Precious Metal & Rare Coin Market News

Mosby’s Treasure in Virginia Idaho Stagecoach Robbery Treasure Pirate Treasure at Hawaii’s Palemano Point Gangster John Dillinger's Suitcase Filled With Cash Jesse James And His Band of Outlaws Lost Loot in Oklahoma The allure of hidden treasure and sudden riches is strong. The possibility of a huge stash of gold, silver, jewels, cash and more has driven treasure hunters on expeditions throughout history. Today we highlight five hidden treasures that are still waiting to be ... >> Read More        

The Trade Dollar is an interesting example of how expanding global trade can give rise to new coins. In the mid-1800s, the Mexican peso was a highly valued means of exchange in China. In contrast, the American silver dollar was far less popular due to its relatively light weight. This meant that American merchants had no choice but to use Mexican and Spanish currency when engaging in commerce. Around this time, Louis Garnett, who served ... >> Read More        

The Louis Eliasberg Collection Bob R. Simpson Collection The Harry W. Bass Collection What do Louis Eliasberg, Bob R. Simpson and Harry W. Bass have in common? They all amassed one of the finest-known coin collections in American history. The Louis Eliasberg Collection Louis Eliasberg was born in Selma, Alabama in 1896, the son of a dry goods and clothing dealer. He wasn't born into wealth and yet he amassed his incredible rare coin collection ... >> Read More        

“We were now about to penetrate a country at least two thousand miles in width, on which the foot of civilized man had never trod. The good or evil it had in store for us was for experiment yet to determine…I could but esteem this moment of my departure as among the most happy of my life." –Meriwether Lewis, from The Journals of Lewis and Clark. The historic 1803 Louisiana Purchase from France became one ... >> Read More        

The Elgin Illinois Centennial half dollar honors the founding pioneers of Elgin, Illinois located 30 miles west of Chicago. Founded in 1835, the area eventually became a village by 1847, then finally a city in 1854. The first person to suggest commemorating the town was Trygve Rovelstad, the son of Norwegian immigrants in the U.S. As a sculptor, he decided that he would erect a statue in Elgin to remember the pioneers that settled the ... >> Read More        

The Mercury dime, struck from 1916 to 1945, gets its unusual name from its depiction of a young Liberty. Her image on the obverse shows her wearing a winged Phrygian cap which gives her a look similar to that of the Roman god Mercury. While the model used as inspiration for the design is unknown, many believe that Elsie Stevens, the wife of American poet Wallace Stevens, served as the basis for the image. The ... >> Read More        

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        

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        

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        

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