CoinWeek

A Wheat Cent and Morgan Dollar Launched Two College Dreams A coin found on the ground and a family gift launched two young collectors on paths that now lead to college. One collector started with a Wheat cent that someone had dropped. The other began with a Morgan dollar from his grandmother. Those two coins opened the door to American history. They also inspired years of collecting, research, writing, club work, and service to the hobby.

A 1943 Quarter Became a $22,250 Rarity, Here’s Where to Look The Philadelphia Mint struck nearly 100 million Washington quarters in 1943. Most remain ordinary, though increasingly collectible, 90% silver coins. However, a tiny number carry something far more important. Their obverse dies show genuine hub doubling. Bold secondary images appear across Washington’s surrounding inscriptions.

How a Wartime Mint Mix-Up Created a $120,000 Dime A single dime can tell a surprisingly large story. The 1942/1 Mercury dime carries two dates. It also connects the wartime economy, old Mint technology, a hurried engraving department, and one of the greatest circulation finds of the 20th century. Yet collectors often misunderstand how the error happened. No Mint employee punched a “2” over a “1.” The Mint did not strike a finished 1941 dime again with 1942 dies.

Central Banks Are Buying Gold, So Why Are Silver Buyers Vanishing? The gold and silver market has entered one of its most revealing periods of 2026. War risk has returned to the Persian Gulf. Oil prices have surged. Inflation fears have reappeared. Yet gold and silver initially moved lower instead of attracting a powerful safe-haven bid. Meanwhile, central banks continue to accumulate gold. Retail buyers, however, have stepped away from silver bars and coins at one of the world’s largest bullion mints.

Athena’s Owls Take Flight: Spectacular Greek Coin Collection to Debut at ANA 2026 A lifelong search for beauty led Southern California collector Eva Qin to ancient Greek coins. Now, that passion will bring one of today’s most important private holdings of classical Athenian silver before the public. The American Numismatic Association will display 14 coins from Qin’s Arcadia Collection during the 2026 World’s Fair of Money®. The convention will take place August 25-29 at the David L.

The Wartime $1 Experiment Collectors Refused to Spend The large red letter immediately catches the eye. It sits beside the blue Treasury seal on an otherwise familiar Series 1935A $1 Silver Certificate. Yet the letter does not represent a bank, district, replacement note, or printing error. Instead, the red “R” identifies one side of a little-known wartime currency experiment. 1935A $1 Silver Certificate. (R) Experimental. PCGS Banknote Gem Uncirculated 66 PPQ.

Steel City Strikes Back: Franki and Wastweet Reimagine the Lincoln Cent for Pittsburgh Two of America’s leading medallic artists have transformed the familiar Lincoln cent into a monument to Pittsburgh’s industrial past. Jamie Franki and Heidi Wastweet created the official convention medal for the American Numismatic Association’s 2026 World’s Fair of Money®.

Two Mint Letters Finally Solve the 1917 Half Dollar Mintmark Mystery Collectors often ask one question about the 1917 Walking Liberty Half Dollar: Why did the United States Mint move the mintmark? Over the years, collectors and writers have offered many explanations. Some relied on speculation. Others added invention and bluster. However, two recently digitized U.S. Mint letters now provide a clear answer. The letters come from U.S. Mint correspondence preserved in National Archives Record Group 104.

America’s First Dime and the Collector Who Made 1796 His Mission America’s first dime entered circulation without the word DIME, a numeral, or any other statement of value. Instead, it carried a portrait of Liberty, 15 stars, and a small eagle that looked more delicate than commanding. The young Philadelphia Mint also produced it with hand-prepared dies and equipment that demanded constant adjustment. Each die developed its own marks, cracks, and personality.

Paradime is offering this 1879 Gilt Stella – Looks Like Gold, but Its Real Story Is Better At first glance, the 1879 Coiled Hair Stella gilt pattern looks like one of America’s greatest gold rarities. Its warm golden surfaces frame George T. Morgan’s elegant portrait of Liberty. Meanwhile, a large star dominates the reverse. Even the obverse announces a precise formula that includes six grams of gold. Yet copper forms the coin’s core.