Master the art of coin identification with our expert guides. Whether you're a seasoned numismatist or just starting your collection, our articles provide the knowledge and techniques you need to identify, authenticate, and value coins.
Identify Lincoln Memorial Cents (1959-2008). Covers Frank Gasparro's Memorial reverse, the 1982 copper-to-zinc transition and seven varieties, the 1969-S and 1972 doubled dies, the 1970-S Small Date, the 1983 Doubled Die Reverse, the 1992 Close AM and 1999 Wide AM transitionals, the rare 1982-D Small Date copper, grading, color designations, error coins, authentication, and current market values.
Identify Flowing Hair Dollars (1794-1795), America's first silver dollar. Covers Robert Scot's wild-haired Liberty, the unique 1794 BB-1 die marriage, the 1795 Head of 1794 vs Head of 1795 obverse hubs, Two Leaves vs Three Leaves reverses, the rare silver plug planchets, Bowers-Borckardt attribution, characteristic strike weakness, adjustment marks, the $10M+ Neil-Carter-Contursi specimen, counterfeit detection, and current market values.
Identify Indian Head Half Eagles ($5 gold, 1908-1929). Covers Bela Lyon Pratt's revolutionary incuse (sunken-relief) design, the legendary 1909-O (last New Orleans gold), the 1911-D and 1929 keys, the 1909-D/D RPM, matte proofs, all four mints, grading challenges unique to incuse coins, counterfeit detection, and current market values.
Identify Liberty Head Quarter Eagles ($2.50 gold, 1840-1907). Covers Christian Gobrecht's coronet design, the five mints (Philadelphia, Charlotte, Dahlonega, New Orleans, San Francisco), the famous 1848 CAL. counterstamp (America's first commemorative), the 1841 Little Princess proof-only key, the 1854-S, 1856-D, 1875 keys, Civil War rarities, branch mint history, grading, authentication, and current market values.
Identify Seated Liberty Half Dimes (1837-1873). Covers Gobrecht and Hughes's design, the five major sub-types (No Stars, Stars No Drapery, Stars With Drapery, Arrows, Legend Obverse), the unique 1870-S, the famous 1846, the 1838-O No Stars, the 1844-O, the 1853-O No Arrows, the Civil War keys, Valentine varieties, grading, authentication, and current market values.
Identify Capped Bust Quarters (1815-1838). Covers John Reich's design, the Large Size vs Small Size sub-series, the Browning variety system, the famous 1823/2 overdate, the 1822 25/50 C. blunder, 1825 overdates, 1827 Original vs Restrike, the 1829-1830 production gap, proof issues, grading, authentication, and current market values.
Identify Indian Head Quarter Eagles ($2.50 gold, 1908-1929). Covers Bela Lyon Pratt's incused (sunken-relief) design, the two mints (Philadelphia and Denver), the famous 1911-D Strong D vs Weak D varieties, the 1914 and 1914-D semi-keys, matte and sandblast proofs, grading the incused design, authentication, jewelry damage, and current market values.
Identify Three Dollar Gold Pieces from 1854 to 1889. Covers James Longacre's Indian Princess design, the four mints (Philadelphia, Dahlonega, New Orleans, San Francisco), the famous 1854-D, 1854-O, 1865, 1881, 1885 keys, the proof-only 1875 and 1876, the 1873 Open 3 vs Closed 3, the unique 1870-S, grading, authentication, jewelry damage, and current market values.
Identify Capped Bust Half Dimes from 1829 to 1837. Covers John Reich's design reduced by William Kneass, the Logan-McCloskey (LM) and Valentine die-variety systems, the 1837 Small 5C, the 1836 3-over-inverted-3, the 1835 date and denomination varieties, grading, authentication, and current market values.
Identify Capped Bust Dimes from 1809 to 1837. Covers John Reich's design, the Large Size (open collar) vs Small Size (close collar) sub-types, the JR die variety system, the legendary 1822 series king, the 1809 first year, the 1811/9 overdate, the 1829 Curl Base 2, the 1828 transition, grading, authentication, and current market values.
