U.S. Mint Reports Record High Sales

The economy as a whole may be rollercoastering, but that seems to be good news for the United States Mint, which reported a huge uptick in demand for gold and silver bullion in 2013. Demand spiked in 2013, as politicians and stock brokers alike quibbled over the state and future of the American economy, and…

Are You Prepared For an Emergency?

Life is full of unexpected and unwelcomed surprises. Sometimes these curveballs are from nature, while other times human error is to blame, but the only question that matters is: are you prepared? Whatever the dangerous scenario happens to be, there are some basic supplies that should be a part of every emergency preparedness kit. These necessities include: Water – one gallon…

Junk Silver Half Dollars Worth More Than Melt

Completing our series on junk silver pieces that carry a numismatic value, these half dollars can be worth hundreds or even thousands of dollars. It may be worth it to check the dates and mint marks in your collection! Barber Half Dollars pre-1900– The Barber Half Dollar was first minted in 1892. Even in poor…

From Make-Believe Money to Viking Treasure: Our Top 5 Coin Stories of 2013

It was an eventful year for precious metals. As the spot price of gold and silver oscillated in response to economic uncertainty and concerns over stimulus tapering, some investors urged the selling of precious metal assets. Others — looking for a hedge against inflation — nabbed as much as they could at low prices. Yet…

Seek Out These Junk Silver Quarters

Junk silver is valued for its affordability, accessibility, and — of course — silver content. It can be purchased in bulk from a vendor, or, sometimes, found “in the wild.” But some coins bear an extra value, above and beyond their silver content. Keep an eye out for these significant quarters. Barber Quarters 1900– There’s…

The Gold-to-Silver Ratio: Where Should it Be?

In a recent knowledge center article, we defined the gold-to-silver ratio as the amount of silver it takes to buy one ounce of gold. As of midday Thursday, Jan. 9, 2014, the gold:silver ratio stood at 62.88 to one. This means that at current price levels, it takes nearly 63 ounces of silver to purchase…