Guide to Collecting Mexican Silver Coins Mexican silver coins span from the earliest days of the Spanish colonial mint in Mexico City to modern bullion issues, covering five centuries of monetary history in the Americas. A Brief History of Mexican Silver Coinage The Mexico City Mint, established in 1535, is one of the oldest functioning mints in the Western Hemisphere. The classic Mexican peso and its fractional denominations became among the most widely recognized silver

What Makes California Fractional Gold Valuable? California fractional gold is one of the most fascinating and historically rich areas of American numismatics: tiny privately struck coins from the Gold Rush era. What Is California Fractional Gold? California fractional gold coins are small, privately struck gold coins in denominations of 25 cents, 50 cents, and $1, produced primarily from the 1850s through the 1880s. They were struck by private jewelers and assayers in San

What Is a Silver Round vs. a Silver Coin? Silver rounds and silver coins look similar but come from different places, are priced differently, and serve slightly different purposes. What Is a Silver Coin? A silver coin is issued by a government mint and carries a face value. American Silver Eagles, Canadian Silver Maple Leafs, and British Britannias are silver coins. They carry slightly higher premiums than generic rounds, reflecting production costs and government assuranc

What Is Casting Grain and How Is It Used? Casting grain is refined precious metal, most commonly gold or silver, processed into small irregular pellets designed for casting and melting. The grain format melts quickly and uniformly and can be weighed precisely. What Is Casting Grain? Fine silver casting grain is typically .999 or .9999 pure silver. Fine gold casting grain is typically .9999 pure gold. The small pellet form makes it practical for the workshop. How Casting G

The Difference Between Bullion Coins and Collectible Coins Bullion coins and collectible coins serve different purposes, are valued differently, and require different knowledge to buy well. What Are Bullion Coins? Bullion coins are struck primarily for their metal content. Their value tracks closely with the spot price of the metal they contain. Common bullion coins include the American Silver Eagle, American Gold Eagle, Canadian Silver Maple Leaf, and South African Kruger

What Is a Coin Variety? A Beginner's Guide to VAMs and Die Varieties When two coins share the same date, mint mark, and denomination but look slightly different under magnification, you are looking at a coin variety. Variety collecting adds an extra dimension to numismatics. What Is a Coin Variety? A coin variety is a coin that differs from the standard issue of its date and mint because of a difference in the dies used to strike it. Varieties are distinct from errors: a v

How to Read a Coin Grade Coin grades look like a foreign language when you first encounter them. MS65, VF30, AU58, Details Cleaned: this guide explains what these designations mean. The Sheldon Scale All major U.S. coin grades use the Sheldon scale, a 70-point numerical system from 1 (Poor) to 70 (Perfect Mint State). Each numeric grade corresponds to a descriptive label, and both appear on certified holders. Circulated Grades (1-58) A circulated coin shows wear from use

What to Look for When Buying Your First Coin The first coin you buy as a collector sets the tone for how you approach the hobby. Here is what to think about when making that first purchase. Start With What Interests You The best first coin is one that genuinely interests you. If it is American history, consider early American coinage or a Morgan dollar. If it is ancient history, consider a Roman denarius. If it is the metal itself, consider a silver round. Understand the

How to Store and Protect Your Coin Collection You can spend years building a quality coin collection and lose significant value through poor storage and handling. Proper care requires understanding the few things that genuinely damage coins. The Fundamentals of Coin Handling Always hold coins by the edge. Never touch the face. The oils in your fingerprints can leave permanent marks. Never clean a coin — cleaning removes original surface character and results in a Details d