the legendary 1913 are the famous ones.

By TheCoinHQ Team
Two-Cent Piece Value: The Coin That First Said "In God We Trust"
Collector Basics

Two-Cent Piece Value: The Coin That First Said "In God We Trust"

The two-cent piece was the first U.S. coin to carry "In God We Trust" — and most examples are still very affordable.

By TheCoinHQ Team
Three-Cent Piece Value: Two Different Coins, One Denomination
Collector Basics

Three-Cent Piece Value: Two Different Coins, One Denomination

There are two completely different three-cent pieces — silver and nickel — and both are affordable entry points into 19th-century collecting.

By TheCoinHQ Team
Seated Liberty Coins: A Complete Guide to Values and Key Dates
Collector Basics

Seated Liberty Coins: A Complete Guide to Values and Key Dates

Six denominations, 55 years, and some of the most beautiful coins ever struck by the U.S. Mint — here is everything you need to know about the Seated Liberty series.

By TheCoinHQ Team
Trade Dollar Value: The U.S. Coin Made for Asian Markets
Coin Values

Trade Dollar Value: The U.S. Coin Made for Asian Markets

The trade dollar was heavier than a Morgan dollar by design — made to compete with foreign silver coins in Asian markets.

By TheCoinHQ Team
Large Cents and Half Cents: A Guide to America's First Copper Coins
Collector Basics

Large Cents and Half Cents: A Guide to America's First Copper Coins

Large cents and half cents trace the first 65 years of American coinage — and many circulated examples remain surprisingly affordable.

By TheCoinHQ Team
Flying Eagle Cent Value: Three Years, Two Business-Strike Dates
Coin Values

Flying Eagle Cent Value: Three Years, Two Business-Strike Dates

The Flying Eagle cent lasted just three years — but its short run produced two of the most popular 19th-century small coins.

By TheCoinHQ Team
Twenty-Cent Piece Value: America's Most Short-Lived Silver Coin
Collector Basics

Twenty-Cent Piece Value: America's Most Short-Lived Silver Coin

The twenty-cent piece lasted just four years — a fascinating experiment in U.S. coinage that collectors can complete for under $1,000.

By TheCoinHQ Team
Saint-Gaudens Double Eagle: America's Most Beautiful Coin
Bullion Guide

Saint-Gaudens Double Eagle: America's Most Beautiful Coin

President Theodore Roosevelt commissioned sculptor Augustus Saint-Gaudens to redesign U.S. gold coins — the result is still considered the pinnacle of American coin design.

By TheCoinHQ Team
Liberty Head Double Eagle Value: The $20 Gold Coin That Defined an Era
Bullion Guide

Liberty Head Double Eagle Value: The $20 Gold Coin That Defined an Era

The Liberty Head double eagle was the workhorse of American commerce for over 50 years — and today it is one of the most widely traded pre-1933 gold coins.

By TheCoinHQ Team
Pre-1933 U.S. Gold Coins: A Complete Buyer's and Seller's Guide
Bullion Guide

Pre-1933 U.S. Gold Coins: A Complete Buyer's and Seller's Guide

Pre-1933 U.S. gold coins are both historic numismatic artifacts and real bullion — here is how to understand their value, their history, and how to buy or sell them wisely.

By TheCoinHQ Team
Gold Dollar Value: What America's Tiniest Gold Coin Is Worth
Coin Values

Gold Dollar Value: What America's Tiniest Gold Coin Is Worth

The $1 gold piece is the smallest coin ever struck by the U.S. Mint — and its three types span the most interesting decades in American numismatic history.

By TheCoinHQ Team
American Gold Buffalo Guide: The U.S. Mint's Purest Gold Coin
Bullion Guide

American Gold Buffalo Guide: The U.S. Mint's Purest Gold Coin

The American Gold Buffalo is 24-karat (.9999 fine) gold — the purest gold coin the U.S. Mint has ever made.

