The 1943 Copper Penny: Why Yours Probably Isn’t Real
Think you found a 1943 copper penny? Odds are, you didn’t. This post breaks down why the real ones are so valuable, how fakes are made, and what to check before you get your hopes up.
Avoiding Scams
Red Flags For Buying Coins on eBay
Shopping for coins online can feel like a minefield. This guide breaks down the most common red flags to watch for: sketchy titles, suspicious slabs, too-good-to-be-true pricing, and more. Learn how to spot trouble before you click “Buy.”
What “Raw” Really Means in Coin Listings
If you’ve spent any time looking at coin listings online, you’ve probably seen the word raw used to describe a coin. It shows up on eBay, Reddit, dealer sites, and even auction houses. But depending on who’s using it, the meaning can get a little fuzzy. We’ll break down what raw really means, what it…
The Difference Between Uncirculated and Mint State
If you’ve spent any time looking at coin listings or browsing collector forums, you’ve probably come across the terms “uncirculated” and “mint state.” They get tossed around a lot, sometimes as if they mean the same thing, other times like they’re completely different. And depending on who you ask, you might get a different answer…
Fake Toning: Pretty Coins, Ugly Truth
Some coins earn their color the hard way. They sit in envelopes, albums, or mint sets for decades, slowly picking up hues from their environment. Others take a shortcut. They get dunked in sulfur, baked in ovens, or blasted with heat just to grab attention and a higher price tag. That’s fake toning. At first…
The Truth About Plated Coins: Gimmicks, Science, and Deception
Every now and then, you’ll come across a U.S. coin that looks a little too shiny for its own good – mirror-like surface, strange hue, sometimes even “golden.” If it’s a common date, has no mint error, and doesn’t make sense for the coin type… odds are you’ve found a plated coin. A plated coin…
Before You Buy That Coin: Know Your Stuff or Keep Your Wallet Closed
One of the fastest ways to lose money in coin collecting is buying something you don’t understand. There’s no checklist that can replace actual knowledge. If you don’t know what the coin should look like, you won’t know what’s off when you see it. And once the cash is gone, it’s usually gone for good….