Identify Liberty Head Half Eagles from 1839 to 1908 across both major types. Covers Christian Gobrecht's coronet design, the legendary 1854-S (three known), the 1861-D Confederate Dahlonega issue, the 1864-S Civil War rarity, the proof-only 1875 and 1887 keys, the 1842-C Small Date, Carson City rarities, all seven branch mints (P, C, D, O, S, CC, D-Denver), grading, authentication, and current market values.
Identify Susan B. Anthony Dollars from 1979-1981 and 1999. Covers Frank Gasparro's design, the famous 1979-P Wide Rim (Near Date) variety, the 1979-S and 1981-S Type 1 and Type 2 proof mint marks, the proof-only 1981 P/D/S Mint set business strikes, the 1999 revival year, the Apollo 11 eagle reverse, the 11-sided inner border, copper-nickel clad composition, grading, authentication, and current market values.
Identify Gold Dollars from 1849 to 1889 across all three major types. Covers James Longacre's Liberty Head (Type 1), Indian Princess Small Head (Type 2), and Indian Princess Large Head (Type 3) designs, the famous 1849 Open Wreath and Closed Wreath varieties, the legendary 1849-C Open Wreath rarity, the 1855-D, 1856-D, 1861-D Confederate-struck Dahlonega keys, the 1875, mint marks across Philadelphia, Charlotte, Dahlonega, New Orleans, and San Francisco, jewelry damage, grading, authentication, and current market values.
Identify Indian Head Eagles ($10 gold) from 1907 to 1933. Covers Saint-Gaudens's design with Liberty in an Indian war bonnet, the 1907 Wire Rim and Rolled Rim Periods experimental types, the No Periods and With Motto production types, the legendary 1933 Eagle, the 1920-S and 1930-S keys, mint marks across Philadelphia, Denver, San Francisco, and New Orleans, grading, authentication, and current market values.
Identify Liberty Head (Coronet) Eagles ($10 gold) from 1838 to 1907. Covers Christian Gobrecht's coronet design, the No Motto and With Motto types, the 1838-1839 head varieties, the legendary 1875 and 1858, the Civil War 1864-S, the Carson City and New Orleans branch issues, mint marks across five mints, grading, authentication, and current market values.
Identify Draped Bust Dollars from 1795 to 1804. Covers Robert Scot's design from Gilbert Stuart, the Small Eagle (1795-1798) and Heraldic Eagle (1798-1804) reverses, the legendary 1804 dollar in Class I, II, and III, Bowers-Borckardt (BB) die varieties, the 1799/8 and 1802/1 overdates, the 1800 AMERICAI and Dotted Date, grading, authentication, and current market values.
Identify Sacagawea Dollars from 2000 onward. Covers the Soaring Eagle and Native American reverses, the famous 2000-P Cheerios Dollar, the Wounded Eagle, Goodacre Presentation strikes, the 2000-P / Washington Quarter Mule, the 2000-W $10 gold pattern, edge-lettering errors, manganese-brass alloy, grading, authentication, and current market values.
Identify Seated Liberty Dimes from 1837 to 1891. Covers Gobrecht and Hughes's design, the six major sub-types (No Stars, Stars No Drapery, Stars With Drapery, Arrows, Legend Obverse, Legend With Arrows), the unique 1873-CC No Arrows, the 1844 "Orphan Annie," the 1846, the Carson City keys, Fortin varieties, grading, authentication, and current market values.
Identify Seated Liberty Quarters from 1838 to 1891. Covers Gobrecht and Hughes's design, the six major sub-types, the four legendary Carson City keys (1870-CC, 1871-CC, 1872-CC, 1873-CC No Arrows), the 1853 Arrows and Rays, the 1842 Small Date, the 1849-O, Briggs varieties, grading, authentication, and current market values.
Identify Liberty Head Double Eagles from 1849 to 1907 across all three major types. Covers Longacre's coronet design, the unique 1849 pattern, the legendary 1854-O and 1856-O New Orleans rarities, the 1861 Paquet Reverse, the 1870-CC, the 1879-O, Carson City and branch mint history, grading, authentication, and current market values.
Identify Twenty Cent Pieces from 1875 to 1878. Covers William Barber's Liberty Seated design, the legendary 1876-CC rarity, the high-mintage 1875-S, the proof-only 1877 and 1878 issues, the plain edge diagnostic, distinguishing the coin from the Seated quarter, grading, authentication, and current market values.