By TheCoinHQ Team
State Quarters: Values, Errors, and Which Ones Are Actually Worth Keeping
Collector Basics

State Quarters: Values, Errors, and Which Ones Are Actually Worth Keeping

Billions of State Quarters were minted — but a handful of errors and the silver proof versions are worth real money.

By TheCoinHQ Team
Lincoln Memorial Cent Value: Which Pennies Are Actually Worth Keeping
Coin Values

Lincoln Memorial Cent Value: Which Pennies Are Actually Worth Keeping

Virtually all Lincoln Memorial cents are worth one cent — but a few specific dates and varieties are worth hundreds or thousands.

By TheCoinHQ Team
How Coin Prices Are Determined: Grade, Rarity, Demand, and Spot Price
Collector Basics

How Coin Prices Are Determined: Grade, Rarity, Demand, and Spot Price

Why does one penny sell for $50,000 and another for one cent? Here is how coin prices actually work.

By TheCoinHQ Team
Proof vs. Uncirculated Coins: What the Difference Means for Value
Collector Basics

Proof vs. Uncirculated Coins: What the Difference Means for Value

Proof coins and uncirculated business strikes look different, grade differently, and sell differently — here is what you need to know.

By TheCoinHQ Team
Mint Sets vs. Proof Sets: Which Annual U.S. Coin Sets Are Worth Buying?
Collector Basics

Mint Sets vs. Proof Sets: Which Annual U.S. Coin Sets Are Worth Buying?

The U.S. Mint sells two types of annual sets — here is how to tell them apart and which is worth your money.

By TheCoinHQ Team
What Is Coin Toning? Natural Patina vs. Artificial Color
Collector Basics

What Is Coin Toning? Natural Patina vs. Artificial Color

That rainbow-toned Morgan dollar might be worth a premium — or it might have been doctored. Here is how to tell the difference.

By TheCoinHQ Team
How to Read a Coin: A Guide to Coin Anatomy and Terminology
Collector Basics

How to Read a Coin: A Guide to Coin Anatomy and Terminology

Every part of a coin has a name — and knowing the vocabulary helps you describe, grade, and discuss any coin with confidence.

By TheCoinHQ Team
Coin Collecting Glossary: 50 Terms Every Collector Should Know
Collector Basics

Coin Collecting Glossary: 50 Terms Every Collector Should Know

The language of numismatics can be confusing at first — here are the 50 terms you will encounter most often and what they actually mean.

By TheCoinHQ Team
What Is a Type Set? The Most Flexible Way to Collect U.S. Coins
Collector Basics

What Is a Type Set? The Most Flexible Way to Collect U.S. Coins

A type set lets you collect the history of American coinage without hunting down every rare date — one coin per design, all denominations.

By TheCoinHQ Team
How to Sell Gold Coins: A Step-by-Step Guide to Getting a Fair Price
Selling Guide

How to Sell Gold Coins: A Step-by-Step Guide to Getting a Fair Price

Getting a fair price for gold coins starts with knowing exactly what you have — and then knowing where to sell it.

By TheCoinHQ Team
How to Sell Silver Coins: Junk Silver, Numismatic, and Everything Between
Selling Guide

How to Sell Silver Coins: Junk Silver, Numismatic, and Everything Between

Knowing whether your silver coins are "junk silver" or numismatic collectibles is the first step to getting a fair price.

By TheCoinHQ Team
How to Buy Silver: Coins, Rounds, and Bars — What to Expect
Bullion Guide

How to Buy Silver: Coins, Rounds, and Bars — What to Expect

Silver comes in many forms — here is how to compare coins, rounds, and bars so you pay a fair premium and buy from a trustworthy source.

By TheCoinHQ Team
Silver Rounds vs. Coins vs. Bars: Which Should You Buy?
Bullion Guide

Silver Rounds vs. Coins vs. Bars: Which Should You Buy?

Rounds, coins, and bars all hold silver — the difference is premium, liquidity, and purpose. Here is how to pick.

By TheCoinHQ Team
Coin Dealer Spreads and Premiums: What You Pay and What You Get Back
Selling Guide

Coin Dealer Spreads and Premiums: What You Pay and What You Get Back

The spread between what a dealer pays and charges is how dealers earn a living — knowing what is normal protects you as a buyer and seller.

