Collectible Coins

Collectible coins can be found anywhere from Antique Stores to ones own pocket Like any other antique they provide a link to the past. Wheat centCollectible coins can be an investment as both collectibles or precious metals but like all other financial investments they carry risks. As with all antiques and collectibles the value of a coin depends upon its condition Several ways are commonly utilized to describe a coins condition The Official ANA Grading Standards for United States Coins uses these standard categories New collectible coins can be purchased directly from the countrys mint The United States Mint sells directly from its website Other sources include coin dealers shows conferences online and inperson auctions and other individual collectors One of the pleasures of collecting coins is the possibility of a hidden treasure in a handful of change so many collectors buy rolls of coins at banks and search through them for something to add to their collection The best way to keep up with current collectible coin values is to purchase a guide For coins from all over the world the Krause Standard Catalog of World Coins is one of the most authoritative For United States coins the Coin World and Blackbook price guides are standards
The rarest years and mints however are usually only available from dealers or collectors Each of these was produced by multiple mints and in many different styles and the value of each depends on the rarity and condition. Indian Head Cents Indian Head cents were produced from 1859 to 1909 and designed by James Barton Longacre an engraver for the Philadelphia Mint The head shows a stylized Native American in a feathered headdress depicting Liberty The reverse side features the shield of the United States at the top with an oak wreath surrounding the sides of the coin and a bundle of arrows at the bottom. Mercury Dimes Despite the name the head on the Mercury dime is not in fact the GrecoRoman god Mercury rather a winged head of Liberty The Phrygian hat with the wings closely resembles images of Mercury Adolph A Weinman designed the Mercury dime and the simplicity and elegance of the head and the column on the reverse make it one of the most attractive US coins It was minted from 1916 to 1945 Wheat Cents Wheat cents officially known as Lincoln Wheat Ears cents were minted from 1909 to 1958 The front shows the profile of Abraham Lincoln still in use on todays pennies while the reverse shows two stalks of wheat Both sides were designed by Victor David Brenner a prolific designer and engraver Buffalo Nickels Buffalo nickels also known as Indian head nickels were produced from 1913 to 1938 The head features a profile of a Native American and the tail of an American bison Both were designed by sculptor James Earle Fraser famous for this design and for his End of the Trail sculpture Morgan Dollars Morgan silver dollars were minted from 1878 to 1904 and again for one year in 1921 After the discovery of vast quantities of silver in the American west the US government ordered the Treasury Department to purchase tons of silver and create coins with it in an attempt to keep the price up The Morgan dollars named after the designer George T Morgan were one of these projects Because of their quantity of silver many of these coins were melted down thus raising the price for collectors

Always handle coins with clean hands or better yet while wearing cotton gloves Even recently washed hands can leave fingerprints and fingerprints carry oils that can corrode coins Always hold coins by the edges rather than the faces and when you put them down put them down on a soft piece of cloth to avoid scratches. Unless you know exactly what youre doing be careful about cleaning coins since this can actually reduce their value If you do want to clean a coin use mild soap and water and do not scrub it When youre finished pat it dry with a soft towel Store coins in cool dry places and with some kind of protective cover.Some antique collectibles have delighted collectors for so long that they have earned distinct antique categories Others are items that used to be merely antiques and now have become collectibles because people love collecting them Both of these categories are now considered antique collectibles The line between a vintage item and an antique varies from object to object A book is usually more than 150 years old before it is generally considered an antique but a toy is often labeled as an antique at 100 years and a coin might not be referred to as an antique until it is more than 200 years old

Antique Ephemera

Ephemera are items that were not made to last usually made out of paper Antique postcards are a very popular category as are antique valentines Ones with messages inside can give a wonderful sense of connecting with individuals from history Posters particularly decorative ones by artists from the turn of the century are both collectibles and art The earliest playing cards were designed as art items but by the end of the 19th century were also made as commemoratives or advertisements

Decorative Items

Decorative items appeal not just because of their collectible status or associations but for their intrinsic beauty These are often the most expensive antique collectibles because of the additional time or craftsmanship that went into their design and making and because many of them were made with intrinsically valuable materials