Identify US Large Cents from 1793 to 1857 across all seven major types: Chain, Wreath, Liberty Cap, Draped Bust, Classic Head, Coronet/Matron Head, and Braided Hair. Covers the legendary 1793 Chain and Wreath, the 1799 great key, the 1804, the 1839 transitional varieties, the 1857 final year, Sheldon and Newcomb variety attribution, EAC grading, authentication, and current market values.
Identify Seated Liberty Half Dollars from 1839 to 1891. Covers Christian Gobrecht's design, the six major sub-types (No Drapery, Drapery, Arrows and Rays, Arrows, With Motto, With Arrows), Carson City rarities, the 1853 Arrows and Rays, the 1878-S key, the 1866 No Motto unique, Wiley-Bugert varieties, grading, authentication, and current market values.
Identify Barber Half Dollars from 1892 to 1915. Covers Charles Barber's Liberty Head design, the famous 1892-O Micro O variety, the 1913, 1914, and 1915 Philadelphia keys, the 1904-S condition rarity, LIBERTY headband grading, proof varieties, authentication, and current market values.
Identify Classic Head Half Cents from 1809 to 1836 designed by John Reich. Covers the 1809/6 overdate, the 1811 great business-strike key date, the 1828 12 Stars variety, the proof-only 1831 and 1836 originals and restrikes, Cohen die variety attribution, EAC grading standards, counterfeit detection, and current market values across every date.
Identify Draped Bust Half Cents from 1800 to 1808 designed by Robert Scot. Covers the famous 1804 Spiked Chin, Plain 4 versus Crosslet 4, stems versus stemless reverses, the 1802 key date and its overdates, the 1808/7, Cohen and Breen die variety attribution, EAC grading standards, counterfeit detection, and current market values across every date.
Identify Half Cents from 1793 to 1857 across all four major types: Liberty Cap, Draped Bust, Classic Head, and Braided Hair. Covers the 1793 first-year issue, the legendary 1796 rarity, the 1811 key, the proof-only 1840-1848 originals and restrikes, Cohen and Breen variety attribution, grading, authentication, and current market values.
Identify Three Cent Pieces across both versions: silver trimes (1851-1873) and nickel three-cents (1865-1889). Covers Type 1, Type 2, and Type 3 silver trimes, the 1851-O branch mint issue, the 1855 Type 2 key, the proof-only 1877 and 1878 nickel keys, the 1873 Closed 3 and Open 3, James Longacre's designs, grading, authentication, and current market values.
Identify Two Cent Pieces from 1864 to 1873. Covers the famous 1864 Small Motto vs Large Motto, the 1872 key date, the 1873 Closed 3 and Open 3 proof-only varieties, James Longacre's Union Shield design, the first "In God We Trust" motto, grading, authentication, and current market values.
Identify Capped Bust Half Dollars from 1807-1839. Covers John Reich's design, the Overton variety system, lettered edge vs reeded edge, the 1815/2 and 1817/4 overdates, the 1838-O proof, grading, authentication, and current market values.
Identify Trade Dollars by mint marks, key dates, chop marks, and Type 1 vs Type 2 reverses. Covers William Barber's Liberty-on-bales design, the 1878-CC, the legendary 1884 and 1885 proofs, demonetization, grading, authentication, and values from 1873 to 1885.
Identify Flying Eagle Cents from 1856 to 1858. Covers the famous 1856 pattern, 1858 Large Letters vs Small Letters, the 1858/7 overdate, James Longacre's design, copper-nickel composition, strike weakness, grading, authentication, and current market values.
Identify Saint-Gaudens Double Eagles by mint marks, key dates, and High Relief vs Low Relief types. Covers the 1933 rarity, 1927-D, 1920-S, 1921, 1907 MCMVII Ultra High Relief, Augustus Saint-Gaudens design, grading, authentication, and values from 1907 to 1933.
Identify Seated Liberty Dollars by mint marks, key dates, and With Motto vs No Motto types. Covers the 1870-S rarity, 1873-CC, original 1851/1852, the 1858 proof-only, Christian Gobrecht's design, grading, authentication, and values from 1840 to 1873.
