Coin collecting starts with the basics: reading a date and mint mark, understanding grading, and telling a genuine coin from a convincing fake. This guide collects everything we’ve written about identification, U.S. and world coin history, keeping a collection in good condition, and the culture around the hobby.
We are writers, not certified numismatists or professional appraisers. Nothing here is a professional grading opinion about any specific coin — for that, a third-party grading service or an in-person appraisal is the right next step.
Once you’re thinking about bullion, buying, selling, or holding precious metals as part of a broader strategy, our companion guide to precious metals and investing considerations covers that side of the subject.
Coin Basics & Identification
- Beginner’s Guide to Coin Collecting Terminology — A plain-English glossary of essential coin collecting terms every beginner should know before buying or grading coins
- Coin Album vs Coin Folder vs Coin Holders — Coin albums, folders, and individual holders each store coins differently
- Coin Error Types Explained: Doubled Dies & More — A plain-English guide to doubled dies, off-center strikes, clipped planchets and other coin error types, and what actually affects their value
- Common Coin Collecting Mistakes Beginners Make — Learn the most common coin collecting mistakes beginners make—from cleaning coins to skipping research—and how to avoid them
- How Coin Population Reports Work — Learn what coin population reports actually track, how grading services build them, and their real limits for collectors
- How to Read the Date and Mint Mark on a US Coin — Learn where to find the date and mint mark on US coins, what each letter means, and how to read worn or damaged coins
- How to Start a Coin Collection From Scratch — A beginner’s guide to starting a coin collection: what to gather, how to identify coins, and how to build knowledge before spending
- How to Tell If a Coin Has Been Cleaned — Learn the visual clues, textures, and lighting tricks that reveal whether a coin has been cleaned and why it matters for grading
- MS vs AU vs XF: What Coin Grade Abbreviations Mean — MS, AU, and XF are coin grading abbreviations describing wear level, from Mint State to Extremely Fine
- Proof Coins vs Business Strikes: What’s the Difference? — Proof coins and business strikes are made differently and look different
- Understanding the Sheldon Coin Grading Scale — A plain-language guide to the 1-70 Sheldon coin grading scale, how it works, and why grading affects a coin’s condition and desirability
- What Are Coin Varieties and Why Do They Matter — Coin varieties are design differences within a date and mint
- What Does Coin Grading Actually Mean? — A plain-language guide to what coin grading measures, how the scale works, and why condition drives value
- What Is a Key Date Coin and Why It Matters — A plain-English guide to key date coins: what makes a date/mint mark scarce, and why collectors pay attention to it
- What Third-Party Grading Services Actually Do — A plain-language look at what third-party coin grading services check, encapsulate, and certify — and what they don’t promise
All coin basics & identification articles
US Coins & History
- A Guide to Franklin Half Dollars — Learn how Franklin half dollars were designed, what dates and mint marks to look for, and what shapes their condition and value
- A Guide to Lincoln Wheat Pennies — Learn how Lincoln Wheat Pennies were made, what dates and errors matter, and how to check condition before valuing one
- A Guide to Mercury Dimes — Learn how to identify Mercury dimes, what the designs and mint marks mean, and what factors drive their condition and value
- A Guide to State Quarters and America the Beautiful Quarters — How the 50 State Quarters and America the Beautiful Quarters programs worked, and what collectors look for in each series
- A Guide to Two-Cent and Three-Cent Pieces — Learn how US two-cent and three-cent pieces were made, why they were minted, and what shapes their collector value today
- Draped Bust and Early American Coinage Explained — What Draped Bust coins are, when the US Mint made them, and how to think about their design, rarity and condition
- Standing Liberty Quarters: History and Design — How the Standing Liberty Quarter (1916-1930) came to be, what its symbolism means, and what to look for on this classic US coin
- The American Gold Eagle: History and Specifications — How the American Gold Eagle began in 1986, what it’s made of, and how its weights and designs work
- The Barber Coinage Series Explained — Learn how the Barber dime, quarter and half dollar were designed, minted and identified, and what affects their condition and value today
- The History of the Buffalo Nickel — How the Buffalo Nickel came to be, why its design changed coin collecting, and what shaped its run from 1913 to 1938
- The History of the Morgan Silver Dollar — How the Morgan silver dollar came to be, why production stopped and restarted, and what shapes its value among collectors today
- The Story Behind the Saint-Gaudens Double Eagle — How the Saint-Gaudens double eagle came to be, why it’s called a masterpiece, and what collectors look for today
- The Trade Dollar: America’s Coin for Trade — Why the US Trade Dollar was minted for Asian commerce, how it differs from other silver dollars, and what shapes its value today
- Understanding Commemorative Coins From the US Mint — What US Mint commemorative coins are, how they differ from bullion and circulating coins, and what shapes their collector value
- Understanding the American Silver Eagle Bullion Coin — A clear, jargon-free look at how American Silver Eagles are made, what .999 fine silver means, and how their value is determined
- Understanding the Indian Head Cent — Learn what the Indian Head Cent is, how to read its dates and mint marks, and what shapes its condition and collector value
- Understanding the Peace Dollar and Its History — What the Peace Dollar is, why it was minted, and how to understand its design, dates, and mint marks
- Understanding the Walking Liberty Half Dollar — A clear guide to the Walking Liberty Half Dollar: its history, design, dates, mint marks, and what shapes its collector value
All us coins & history articles
World & Ancient Coins
- A Guide to Spanish Colonial Pieces of Eight — What Spanish colonial pieces of eight are, how they were made, why they matter historically, and what affects their value today
