CoinWeek

The Ceiba: Liberty Struck in Silver Most countries outlive their money. In 19th-century Central America, something remarkable happened. The money outlived the country. The 1824 Central American Republic 8 Reales captures one of the most ambitious political experiments in Latin American history. Five former Spanish provinces tried to build a federal republic. Then they placed that experiment on a large silver coin. Its design rejected kings, crowns, and royal arms.

Five Were Struck: America’s Finest 1879 Quintuple Stella Five were struck. Four remain in private hands. One belongs to the Smithsonian. Now the finest-certified example of the legendary 1879 Quintuple Stella will return to the auction block after 18 years away from the market. Heritage Auctions will offer the coin as Lot 3604 in its 2026 ANA U.S. Coins Signature Auction.

This 1899 $2 “Mini-Porthole” Note Hides an Incredible American Story At first glance, the Series 1899 $2 Silver Certificate grabs attention for an obvious reason. George Washington stares from a compact portrait at the center of one of the most distinctive large-size notes America ever issued. Collectors quickly gave the design a fitting nickname: the “Mini-Porthole.” However, the example that Stack’s Bowers Galleries will offer in its Summer 2026 Global Showcase Auction tells a much deeper story.

1848 Gothic Florin Pattern: Britain’s Decimal Revolution in Silver At first glance, the 1848 Great Britain Gothic Florin Pattern looks like pure Victorian theater. Queen Victoria wears an elaborate crown. Her braided hair and richly ornamented dress evoke medieval England. Across the reverse, crowned shields form a cross around a central rose. Meanwhile, roses, a thistle, and a shamrock identify the nations of the United Kingdom. Yet this coin represents much more than an artistic experiment.

Only 8,000 Were Struck: The 1866 Dime That Survived Reconstruction Only 8,000 business-strike 1866 Liberty Seated Dimes left the Philadelphia Mint. Even more remarkably, the Mint struck the entire business-strike production on a single day: January 31, 1866. That tiny output alone makes the coin important. Yet the story behind it adds another dimension. The United States produced the 1866 dime during one of the most difficult transitions in American history.

Surprise July 4th Privy Trump Dollar Surfaces Days Before U.S. Mint Launch Heritage Auctions numismatist Rene Alvarenga discovered an unannounced “July 4th” privy-mark 2026 Donald J. Trump $1 coin inside an Advanced Delivery roll, according to CAC Grading. CAC announced the discovery on August 26. The grading service certified the discovery coin MS64. Its holder label identifies the piece as the “July 4th Privy,” “Discovery Coin,” and an “Advanced Delivery” example.

The U.S. Half Dollar With Three Dates, and a $19,200 Record Some coins tell their story with a portrait. Others rely on a famous battle, monument, or national symbol. The 1936 Delaware Tercentenary Half Dollar does something stranger. It carries a 1936 date. Yet the Philadelphia Mint struck it in 1937. Meanwhile, its reverse celebrates an anniversary that did not arrive until 1938. 1936 50C Delaware MS68 PCGS. That three-year calendar puzzle already makes the Delaware Half Dollar unusual.

Inside the 1877 U.S. Mint: How William Barber Kept Coin Dies From Breaking Every struck coin begins with controlled violence. A coining press forces two hardened steel dies against a metal disc, or planchet, under tremendous pressure. One die carries the obverse design. The other carries the reverse. Meanwhile, a hardened steel collar surrounds the planchet. It controls the outward flow of metal and helps form the coin’s edge. The process sounds straightforward.

Crayola Just Turned Its Iconic Blue Crayon Into 1.5 Ounces of Silver An American childhood icon has entered the precious metals market. Kevin Lipton Rare Coins and Crayola have launched a Crayola silver crayon containing 1.5 troy ounces of .999 fine silver. The companies introduced the first piece, appropriately colored Blue, at the 2026 ANA World’s Fair of Money in Pittsburgh. However, this is not simply a one-off novelty.

The $5 Bill With Lincoln in a “Porthole”, and the Treasury Secret Hidden for Decades Few American banknotes command attention as quickly as the 1923 Lincoln Porthole $5 Silver Certificate. Abraham Lincoln stares from the center of a massive circular frame. Brilliant blue serial numbers and Treasury devices cut across the black engraving. Meanwhile, the sprawling dimensions instantly identify the note as a relic from America’s large-size currency era.