By TheCoinHQ Team
How to Avoid Coin Scams: Red Flags, Fakes, and Common Frauds
Selling Guide

How to Avoid Coin Scams: Red Flags, Fakes, and Common Frauds

Coin fraud is more sophisticated than it used to be — but the red flags are consistent once you know what to look for.

By TheCoinHQ Team
Are Commemorative Coins Worth Anything? Modern vs. Classic
Collector Basics

Are Commemorative Coins Worth Anything? Modern vs. Classic

That commemorative coin set from the shopping channel is almost certainly not an investment — but classic commemoratives are a different story.

By TheCoinHQ Team
Classic vs. Modern U.S. Commemorative Coins: A Side-by-Side Comparison
Collector Basics

Classic vs. Modern U.S. Commemorative Coins: A Side-by-Side Comparison

Classic and modern commemoratives share a name but almost nothing else — here is what sets them apart for collectors and investors.

By TheCoinHQ Team
What Is Spot Price? How Gold and Silver Prices Are Set
Bullion Guide

What Is Spot Price? How Gold and Silver Prices Are Set

Spot price is the real-time benchmark for every gold and silver transaction — here is exactly how it works and how to use it.

By TheCoinHQ Team
Do You Pay Taxes When You Sell Gold or Coins?
Selling Guide

Do You Pay Taxes When You Sell Gold or Coins?

How the 28% collectibles rate, cost basis, inherited-coin rules, and dealer reporting actually work.

By TheCoinHQ Team
Why You Should Never Clean Coins
Collector Basics

Why You Should Never Clean Coins

A quick polish can erase most of a coin's collector value. Here is why cleaning is almost always the wrong move, and the rare exceptions.

By TheCoinHQ Team
Civil War Tokens: A Complete Collector's Guide
Tokens & Medals

Civil War Tokens: A Complete Collector's Guide

Privately minted cent substitutes that filled the coin shortage of the Civil War, now a deep and affordable collecting field.

By TheCoinHQ Team
Civil War Token Values: What Are They Worth?
Tokens & Medals

Civil War Token Values: What Are They Worth?

Common circulated Civil War tokens run about $15-$40, while rare varieties, off-metals, and sutler tokens climb into the thousands.

By TheCoinHQ Team
Patriotic Civil War Tokens: Designs, Slogans, and Value
Tokens & Medals

Patriotic Civil War Tokens: Designs, Slogans, and Value

A patriotic Civil War token carries a patriotic slogan or design and no merchant name, which is what separates it from a store card.

By TheCoinHQ Team
Common Patriotic Civil War Token Designs and Slogans
Tokens & Medals

Common Patriotic Civil War Token Designs and Slogans

The flag, the eagle, the Indian head, and Union slogans account for most patriotic Civil War tokens. Here is how to read the recurring designs.

By TheCoinHQ Team
The Dix "Shoot Him on the Spot" Civil War Token
Tokens & Medals

The Dix "Shoot Him on the Spot" Civil War Token

The Dix token turns a Secretary of the Treasury's 1861 order into one of the most recognizable patriotic Civil War token designs.

By TheCoinHQ Team
Copperhead Civil War Tokens: Peace-Theme Pieces Explained
Tokens & Medals

Copperhead Civil War Tokens: Peace-Theme Pieces Explained

Most Civil War tokens are pro-Union. The minority carrying peace or anti-war legends are loosely called copperhead tokens, and specialists chase them.

By TheCoinHQ Team
Civil War Store Cards: Merchant Tokens and Their Value
Tokens & Medals

Civil War Store Cards: Merchant Tokens and Their Value

A store card is a Civil War token that names a private business and its city, unlike patriotic tokens that carry no merchant name.

By TheCoinHQ Team
Civil War Store Cards by State: Where They Were Made
Tokens & Medals

Civil War Store Cards by State: Where They Were Made

Store cards came almost entirely from Northern states, and where a merchant did business still shapes how scarce and valuable the token is today.

