Numismatic Resources

2009-03-02T09:21:00.001-08:00

The American Numismatic Society and the American Numismatic Association offer reliable information on coin collecting. They have books and software available for sale as well as an extensive library for members. These organizations can help direct the collector to reputable dealers and coin graders. They sponsor exhibitions and seminars on topics of interest to collectors.

Dr. George F. Heath formed the ANA in 1891. His aim was to inform people about money and the history behind it. In fact he taught himself a good deal about American and world history by studying his own coin collection, and was determined to share his passion with the rest of the world. Congress gave the American Numismatic Assoc a Federal Charter in 1912 for its efforts in numismatic education. The organization’s mission, according to their website, is as follows: “The American Numismatic Association is a nonprofit educational organization dedicated to educating and encouraging people to study and collect money and related items. With nearly 33,000 members, the Association serves the academic community, collectors and the general public with an interest in numismatics. The ANA helps all people discover and explore the world of money through its vast array of programs including its education and outreach, museum, library, publications, conventions and seminars.” (www.money.org)

The ANA does require a membership fee, but it includes quite a bit, like the Numismatist journal of money, access to the library, collection insurance, educational seminars, access to reputable online dealers and a special program for young coin collectors. For a small fee they will also determine the grade of a coin and provide certification. There are a number of different membership levels, including special rates for seniors 65 and older, juniors under the age of 23, as well as lifetime memberships and special club affiliations. Membership is open to anyone with an interest in coins and the study of the history of currency. The ANA hosts a number of events, like conventions and money shows that are an excellent way to learn more about coin collecting, find out about different types of money and purchase coins. The group sponsors the Worlds Fair of Money each summer, and the National Money Show every spring. The locations vary each year, and current location and show information is available on their website. They also sponsor the Las Vegas Coin, Stamp and Collectibles Show, part of the yearly Las Vegas Antiques Arms Show in the fall.

The United States Mint is, of course, a most reliable source for purchasing modern coins, proof sets and mint sets. The U.S. Mint website has an extensive coin image library where coins can be viewed on line. The mint also has archived information on commemorative coins and medals, as well as modern medals for sale.

The Professional Numismatists Guild is a non-profit organization dedicated to upholding the integrity of its member coin dealers thereby making coin collecting a safer hobby. They have a high code of ethics and a collector can feel at ease if his dealer is a member of the PNG.

Coin-collecting clubs are a wonderful resource for numismatists of every experience level. Beginners can learn in a friendly environment and the more experienced can share their glory stories to an interested audience. The sharing that occurs at the club meeting also helps collectors become aware of possible fraudulent activities that may be in their area or on the Internet.

The Internet is a good learning resource for coin collectors. There is a “Coin University” where there are no stupid questions. There are coin glossaries that will help the new collector learn the lingo. The pictures of coins on the Internet are generally much clearer than the photographs in a coin book. This helps assure proper grading and valuation of coins for sale. The Internet also affords chat rooms and bulletin boards that will be helpful in answering questions and locating specific coins.
If you are looking to increase the value of your collection by 20% in two months, http://topcoincollectingtips.com is the best place to find coin collecting tips, tricks and secrets. Free reports and ebooks on the website are up for grabs.

David Hall has been collecting coins for many years and his book is a list of the things he has learned.

Infamous Shipwreck Coins

2009-03-02T09:20:00.001-08:00

For collectors, some of the most infamous and sought after coins are those rumored to have been recovered from shipwrecks. Intrigue and legend greatly increase the interest in such coins. The coins are no longer simply beautiful artifacts or pieces of history, they are sunken treasure. The thought of owning something that ended up at the bottom of the sea after a tragic and dramatic occurrence appeals to many. Countless shipwrecks are rumored to have gone down with invaluable coins. For instance, the Civil War Era’s S.S. Republic sunk in the Atlantic Ocean during a hurricane in 1865, Amongst the cargo were thousands of U.S. coins. Some of these coins will go for over $100,000 each at auction.

Spanish coins are some of the most commonly found coins originating from shipwrecks. This is because many Spanish galleons were lost at sea in the process of bringing silver and gold from the New World to Spain. The most infamous of these ships, the Nuestra Senora de Atocha, sunk off the coast of Florida in 1622. Care must be taken in purchasing sunken treasure coins. Not all are as valuable as those from the S.S. Republic. In fact, some actually are worth less than what they were worth at the time of issuance. The short-term excitement that goes along with the discovery of sunken treasure often causes prices to be temporarily inflated. Oftentimes the surfaces of these coins have been so corroded that they are rendered worthless. Expert coin collectors become quite adept at identifying and purchasing sunken treasure coins that hold great value, as well as knowing when to ignore those that will quickly lose their worth. The US is host to a number of excellent museums that contain authentic shipwreck plunder. The El Cazador Museum in Grand Bay, Alabama sells sets of Spanish gold coins recovered from the infamous wreck. The displays also contain glimpses of the ship’s fittings and items from everyday life at the time of the wreck.

Located on Fenwick Island in Delaware, the Discover Sea Shipwreck Museum features artifacts from some of the wrecks that occurred in the DelMarVa peninsula area. They also offer some great information on the so-called “coin beaches” in the area, on which coin collectors often find artifacts from shipwrecks of long ago. Highlights include a blown glass hourglass salvaged from a two centuries old shipwreck in the Bermuda Triangle.

Authentic 1715 coins can be purchased from the Atocha Treasure Company in Key West. Among the items available are jewelry made from the coins. The company also offers an appraisal service for Atocha shipwreck plunder. The Internet is a great source for shipwreck coins too, and brokers abound offering authentic shipwreck booty. But use care when dealing with online brokers, or mail order companies, and check to be sure that the dealer is reputable and reliable. The Professional Numismatic Guild is a non-profit organization whose goal is to protect coin collectors from fraud and misrepresentation. Their member dealers must have a verified amount of over $100,000 in numismatic assets before they can join, and all members are full-time coin dealers with an average of more than 25 years of experience in the field. A great advantage to finding a dealer through the PNG is their arbitration process; an unbiased third-party arbitrator will handle any disputes arising from a purchase from one of their members. View their complete member list settle any at the Guild website at www.pngdealers.com. And remember before parting with your hard earned “gold,” know the value of what you are buying so you don’t end up being pirated!
If you are looking to increase the value of your collection by 20% in two months, http://topcoincollectingtips.com is the best place to find coin collecting tips, tricks and secrets. Free reports and ebooks on the website are up for grabs.

David Hall has been collecting coins for many years and his book is a list of the things he has learned.

Infamous Shipwreck Coins

Numismatic Resources

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Infamous Shipwreck Coins

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Infamous Shipwreck Coins

Numismatic Resources

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Infamous Shipwreck Coins

FREECoin Collecting MiniCourse

FREECoin Collecting

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FREECoin Collecting

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