Identify Eisenhower Dollars by mint marks, key dates, and Bicentennial varieties. Covers 1971-S silver, the 1972 Type 1/Type 2/Type 3 reverses, FS-901 doubled die, Friendly Eagle, grading, authentication, and values from 1971 to 1978.
Identify Shield Nickels by date, type, and rays variety. Covers 1866 With Rays, 1867 No Rays, the proof-only 1877 and 1878 keys, 1869/8 and 1883/2 repunched dates, striking problems, grading, authentication, and values from 1866 to 1883.
Identify Liberty Head V Nickels by mint marks, key dates, and Type 1 vs Type 2 varieties. Covers the 1885, 1886, 1912-S, the famous 1913 rarity, the racketeer nickel scandal, grading, authentication, and values from 1883 to 1912.
Identify Barber Quarters by mint marks, key dates, and varieties. Covers the 1901-S series king, 1896-S, 1913-S, 1892 Type 1 vs Type 2 reverse, LIBERTY grading, authentication, and values from 1892 to 1916.
Identify Roosevelt Dimes across silver (1946-1964) and clad (1965+) eras. Covers the 1949-S semi-key, 1975 No-S proof rarity, 1982 No-P error, 1996-W anniversary issue, Full Torch designation, grading, authentication, and values.
Identify Kennedy Half Dollars across 1964 silver, 40% silver transitional, clad, and modern collector issues. Covers the 1964 Accented Hair, 1970-D, 1987-P/D, 1998-S matte, Bicentennial, grading, authentication, and values.
Master the art of coin identification with our comprehensive guide. Learn to identify, date, authenticate, and value coins from various civilizations and historical periods. Covers mint marks, grading techniques, and authentication methods.
Learn to identify Morgan Silver Dollars by mint marks, key dates, and VAM varieties. Covers grading, authentication, Carson City issues, and current market values for every year from 1878 to 1921.
Identify Indian Head Pennies by date, variety, and condition. Covers key dates like the 1877 and 1909-S, error coins, grading tips, color designations, and current market values from 1859 to 1909.
Identify Buffalo Nickels by key dates, mint marks, and varieties. Covers the 1937-D three-legged error, 1913-S Type 2, overdates, grading, dateless coins, and current market values from 1913 to 1938.
Identify Peace Dollars by mint marks, key dates, and die varieties. Covers grading, authentication, high relief vs low relief types, VAM varieties, and market values from 1921 to 1935.
Identify Walking Liberty Half Dollars by mint marks, key dates, and varieties. Covers grading, strike quality, authentication, die varieties, and market values from 1916 to 1947.
Identify Mercury Dimes by mint marks, key dates, and Full Bands designation. Covers the 1916-D rarity, overdate varieties, grading, authentication, and market values from 1916 to 1945.
Identify Lincoln Wheat Pennies by mint marks, key dates, and doubled dies. Covers the 1909-S VDB, 1914-D, 1922 Plain, 1943 copper, 1955 DDO, grading, authentication, and values from 1909 to 1958.
Identify Franklin Half Dollars by mint marks, key dates, and Full Bell Lines varieties. Covers the 1949-S, 1953-S, 1955 Bugs Bunny, proof cameos, grading, authentication, and values from 1948 to 1963.
Identify Jefferson Nickels by mint marks, key dates, and Full Steps varieties. Covers war nickels (1942-1945), the 1950-D, 1939 Doubled Monticello, 1954-S FS, grading, authentication, and values from 1938 to today.
Identify Barber Dimes by mint marks, key dates, and die varieties. Covers the 1894-S rarity, 1895-O key, 1905-O Micro O, LIBERTY grading, authentication, and values from 1892 to 1916.
Identify Washington Quarters across the full series from 1932 to today. Covers silver vs clad, the 1932-D and 1932-S keys, the 1937 DDO, Bicentennial, 50 State Quarters, America the Beautiful, grading, authentication, and values.
Identify Standing Liberty Quarters by Type 1 vs Type 2, mint marks, key dates, and Full Head designation. Covers the 1916 key, 1918/7-S overdate, grading, authentication, and values from 1916 to 1930.
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