By TheCoinHQ Team
Civil War Sutler Tokens: The Rarest Type Explained
Tokens & Medals

Civil War Sutler Tokens: The Rarest Type Explained

Sutler tokens were issued by licensed camp merchants, named a specific army regiment, and are by far the rarest of the three Civil War token types.

By TheCoinHQ Team
How to Identify Civil War Tokens (Fuld Numbers Explained)
Tokens & Medals

How to Identify Civil War Tokens (Fuld Numbers Explained)

A Civil War token is a private cent-sized piece from 1861-1864. Fuld numbers turn a vague coin into a precise, lookup-ready variety.

By TheCoinHQ Team
The Civil War Token Rarity Scale (R-1 to R-10) Explained
Tokens & Medals

The Civil War Token Rarity Scale (R-1 to R-10) Explained

The R-1 to R-10 Fuld rarity scale estimates how many of a specific token variety survive, and it can turn a $50 piece into a $500 one.

By TheCoinHQ Team
How to Grade Civil War Tokens: Color, Wear, and Problems
Tokens & Medals

How to Grade Civil War Tokens: Color, Wear, and Problems

Civil War tokens are graded on the Sheldon scale, but color and surface condition often move the price more than wear alone.

By TheCoinHQ Team
Civil War Token Metals: Copper, Brass, Silver, and Off-Metals
Tokens & Medals

Civil War Token Metals: Copper, Brass, Silver, and Off-Metals

Copper is the default Civil War token metal, but brass, copper-nickel, tin, and rare silver off-metal strikes exist, and the metal often decides the price.

By TheCoinHQ Team
Civil War Token Mules and Off-Metal Strikes
Tokens & Medals

Civil War Token Mules and Off-Metal Strikes

A mule is a Civil War token struck from two dies that were never intended to be paired. Many are prized postwar concoctions, so disclosure and provenance matter.

By TheCoinHQ Team
The Most Valuable Civil War Tokens (and Why)
Tokens & Medals

The Most Valuable Civil War Tokens (and Why)

Common Civil War tokens are cheap, but rarity, off-metal strikes, sutler issues, and top grade push the best pieces into the hundreds and thousands.

By TheCoinHQ Team
How to Start Collecting Civil War Tokens
Tokens & Medals

How to Start Collecting Civil War Tokens

Civil War tokens pair genuine 1860s history with low entry prices, making them one of the friendliest ways into serious collecting.

By TheCoinHQ Team
Civil War Tokens vs. Hard Times Tokens: The Difference
Tokens & Medals

Civil War Tokens vs. Hard Times Tokens: The Difference

Both are private tokens issued during coin shortages, but Hard Times tokens came a generation earlier, out of Andrew Jackson's bank war and the Panic of 1837.

By TheCoinHQ Team
Encased Postage Stamps: Civil War Emergency Money
Tokens & Medals

Encased Postage Stamps: Civil War Emergency Money

When coins vanished during the Civil War, John Gault sealed postage stamps behind mica in little brass frames so they could pass as small change.

By TheCoinHQ Team
Were Civil War Tokens Legal? History and Legal Status
Tokens & Medals

Were Civil War Tokens Legal? History and Legal Status

Civil War tokens were never official money. They circulated on public trust at one cent, and collecting them today is completely legal.

By TheCoinHQ Team
How to Spot Fake Civil War Tokens
Tokens & Medals

How to Spot Fake Civil War Tokens

Common Civil War tokens rarely get faked because they cost too little. The risk sits in scarce varieties, sutler tokens, off-metals, and high grades.

By TheCoinHQ Team
Hard Times Tokens: A Complete Collector's Guide
Tokens & Medals

Hard Times Tokens: A Complete Collector's Guide

Privately made copper tokens the size of a large cent, born from Andrew Jackson's Bank War and the Panic of 1837, that passed as pennies by public acceptance.

By TheCoinHQ Team
Hard Times Token Values: What Are They Worth?
Tokens & Medals

Hard Times Token Values: What Are They Worth?

