Precious Metal & Rare Coin Market News

In the 1870s, in the wake of the Industrial Revolution, international trade was rapidly expanding. The United States exported cotton, iron, copper, and manufactured goods. However, American businesses faced a major challenge: currency compatibility. While countries like Spain had the 20-peseta, Italy the 20-lire, and Britain the sovereign—all widely recognized in global markets—the U.S. lacked a coin that was similarly accepted in international trade. In 1879, John A. Kasson, the U.S. envoy to Austria-Hungary, proposed ... >> Read More        

Representing a significant chapter in American numismatics, Indian Head gold coins were produced from 1907 to 1933. Roosevelt eventually recalled these coins in 1933, leading to their melting and creating a lasting impact on Indian Head gold coin value today. This article will explore their historical significance and highlight the key pieces every serious collector should consider, emphasizing: How the gold Indian Head coin evolved from concept to creation The unique role of these special ... >> Read More        

President William McKinley, the 25th president of our nation, has been in the news recently. History buffs will recall that McKinley was president from 1897 until his assassination in 1901. He is known for leading America during a period of expansionism, which included the Spanish-American War, the annexation of Puerto Rico, Guam, the Philippines and Hawaii. Recently, President Donald Trump has bestowed fresh honors upon McKinley. President Trump signed an executive order to rename North ... >> Read More        

In 1878, the United States of America was in the midst of a major transformation from an agricultural society to an industrialized society—ushering in the Industrial Revolution. Collectors who own a coin from this period connect tangibly to this historical time when America emerged as an industrial giant and major economic power on the global stage. The rapid construction of railroads opened up new parts of our nation for people to live and work and ... >> Read More        

The 1955 Double Die Lincoln penny is easily the most famous double die coin in U.S. numismatic history. How did this dramatic error come about? Blame it on the night shift. In the fall of 1955, there was a severe shortage of pennies in America. So, the Philadelphia Mint took extreme measures and struck coins for 24 hours a day, in two 12-hour shifts to help alleviate the penny shortage. What Exactly Is A Double ... >> Read More        

President Woodrow Wilson famously described World War I as the war to end all wars. After a bloody four-year conflict, from 1914-1918, in which over 8 million soldiers and sailors died, the Allied Forces and the Germans signed an armistice ending World War I on November 11, 1918. After the war ended, the American numismatic community advocated for an official coin to celebrate the peace. Soon after, a design competition for the new coin was ... >> Read More        

It was January 24, 1848. At Sutter's Mill in California, James Marshall was doing his daily inspection for the sawmill he was building. He found shining flecks of metal amid loose dirt and gravel after he diverted water to clean up the construction site. Marshall showed it to his crew and everyone was fairly certain it was gold. However, Marshall unaware of the significance of his discovery was focused on completing the sawmill on schedule ... >> Read More        

The U.S. rare coin market is closing out a memorable year that will go down in the record books. In 2024, the numismatic market surpassed $6 billion in annual total volume. On a global scale, the coin collecting market was valued at $18.1 billion and is projected to climb to $43.9 billion by 2034, with an 8.5% annual growth rate. In 2024, the American numismatic market  registered a significant pick-up, as overall demand for rare ... >> Read More        

Sacagawea, an iconic figure from the Lewis and Clark Expedition, holds a prominent place in American history and numismatics. Since her image first appeared on U.S. coinage in 2000, Sacagawea dollars have been widely distributed, but not all are created equal. Some stand out as exceptionally rare and highly sought-after by collectors. This piece will answer the question “How do you know if you have a rare Sacagawea coin?” and uncover: A step-by-step guide to ... >> Read More        

You may have heard the phrase: "it's not what you know, it's who you know." This mattered even in 18th century England. In the 1700s, William Wood, a copper and tin mine owner in England had an abundance of metal and was looking for a way to profit. Wood had heard the American colonies were experiencing a coin shortage. So being an enterprising businessman, Wood used his connection to the king's mistress—the Duchess of Kendal—to ... >> Read More