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58 guides on precious metals and numismatics — how they're priced, how they're made, what makes a coin worth more than its metal, and how to buy without overpaying.
What is a troy ounce? Learn the crucial difference between a troy ounce and a standard ounce, and why this universal unit of measurement is the foundation of trust in the global gold, silver, and platinum markets.
Read guideLearn about bullion coins, rounds, and bars made from precious metals like gold, silver, and platinum, and understand why their value is tied directly to their weight and purity.
Read guideTrace the history of gold prices from the fixed rate of the Gold Standard to the free-floating market of today, and understand why events like the Nixon Shock made gold a premier safe-haven asset.
Read guideEvery 1892-1964 quarter holds 0.1808 oz of silver, about $11.83 at today's spot. Values by grade, key dates like the 1932-D, and what dealers really pay.
Read guideThere are 40 quarters in a roll ($10). See roll counts and weights for every U.S. coin, box and bag sizes, what to hunt for, and what a silver roll is worth.
Read guideA war nickel holds 0.05626 oz of silver, about $3.68 at $65.39 spot. Values by date and grade for all 11 issues, the key varieties, and what dealers pay.
Read guideGrade-by-grade price estimates for 174 classic US key dates, each sourced from a named numismatic reference — up to $1,714,917 for the finest known example.
Most star notes bring $1.25 to $3 over face. Runs under 640,000 notes, scarce districts and 2013 $1 duplicate pairs ($7,200 to $25,000) are the exceptions.
Read guideA pre-1965 silver dime melts for about $4.73 at $65.39 silver. Barber, Mercury and Roosevelt values by grade, key dates like the 1916-D, and what dealers pay.
Read guideHow the 1-70 Sheldon coin grading scale works, what PCGS and NGC actually do when they grade and slab a coin, and where the American Numismatic Association fits in.
Read guideWhat a mint mark is, where to find one on a U.S. coin, and what each letter -- P, D, S, W, CC, O, and no mark at all -- actually tells you about where a coin was struck.
Read guideShould you clean ancient coins? Learn why cleaning is generally discouraged by collectors, how the "patina" adds value, and what methods professionals use for essential conservation.
Read guideWhy do Americans call the one-cent coin a "penny"? Learn the difference between the official U.S. term "cent" and the colloquial slang "penny," and the history behind the terminology.
Read guideLearn the anatomy of a coin by exploring its key parts, from the obverse and reverse to the mint mark, field, and rim, to better understand and appreciate your coin collection. A Coin's Anatomy: Understanding Its Essential Features
Read guideEvery 90% silver dollar holds 0.7734 oz of silver, about $50.57 at today's spot. Morgan and Peace values by grade, key dates, mint marks, and what dealers pay.
Read guidePut the guides into practice -- melt values, ratios, and allocations against live spot prices.
Face value in pre-1965 dimes, quarters, or half dollars -> melt value at the live silver spot price.
Weight and purity, or a common coin preset, -> live melt value at the current gold spot price.
Weight and purity, or a common coin preset, -> live melt value at the current silver spot price.
Jewelry weight and karat -> melt value of the actual gold content. For gold that isn't bullion.
Today's ratio, what's historically normal, and what it suggests for your next purchase.
The age-in-ounces rule and the 10-15% metals envelope, run against your own numbers.
Specs and live melt value for common bullion coins, plus historic pre-1965 U.S. silver coinage.
What a past gold or silver purchase would be worth today, from our own recorded price history.
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