Precious Metal & Rare Coin Market News

The California gold rush became an industry of its own soon after the discovery of gold in the American west. Like any industry, the gold rush needed a system of trade. Developing such a system required the creation of California fractional gold. Some believe that before the creation of California fractional gold people would make daily purchases with a pinch of gold dust. It wasn’t long before those traveling west realized that a better system ... >> Read More        

The Isabella quarter is a rare instance of a commemorative coin that celebrates woman’s industry in a world that gave most recognition to men. The quarter, struck in 1893, was requested by the Board of Lady Managers of the World’s Columbian Exposition. The Exposition was a world’s fair hosted by Chicago in 1893. The event was a celebration of Columbus’ arrival in the new world in 1492. From the beginning, the coin was intended to ... >> Read More        

No coin more perfectly represents the passage of time than the Fugio Cent. The coin, sometimes called the Franklin cent, is a work from Benjamin Franklin. An inscription on the obverse reads “fugio” which is Latin for “I flee,” referring to the common adage that time flies. This is a fitting sentiment for a coin that was minted for only one year in 1787. The same side shows a bright sun with rays shining down ... >> Read More        

Answer quickly: what are your great-great grandparent's names? If you don't know, you aren't alone. The reason I ask is that when you get to a certain age in life, some people begin to consider their legacy and how they will be remembered throughout the generations of your family that will come after you. We live in an era where time moves fast. In a few short decades, we've seen the introduction of the Internet, ... >> Read More        

Throughout the history of civilization, gold has served as money – longer than any other material. In the early days of our union, the American government worked to create a gold dollar as a unit of currency. Indeed, as early as 1791, Secretary of the Treasury Alexander Hamilton first called for a one-dollar denomination gold coin. Yet, it took our young nation 58 years to actually mint the one-dollar gold coin. Finally, with the Act ... >> Read More        

In March 1933, the Federal Reserve Bank of New York could no longer honor its commitment to convert paper money to gold and FDR declared a banking holiday. FDR issued an Executive Order requiring all Americans to surrender all gold owned by them to a Federal Reserve bank and prohibited the private holdings of all gold coins and bullion. President Roosevelt ordered Americans to sell their gold back to the government, or face jail time ... >> Read More        

The Braided Hair Half Cent is one of the most collectable coins ever issued by the US Mint. The coin, first minted in 1793, was the smallest denomination ever minted and is part of a series consisting of five major types and subtypes which are each part of a series of varieties. This vast array presents collectors with an opportunity to own a diverse set of coins that are all within the same family. The ... >> Read More        

Have you had a chance to see an 1830 Quarter Eagle?  Because the mintage of these great American coins was very small (4,540) and because many were melted down for their gold content, it is estimated that very few remain today. The Quarter Eagle made its debut in 1796. Of the 10 denominations authorized by Congress in 1792, it was the last to be minted and only in small quantities. When introduced, the quarter eagle ... >> Read More        

The US Mint issued their first half cent coin starting in 1793. Minting continued until 1797 at the Philadelphia mint. Henry Voigt, who served as the Chief Coiner of the first United States Mint, engraved the coin, however, experts are unclear on whether or not he designed the piece. Voigt’s contribution to US currency is just one of his many ventures. Voigt built steam engines, worked as a clock-maker, and even manufactured mathematical instruments. He ... >> Read More        

Many people believe the U.S. government was the first organization to mint gold mined in California. In truth, this historical touchstone belongs to Salt Lake City, Utah. The origin of this story, however, does not begin in Salt Lake City. Instead, it starts in San Diego during the Mexican-American War. This was the destination of the Mormon Battalion. During their march some members of the battalion traveled north and eventually started working for James Marshall ... >> Read More