Last month, we reported about the upcoming auction of one of the most valuable coin collections in the world. This year, Sotheby’s and Stack’s Bowers began auctioning off coins from the renowned Pogue collection, at its height a complete collection of the over 650 early federal coins minted in the first 50 years of America’s…
What’s in a Penny?
The American penny has been around for more than two centuries, and during those 200-plus years the penny has had many changes. Today, pennies are copper-plated zinc, meaning that the composition of the coin is 97.5% zinc and only 2.5% copper. Prior to 1982, though, the copper penny was just that – copper. History shows…
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…
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…
