Precious Metal & Rare Coin Market News

Gold bars and coins.

Gold Soars As Bank Failures Spark Worries of Larger Crisis

Gold, Market News |
In a span of 10 days in mid-March, gold surged 9.8% higher as investors parked cash in the safety of precious metals. A loss of confidence in the banking sector is spreading following the nation's second and third-largest bank failures. While the Federal Reserve pumped $300 billion in credits to banks in mid-March, investors and depositors remain skittish – and gold is shining bright in its role as a safe haven. As you know, on ... >> Read More        
Silicone Valley Bank

Silicon Valley Bank Failure Reminds Us of the Security Gold Provides

Gold, Investment, Market News |
When you put your money into a bank, you expect to be able to get it back – in full, any time you want it. The shocking Silicon Valley Bank headlines and worries about contagion throughout the banking system remind many of 2008 and the Global Financial Crisis that impacted so many Americans. As news of the bank run and the subsequent failure of Silicon Valley Bank on Friday rocked the U.S. banking system, it ... >> Read More        
Credit cards

State of the Economy and Gold: American’s Credit Card Debt Hits All-Time High

Gold, Investment, Market News |
Just charge it. As high inflation squeezes consumers at the checkout line, credit card debt just hit an all-time record high at $986 billion, according to the New York Reserve Bank. Americans are drowning in credit card debt as everyday necessities like housing costs, food and interest rates on anything borrowed remain uncomfortably high. In the meantime, total U.S. household debt surged to a record $16.9 trillion during the fourth quarter, a jump of 2.4% ... >> Read More        
1856 Flying Eagle Half Cent obverse and reverse side by side

The Transition from Large Cent to Small Cent: The 1856 Flying Eagle

Market News, Rare Coins |
The 1856 Flying Eagle Cent holds a unique place in the annals of American numismatic history. As the first small-sized cent in U.S. coinage, it marked a significant departure from the larger, copper-based coins that came before it. The Flying Eagle Cent was minted for only a short period, from 1856 to 1858, making it a rare and sought-after coin for collectors. This article will explore the design, history, and significance of the 1856 Flying ... >> Read More        
The Shield Nickle

Why the Shield Nickel Earned an Important Place in Numismatic History

Market News, Rare Coins |
At the start of the Civil War, the United States government halted specie payments – or the mechanism by which citizens could turn in their paper money and redeem it for gold or silver. This led to widespread hoarding of gold and silver coins during the war and these coins disappeared from circulation. In order to alleviate this crisis, Congress authorized the creation of five-cent coins made of a 75% copper-25% nickel blend. Today known ... >> Read More        
How to Get a Coin Graded

How to Get a Coin Graded

Market News, Rare Coins, Research |
Your options for determining the value of your coin or coin collection Ever wondered what your grandfather’s coin is worth? Inherited an interesting old coin collection? New to the numismatic world? Not to worry, coin grading is a process that involves several steps, but it’s fairly straightforward. With a lot of online resources, anyone can do it. And, of course, there’s also an app for that. What Is Coin Grading? First, what is coin grading? ... >> Read More        
Gold coins

How the Gold Market has Changed Over the Last 30 Years

Gold, Market News |
Recently, the World Gold Council took a look back at the gold market over the last 30 years. Their analysis reveals how much the asset has changed technology, investment markets, and central bank activity across the globe. Their research not only shows how gold has influenced the development of the modern world, but also offers clues on how that influence may continue. Here, we offer a summary of their findings,  which look at several factors ... >> Read More        
Inflation rises

Gold or Rare Coins: Which Is the Best Hedge Against Inflation

Gold, Investment, Market News, Rare Coins |
Did you see the latest inflation news? The Labor Department just released its revised estimates of the November and December Consumer Price Index (CPI). What's that you may ask? Revised data is kind of like a "do-over" for government economists. Yet, often times these "revisions" don't capture the big splashy headlines or coverage on the evening news like the first release. Yet, it's important to pay attention. Why? "U.S. monthly consumer prices rose in December ... >> Read More        
1804 Silver Dollar

Five of the Most Interesting Rare U.S. Coins in the Smithsonian

Market News, Rare Coins |
The National Numismatic Collection at the Smithsonian Museum in Washington D.C. is the home to the rarest of the rare coins in the world. The treasured collection houses more than 1.6 million monetary objects in total and is considered the largest collection of money in the world. The coins are sourced from every inhabited continent on the globe and span more than three millennia. Today we highlight five of the most interesting U.S. rare coins ... >> Read More        
The Original Meme: Hard Times Tokens

The Original Meme: Hard Times Tokens

Market News, Rare Coins |
Desperate times call for desperate measures. And hard times call for Hard Times Tokens. Hard Times Tokens were copper tokens that were either one cent or half a cent in value. These pieces served as unofficial currency between 1833 and 1843. The coins were privately minted in response to an ongoing shortage of small changes in the US resulting from an economic depression. One major contributing factor to this setting was the decision from President ... >> Read More       Â