Blog Post - American Numismatic Association (2024)

FAQs

What is numismatics answers? ›

Numismatics is the study of coins and other currency units and is usually associated with the appraisal and collection of rare coins.

Whatever enclosure you select to place your coins into, the material must be acid free, and here's why. There are a number of plastics used to make coin storage. Polypropylene, Polyester and PVC are the common types. PVC is generally not acid free, PVC will eventually break down and become acidic - it is not 'inert'.

For high-value coins, use hard plastic holders. Professional coin grading services use sealed holders called slabs to protect authenticated and graded coins. Use acid-free cardboard and plastic holders free from polyvinyl chloride (PVC). Acid and PVC can ruin a coin's surface.

Numismatics (“noo-miz-ma-ticks”) is the study and collecting of things that are used as money, including coins, tokens, and paper bills.

A numismatist is a specialist, researcher, and/or well-informed collector of numismatics/coins ("of coins"; from Late Latin numismatis, genitive of numisma). Numismatists can include collectors, specialist dealers, and scholar-researchers who use coins (and possibly, other currency) in object-based research.

CoinFacts (PCGS mobile app)

Many coin collectors say the first place to start for any coin collector or enthusiast is with PCGS — offering a variety of different coin-collecting apps for both iOS and Android. PCGS claims they're the industry standard for grading and valuing coins.

Reputable coin dealers, Coin Auctions, eBay, and Price Guides are great places to start. If your coins are graded by one of the Top Tier grading services like PCGS or NGC, you can usually get a reasonable value estimate sight-unseen!

The 1776-1976 D Eisenhower Dollars were also not made of silver unfortunately, they have a value of $ 1.05 in circulated condition such as yours.

Therefore, we would advise that you do not store your collectable coins in plastic bags. Besides, you've worked hard and managed to collect for yourself some incredibly rare and beautiful gold and silver coins, why hide them away in plastic bags where they can become damaged?

Is it better to clean old coins or leave them dirty? ›

A coin's patina is the layer of toning that a coin naturally develops over time. Patina development is how the metal in the coin naturally protects itself from the environment. Another important reason not to clean your coins is because a coin's patina can help determine how much it is worth.

Investing in rare coins can potentially provide long-term gains, but it is not ideal for short-term profits. The rare-coin market can fluctuate like the stock market as demand for a particular coin increases and wanes. In general, rare coins are a fairly nonvolatile asset type.

If you decide that the value of your coins is large enough that you worry too much about keeping your coins in your home, and you want them to be somewhere else more secure, the best advice I can give you is to purchase a safety deposit box at your local bank.

Your Local Coin Dealer

According to CoinCollector.org, neighborhood coin dealers often extend preferred rates that match or beat the best online prices, because they want to establish long-term relationships with local hobbyists. They can inspect your collection, assess its value and answer your questions face-to-face.

Numismatics refers to the research of production and the way people have used coins, tokens, currencies, and other objects throughout history. It involves the study of the physical attributes of coins and other payment methods, such as metallurgy, appearance, year of manufacture, and place of production.

Investing in coins, whether bullion or numismatic, can be both rewarding and profitable for collectors. At the same time, those rare, numismatic coins do not make up a large market, so collect them first for fun before considering them as an investment.

Investing in numismatic coins – collectible coins with historical or artistic value – can result in higher production costs than other forms of physical gold like bullion bars or standard coins. This is because numismatic coins often have intricate designs and limited mintage, driving production costs.