Common Hard Times tokens run about $20 to $60 worn, but design, rarity, grade, and copper color can push the best pieces into five figures.

By TheCoinHQ Team
Andrew Jackson and the Political Hard Times Tokens
Tokens & Medals

Andrew Jackson and the Political Hard Times Tokens

The political Hard Times tokens were the era's protest coinage, mocking Andrew Jackson's Bank War and the Panic of 1837 in copper.

By TheCoinHQ Team
Hard Times Store Cards: Merchant Tokens of the 1830s
Tokens & Medals

Hard Times Store Cards: Merchant Tokens of the 1830s

A Hard Times store card is a merchant advertising token that named a shop, its trade, and its city, and passed hand to hand as an unofficial cent.

By TheCoinHQ Team
Hard Times Token Designs and Slogans Explained
Tokens & Medals

Hard Times Token Designs and Slogans Explained

The same handful of political scenes and legends appear again and again on Hard Times tokens, and each one carries a specific 1830s meaning.

By TheCoinHQ Team
The 'Am I Not a Woman and a Sister' Abolitionist Token
Tokens & Medals

The 'Am I Not a Woman and a Sister' Abolitionist Token

An 1838 Hard Times token that carried an antislavery plea into everyday American pockets.

By TheCoinHQ Team
How to Identify Hard Times Tokens (Low and Rulau Numbers)
Tokens & Medals

How to Identify Hard Times Tokens (Low and Rulau Numbers)

Most Hard Times tokens are large-cent sized copper pieces from about 1832 to 1844, cataloged by Low and Rulau numbers.

By TheCoinHQ Team
Hard Times Tokens vs. Large Cents: How to Tell Them Apart
Tokens & Medals

Hard Times Tokens vs. Large Cents: How to Tell Them Apart

Hard Times tokens copied the size of the federal large cent on purpose, so the giveaway is the design and wording, not the diameter.

By TheCoinHQ Team
The Most Valuable Hard Times Tokens (and Why)
Tokens & Medals

The Most Valuable Hard Times Tokens (and Why)

The most valuable Hard Times tokens combine a scarce variety, a historically important design, and high grade with original color.

By TheCoinHQ Team
How to Start Collecting Hard Times Tokens
Tokens & Medals

How to Start Collecting Hard Times Tokens

Hard Times tokens pack American history from the 1830s and 1840s into affordable copper, with common pieces often selling for $20-$60.

By TheCoinHQ Team
Collecting Medals and Exonumia: A Complete Guide
Tokens & Medals

Collecting Medals and Exonumia: A Complete Guide

Medals carry no denomination and were never meant to circulate, which sets them apart from coins and tokens and puts them in the broad field called exonumia.

By TheCoinHQ Team
The Medallic Art Company: America's Great Medal Maker
Tokens & Medals

The Medallic Art Company: America's Great Medal Maker

For more than a hundred years, the Medallic Art Company struck the art medals, prize medals, and Congressional Gold Medals that defined American medallic art.

By TheCoinHQ Team
The Society of Medalists: America's Great Art-Medal Series
Tokens & Medals

The Society of Medalists: America's Great Art-Medal Series

For 65 years the Society of Medalists put fine art medals by major American sculptors into collectors' hands, two issues at a time.

By TheCoinHQ Team
Hall of Fame for Great Americans Medals (Bronze and Silver)
Tokens & Medals

Hall of Fame for Great Americans Medals (Bronze and Silver)

An underappreciated art-medal series honoring America's Hall of Fame electees, struck from 1963 to 1974 in bronze and silver by dozens of leading sculptors.

By TheCoinHQ Team
John Adams Bolen: The Springfield Die-Sinker and His Medals
Tokens & Medals

John Adams Bolen: The Springfield Die-Sinker and His Medals

Bolen made store cards, Springfield medals, and open copies of rare early American coins, all sold to collectors of his day rather than made to deceive.

By TheCoinHQ Team
Medallic Washington and Musante's GW Numbers Explained
Tokens & Medals

Medallic Washington and Musante's GW Numbers Explained

Musante's two-volume Medallic Washington replaced the 130-year-old Baker numbers with a clearer GW system for cataloging Washington medals.

