When you think about our coins, which do you think is the oldest? Well, the oldest of our modern coin denominations is actually the nickel which is older than the penny by a year. The nickel is our...
History of the Indonesian Rupiah
While the Rupiah is the official currency of Indonesia today, the origins of this country’s currency dates back to the early colonial period in history. The first coin like currency used by the nat...
A Look at Historic “Big Bills”
We all know about those certain pieces of currency – the ones that weren’t very valuable during their original production, but gained value over time. For example, you might have a penny from the 1...
Everyone knows that the mint is where money gets made, but what else goes on behind those fortress-like walls? Quite a bit, it turns out. Philadelphia, Denver and San Francisco Mints Job One, of co...
How to Start Collecting Coins on a Budget
Coin CollectorsAs a coin collector myself, I could write a novel about why people should start coin collecting. But I’ll spare you the time and keep it simple. There are a few reason coins are the ...
How to Start Coin Collecting: The Basics
There are dozens of reasons to start collecting coins and we presume you’ve come up with at least one of your own. (If you’re still on the fence, read this!) But collecting coins isn’t just a hobby...
How to Safely Purchase Coins Online
Secure WebsiteMany people have reservations about purchasing coins online. While their fears are legitimate, online shopping has become a way of life. At the Great American Coin Company, we want to...
How to Recognize a Fake Paper Bill
Counterfeiting is almost as old as money itself, dating back to phony Lydian coins in the 7th century B.C. When the Chinese introduced paper money using the bark of mulberry trees in the 13th centu...
How to Recognize a Counterfeit Coin
It probably didn’t take long after King Alyattes minted the first legitimate coin in ancient Asia Minor for some enterprising Lydian crook to take a stab at making copies. Since the phony coins wer...
How to Properly Handle Banknotes
While several countries have switched plasticized fabrics for their banknotes (Australia, Brazil, Canada and Mexico, for instance), most paper money is still just that—paper. And while even paper m...
How to Properly Clean Your Coins
Coins in High Contrast by MoneyBlogNewz, on FlickrOne of the fastest and easiest ways to ruin a rare a coin is by sticking it in silver dip cleaner or rubbing it with something abrasive, like silve...
How to Collect Silver Bars and Bullion
Silver Ounce I want to talk about how you can collect silver. Like any precious metal, silver can be used for investment purposes. For thousands of years, silver has been highly valued and even use...
How to Clean Your Diamonds and Gems
Diamond and Gems pictureGems and diamonds are most commonly used in jewelry. And since jewelry is worn on human skin, it can become unclean very quickly. Chances are you originally purchased your f...
Roman coinsUnlike certain modern coins, Roman coins have significant intrinsic value. For most of its lifetime, Roman currency consisted of gold, silver, brass, and copper coinage. However, many Ro...
Memorial Day is a time to look both back and ahead, and historic coins and currency can help keep those memories alive. Both the US Mint and the Bureau of Engraving and Printing have issued coins a...
Memorial Day is a time to look both back and ahead, and historic coins and currency can help keep those memories alive. Both the US Mint and the Bureau of Engraving and Printing have issued coins a...