- A Guide to the Canadian Maple Leaf Bullion Coin — Learn how the Canadian Maple Leaf bullion coin works: purity, security features, denominations, and what actually drives its value
- An Introduction to Ancient Roman Coins — A beginner’s guide to ancient Roman coins: denominations, metals, dating, authentication basics, and what to consider before buying
- An Introduction to Byzantine Coinage — A beginner’s guide to Byzantine coinage: the solidus, follis, and how these coins bridged ancient Rome and medieval Europe
- An Introduction to Medieval European Coinage — A clear overview of medieval European coinage: hammered pennies, feudal issues, debasement, and how these coins are collected today
- Collecting Ancient Greek Coins: Where to Start — A beginner’s guide to collecting ancient Greek coins: what to look for, how authentication works, and questions to ask before buying
- Collecting Coins From the British Empire Era — A beginner-friendly guide to collecting British Empire era coins, from sovereigns to colonial issues, covering history, identification and value factors
- Collecting Roman Republic vs Empire Coins — How Roman Republic and Empire coins differ in history, imagery, metals, and what that means for collectors starting out
- Collecting World War Era Emergency Money and Tokens — A plain-language guide to Notgeld, POW camp scrip, and wartime tokens: what they are, why they exist, and how collectors approach them
- The Austrian Philharmonic: History and Specifications — The Austrian Philharmonic’s history, gold and silver specifications, and design details explained plainly for collectors and buyers
- The Krugerrand: History and Design — How the Krugerrand began, why it changed gold ownership worldwide, and what its coat-of-arms and springbok design actually mean
- Understanding British Sovereign Gold Coins — A clear guide to British sovereign gold coins: history, specifications, design, and what actually determines their value
- Understanding Chinese Cash Coins and Their History — What Chinese cash coins are, why they have a square hole, and how their long history shapes collecting and condition today
All world & ancient coins articles
Care & Storage
- Best Practices for Long-Term Bullion Storage at Home — How to store gold and silver bullion at home for the long term, covering containers, environment, security and documentation
- Coin Conservation vs Restoration: What’s the Difference — Learn how coin conservation differs from restoration, why the distinction matters for value, and what professional conservation actually involves
- How Humidity and Temperature Affect Coins — Learn how humidity and temperature changes cause toning, corrosion, and holder damage—and how stable storage helps preserve coins
- How to Handle Coins Properly to Avoid Damage — Learn the basic hand-handling habits—grip, surfaces, gloves—that protect coins from scratches, oils and lost value
- How to Photograph Coins for Insurance or Sale Records — Learn practical steps for photographing coins clearly and consistently for insurance documentation or sale listings
- How to Store Coins to Prevent Damage — Learn how temperature, humidity, PVC holders, and handling affect coins, and what materials help prevent tarnish, corrosion, and scratches
- Understanding Coin Holders: Flips, Capsules and Albums — A plain-language guide to coin flips, capsules and albums—how each holder works, its trade-offs, and how to choose one for safe storage
- What Causes Toning on Coins and Is It Desirable — Learn what causes coin toning, why it happens, and how collectors weigh natural toning against cleaned or artificially altered surfaces
- What a Safe Deposit Box Does and Doesn’t Protect — A safe deposit box guards against fire, theft and casual loss—but not bank failure, disputes, or every damage type
- Why You Should Never Clean a Collectible Coin — Cleaning a collectible coin can strip value and hide originality
Collecting Culture
- Famous Coin Discoveries and Hoards Throughout History — A look at history’s most famous coin hoards and shipwreck discoveries, and what they reveal about coins, commerce, and preservation
- How Coin Clubs and Numismatic Societies Work — Learn how coin clubs and numismatic societies are structured, what members do, and how to find a reputable one near you
- How Coin Collecting Became Popular in America — A look at how coin collecting grew from a niche pastime into a widespread American hobby, and what still drives it today
- How Coins Reflect the History of Their Times — Coins record wars, rulers, economic shifts and technology of their era
- Notable Coin Collections and What Made Them Famous — What made history’s most famous coin collections legendary — completeness, provenance, rarity, and the stories behind them
- The History of the US Mint — How the US Mint began in 1792, grew through branch mints and gold rushes, and evolved into today’s coin and bullion producer
- The Role of the American Numismatic Association — What the American Numismatic Association actually does, who it serves, and how it fits into coin collecting and education
- The Story of the 1933 Double Eagle — How a $20 gold coin never legally released for circulation became the most famous forbidden coin in US history
- Understanding Coin Shows and Conventions — Learn how coin shows and conventions work, who attends, and what to expect before walking the floor for the first time
- Understanding Exonumia: Tokens, Medals & Collectibles — What exonumia means and how tokens, medals and related items differ from coins for collectors and history buffs
All collecting culture articles
Also on Gold Coins Today
The companion guide, Precious Metals Investing Guide, covers the other half of the subject. Our about page explains who writes this site and what we will not claim.
Gold Coins Today publishes general information about coin collecting and precious metals, not financial, investment, tax or legal advice. We are writers and editors, not certified numismatists, appraisers, financial advisors or dealers. Coin and bullion values change constantly and depend on condition, authenticity and the current market — get a current appraisal or spot price from a qualified, reputable source before buying or selling, and consult a licensed financial advisor before treating precious metals as part of an investment strategy.