By TheCoinHQ Team
Abraham Lincoln Campaign Medals of 1860 and 1864
Tokens & Medals

Abraham Lincoln Campaign Medals of 1860 and 1864

Small political medalets handed out for Lincoln's 1860 and 1864 campaigns are a popular and historic corner of Lincolniana.

By TheCoinHQ Team
Presidential Campaign Medals and Medalets: A Collector's Guide
Tokens & Medals

Presidential Campaign Medals and Medalets: A Collector's Guide

Campaign medalets were the wearable political medals of 19th-century U.S. elections, and the direct ancestors of the celluloid pinback button.

By TheCoinHQ Team
So-Called Dollars: The Dollar-Sized Medals Explained
Tokens & Medals

So-Called Dollars: The Dollar-Sized Medals Explained

So-called dollars look like silver dollars but carry no face value; they are commemorative medals struck for expositions, events, and famous people.

By TheCoinHQ Team
Collectible Tokens: A Guide to Trade Tokens, Transit Tokens, and More
Tokens & Medals

Collectible Tokens: A Guide to Trade Tokens, Transit Tokens, and More

From saloon good-for tokens to pressed pennies and challenge coins, most collectible tokens are affordable history that turns up constantly in inherited boxes.

By TheCoinHQ Team
Trade Tokens and 'Good For' Tokens: A Collector's Guide
Tokens & Medals

Trade Tokens and 'Good For' Tokens: A Collector's Guide

A trade token was money at exactly one store, saloon, or dairy, and the ones you can pin to a real town and merchant are the ones worth chasing.

By TheCoinHQ Team
Transportation Tokens: Transit Fare Tokens Explained
Tokens & Medals

Transportation Tokens: Transit Fare Tokens Explained

Transportation tokens were fare tokens for streetcars, buses, subways, and ferries, often with a cutout so collectors could recognize the system by touch.

By TheCoinHQ Team
Sales Tax Tokens: Depression-Era Mills Explained
Tokens & Medals

Sales Tax Tokens: Depression-Era Mills Explained

These small mill tokens let Depression-era shoppers pay a fraction of a cent in sales tax instead of being rounded up.

By TheCoinHQ Team
Wooden Nickels: History and Value
Tokens & Medals

Wooden Nickels: History and Value

A wooden nickel is a flat wooden token coin, ranging from 1930s emergency town scrip to the promotional giveaways still handed out today.

By TheCoinHQ Team
Love Tokens: Hand-Engraved Coins and Their Value
Tokens & Medals

Love Tokens: Hand-Engraved Coins and Their Value

A love token is a coin, classically a dime, smoothed and hand-engraved with initials, a name, or a scene, then kept or worn as jewelry.

By TheCoinHQ Team
Elongated Coins (Pressed Pennies): History and Collecting
Tokens & Medals

Elongated Coins (Pressed Pennies): History and Collecting

A pressed penny is a coin rolled under heavy pressure through an engraved die that stretches it oval and impresses a souvenir design.

By TheCoinHQ Team
Encased Coins: The 'Keep Me and Never Go Broke' Lucky Penny
Tokens & Medals

Encased Coins: The 'Keep Me and Never Go Broke' Lucky Penny

An encased coin is a genuine cent held inside a metal ring stamped with a business name and a good-luck slogan, made as advertising from the early 1900s to today.

By TheCoinHQ Team
Counterstamped Coins: Merchant Marks and Their Value
Tokens & Medals

Counterstamped Coins: Merchant Marks and Their Value

A counterstamped coin is a real coin that someone punched with a mark, turning it into a tiny advertisement or a maker's signature.

By TheCoinHQ Team
Military Challenge Coins: History, Tradition, and Collecting
Tokens & Medals

Military Challenge Coins: History, Tradition, and Collecting

A challenge coin is a small medallion bearing a unit's insignia, carried by members, exchanged by handshake, and collected as modern exonumia.

By TheCoinHQ Team

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