THE ADJECTIVAL GRADING SYSTEM* I use the adjectival grading system, and for the sake of consistency, I will state here the eleven full grades in order of merit: Fleur de Coin, Gem Uncirculated, Choice...
On visiting coin fairs and dealers' shops in the UK these days you will usually find at least a smattering of coins for sale which are held in officially authenticated plastic holders. The same is true of...
Why do we love collecting coins? For some it's the finding the unrecorded variety , for others it's the history and for some it's the fascination. For me it's a bit of all that and more. I've been a collector...
WEAR ZONES ON THE AUSTRALIAN SOVEREIGN The highest zones of a coin’s design wear away first. In order to assess a coin's grade, examining these zones with a good eye and a magnifying glass is essential....
As someone who has collected ancient coins for almost 20 years and who occasionally buys and sells them on eBay, I get the distinct impression that many people come to this fascinating hobby for the first time...
Beware Krugerrand Imitations in Silver or Miniature There are now many items offered on eBay as "krugerrands" which are NOT krugerrands, that we thought it time we published a warning about them.When we...
New Washington Dollar Scam One of the hottest items on Ebay is the new Washington dollar with the plain edge. Yes, the Mint did make some errors where they did not put the edge lettering on some of the P...
Coin Grading The condition of a coin, in relation to the amount of wear it has received in circulation, is paramount to it's value to a coin collector or dealer. A common coin in uncirculated condition is...
Assigning a grade to a coin is an art, not a science. It is often highly subjective, especially when working with Mint State coins where small differences in grade make big differences in price. Even so,...
Long, long ago in the 20th century, Fort Worth, Texas, a dealer used this rarity a 1913 Liberty Head nickel, as the focal point of his nationwide advertising program to sell copies of The Star Rare Coin...