Category
Coin authentication
Mint Marks Explained: How to Read Where Your Coin Was Struck
A single small letter on a coin can tell you exactly which mint struck it -- and sometimes make the difference between a common coin and a genuinely scarce one.
Authenticating a Coin: Weight, the Ring Test, and When to Call a Professional
Counterfeits exist at every price point in numismatics. A few simple checks catch the obvious fakes -- and knowing their limits tells you when it's time for a real expert.
Off-Metal Error Coins: What Happens When the Wrong Blank Goes Through the Press
Occasionally a coin gets struck on the wrong blank entirely -- a cent-sized planchet through a dime die, a copper disc where a cupro-nickel one belonged. Here's how these error coins happen, and what determines their value.