QuickTips Index
Coinlink.com
Coinlink.com, founded in 1995, has evolved into one of the most comprehensive coin news and reference sites on the Web. The site makes my list because of its outstanding news aggregator, which is a cross between a news feed and a hundred-author blog. Coinlink is a true labor of love by longtime collector Scott Purvis.
Numismaster.com
Numismaster.com was founded by Krause Publication, the Standard Catalog of World Coins people. They put the whole catalog online, along with coin collection management software, and added in some news and blogs. It's a very useful coin collecting resource; too bad it's not free...
Coinflation.com - The Site About Coin Inflation
Coinflation.com tracks the intrinsic, or base metal, value of circulating coins. If you wonder what the melt value of the silver in your quarters or silver dollars is worth, or the copper value of pennies and nickels, Coinflation has them all listed, tied to current spot prices. The site also carries an interesting news feed relating to coins and coin metal values.
Wildwinds.com for Ancient Coins
The Wildwinds database of ancient coins was begun by ancient coin dealer and collector Dave Surber more than a decade ago as a record of which ancient Roman and Greek coins sold for how much money. Soon, his archive of thousands of coin images and descriptions was hailed by ancient coin collectors everywhere as a wonderful cataloging and attribution resource. Now with more than 100,000 images, Wildwinds also covers Celtic and Byzantine coins, too.
Don's World Coin Gallery
Don's World Coin Gallery is a legendary Web site devoted to coins from virtually every issuing authority in the world. Don has tens of thousands of coins listed on his site, including photos, prices, a coin identification guide, and lots more for the world coin collector. The most amazing thing of all? Every single coin on the site came from Don's own collection! Learn more about Don's World Coin Gallery on this page.
SmallDollars.com
SmallDollars.com is a Web site that is entirely focused on small module U.S. Dollar Coins, such as the Presidential, Sacagawea, and Susan B. Anthony Dollars. The site has very in-depth information about the coins, artists, errors and varieties, patterns, and pretty much anything else you might want to know about the small dollars. Learn more about SmallDollars.com on this page.
Vcoins and Vauctions
Vcoins and Vauctions are sister sites run by a coin collector who got tired of the lax ethical standards on eBay. Vcoins is host to hundreds of like-minded coin dealers, and the Vauctions listings get longer every week. Although founded in ancient coins, the sites are rapidly growing in the U.S. coins and world coins areas as well. Learn more about Vcoins and Vactions on this page.
Heritage Auction Galleries
The Heritage Auction Galleries Coin Web site contains an immense archive of auction results and coin photos from coins around the world, but especially U.S. coins. The site also features coin auctions and coin-related information. You don't want to miss this site! It's amazing! Learn more about Heritage Auctions on this page.
CopperCoins.com
CopperCoins.com is probably the best site on the Web for folks who collect Lincoln Cent die varieties. The site has thousands of varieties listed, complete with large detail photos to help you attribute your coins. Learn more about CopperCoins.com on this page.
The Coin Community
The Coin Community Forum is one of the friendliest coin-related forums on the Web. It's family-friendly and they have plenty of in-house experts to help you out with your coins. Learn more about them on this page.
What is the U.S. Mint Artistic Infusion Program (AIP)?
The U.S. Mint Artistic Infusion Program (AIP) is a program that allows Americans with artistic training from all walks of life to design a U.S. coin. The Artistic Infusion Program artists have contributed designs to several U.S Mint issues, including the Statehood Quarters and Westward Journey Nickels. Learn more the U.S. Mint AIP and how to participate.
Fred Weinberg Profile
Fred Weinberg is one of the world's leading authorities on error coins and the coin minting process. He is an error coin dealer who has some of the most rare and incredible mint errors ever seen in his 100,000 plus coin collection.
Top 5 Worst Coin Investments
This article contains my personal list of "do not buy" coin types. I am reluctant to tell anybody else what they should invest in, since nobody can predict where the market will go, but I am willing to share my own personal 30 years' worth of experience in what I personally do not collect...and why.
Why is it Important to Use a PNG Coin Dealer?
Learn what the PNG (Professional Numismatists Guild) is and why it is important to use dealers who subscribe to the PNG code of ethics.
5 Tips on How to Find a Coin Dealer
It is fairly easy to find a coin dealer. But how do you find a reputable, honest coin dealer? We invest a lot of money in our coins, so we want to get the best prices we can. However, price isn't everything. What if your coin turns out to be fake? Will the rare coin dealer be around in five years to issue a refund? Learn how to find honest and ethical rare and gold coin dealers.
Coin Grading Service Rankings - Is the Three Tier System Enough?
Coin grading services are said to be classified into three tiers of reliability. In this article, I denote the current general rankings, and propose a more comprehensive five tier system that provides a fairer representation of the differences between various grading services.
How to Find a Local Coin Dealer
When you want to find a coin dealer, you probably shouldn't go to the Yellow Pages first, because there are many people listed there who are really just pawn brokers, junk bullion buyers, and other non-experts. This Quick Tip page will show you exactly how to find a local, Certified coin dealer near your location.
Die Variety News - An Outstanding Free Magazine About Coin Die Varieties
Die Variety News (DVN) is a bimonthly magazine published by Billy Crawford. DVN features many of the most recently found die varieties and minting error coins, plus has features about older coin types and other topics of interest to people who collect die varieties.
1943 Copper Penny - Is Yours Genuine or Fake?
The 1943 Copper Penny is a much sought-after error coin, because the pennies in 1943 should have been made of steel. However, novelty copper-plated 1943 pennies abound, plus there are so some other fake 1943 copper pennies. Learn to tell the genuine 1943 copper penny from the fake 1943 copper penny.
What are U.S. Small Cents?
The U.S. Small Cents were first issued in 1856, to replace the Large Cents. But which cents, exactly, are the Small Cents? This article answers that question, and tells you how to determine how much your Small Cents are worth.
Coin Grading Made Simple
Coin grading can be a difficult subject for the beginning collector. This article provides a very simple, basic method for judging the grade of almost any coin using clear, easy-to-follow steps.
Insider's Tips for Buying and Selling Coins
Insider's tips for dealing with coin dealers. Learn how to get the best deal when buying coins, and how to get the most money when selling coins. Find out where dealers get their wholesale coin prices so you know how much they pay each other, and never overpay for, or undersell coins again.
Cherrypicking Etiquette and Technique
Cherrypicking is the act of searching through coins looking for specimens that have been overlooked for some reason. Some people search through rolls of coins they get from the bank at face value, looking for errors and varieties or just old coins. Some people cherrypick by looking through coin dealer stock, trying to find overloooked varieties. This article deals with the techniques and etiquette involved in cherrypicking at coin shows and dealer stores.
How to Tell if a Godless Plain Edge Dollar is Fake
Godless Dollars are so-called because they are missing the edge lettering inscriptions that all Presidential Dollars are supposed to have, which include, among others, IN GOD WE TRUST. However, what's to stop someone with a dremel tool or lathe from simply erasing the edge inscriptions to make fake Godless dollars? Learn how to tell a real plain edge dollar from a fake smooth edge dollar.
Lincoln Memorial Penny Die Varieties
The commonly recognized die variety types for the Lincoln Memorial Cent series, including those noted in the Red Book, are listed on this page.