Author Archives: Editor

Coin Terminology For Beginners

By Editor | Published: September 1, 2010
Familiarity with the terms listed below will help you to communicate better with other coin collectors. Here are the main elements of a coin: Obverse: The front side (“heads”) of a coin.  Generally, the side with the date and principal design (NOTE: the new 50 State Quarters® are a major exception because their date is [...]
Posted in September 2010 | Leave a comment

Coin Fact

By Editor | Published: September 1, 2010
$5 bills and Lincoln cents have something in common. They both show the Lincoln Memorial on the back. In the case of the paper money, if you look closely you can see the names of various states inscribed on the decoration at the top of the building. The image of the president was not used [...]
Posted in September 2010 | Leave a comment

Mis-Handling Coins

By Editor | Published: August 15, 2010
Among the most fascinating niches in the coin collecting world are so-called “error” coins–those specimens that had a manufacturing defect that the Mint failed to notice.  Usually these coins are pulled from the mint run and immediately destroyed.  But every now and then a few actually make it into general circulation–and that’s great news for [...]
Posted in August 2010 | Leave a comment

Coin Fact

By Editor | Published: August 15, 2010
There is a small letter “F” below the date on all Buffalo nickels. It is not a mint mark, as many believe, but is the initial of the designer James Earle Fraser. Unlike the rest of the design, the letter is sunk into the coin.
Posted in August 2010 | Leave a comment

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  • About the Author: Ken Bressett

    Kenneth Bressett has been a leading voice in numismatics for over 60 years. He has served as the editor of the authoritative Red Book since 1962. He received the ANA Medal of Merit, the Ferran Zerbe award, and was elected to the National Numismatic Hall of Fame. He has authored dozens of published works on ancient coins, paper money, English, and United States coins.