Coin guides and articles, page 3
Identification guides, value checks, error coins, and collecting advice, written for people who just found a coin.
Articles
Coin IdentificationHow to Tell if a Coin is Silver: 4 At-Home Tests That WorkThe quickest silver test is the ice cube method, because silver conducts heat faster than any other coin metal. Pre-1965 US dimes contain 90 percent silver.
Values & PricesHeritage Auctions vs Stack's Bowers: Where to Sell Rare CoinsHeritage Auctions delivers higher volume with stronger online reach. Stack's Bowers commands premium results for true rarities and pre-1850 material.
Error Coins22 Most Valuable Modern US Mint Errors of the 2020sThe most valuable modern US Mint errors of the 2020s are wrong-planchet and off-metal strikes. They can sell for thousands of dollars at auction.
US CoinsWheat Penny Identification Guide: 1909-1958 Year-by-YearWheat penny identification covers cents struck from 1909 to 1958. The date and mint mark sit below the year. The 1909-S VDB leads the key dates.
Error Coins16 Canadian Loonie 1 Dollar Errors and Varieties Worth HuntingThe rarest Canadian loonies are dramatic mint errors and low-mintage commemorative years. Strong examples can sell for several hundred dollars at auction.
World & Ancient CoinsNew Brunswick and Nova Scotia Pre-Confederation Coins IdentificationBefore joining Canada in 1867, New Brunswick and Nova Scotia struck their own cents and half cents. Identify them by the province name, the date and the Victoria portrait, then check the grade.
Error CoinsHow to Identify Canadian Blank Planchet Quarter Errors (Missing Caribou)A Canadian blank planchet quarter was never struck, so both sides are smooth with no caribou and no portrait. Check the weight, diameter and raised rim to tell a genuine mint error from a coin that was ground or damaged.
Error CoinsWhat is a Doubled Die Error and How to Spot OneA doubled die error happens when the die itself receives a doubled image, so every coin it strikes shows doubled letters or numbers, as on the 1955 Lincoln cent. Flat, shelf-like doubling is machine doubling and adds no value.
World & Ancient CoinsPrince Edward Island 1871 Penny Identification and Value GuideThe 1871 cent is the only coin Prince Edward Island issued, struck two years before the island joined Canada. Values depend on grade and colour, so identify the coin and grade it before you price it.
World & Ancient CoinsHow to Spot a Counterfeit Canadian ToonieCounterfeit Canadian toonies usually give themselves away by weight, sound, mismatched metal colours or soft engraving. Compare a suspect coin with a genuine one from the same year.
Coin IdentificationHow to Identify a Proof Coin vs Regular StrikeProof coins are struck at least twice with polished dies on polished blanks, so they show mirror-like fields, frosted designs and sharp, square rims. Regular strikes have satin or frosty surfaces and softer rims.
World & Ancient CoinsFrench Franc Coin Collecting: Identification and ValuesMost French franc coins, especially post-1960 nickel issues, are worth little. Silver and gold francs and scarce dates carry real premiums, so identify the type, date and mint mark first.