Coin Profiles: US Twenty Cent Coin

Coin collecting is a hobby that has stood the test of time. Often called as numismatics, people all over the world have fallen in love with collecting coins that tell a story or has more perceived value than what meets the eye.

In old manuscripts about the Roman Empire, it was depicted that Emperor Augustus collected coins that were old and foreign to his land. It can be said that this hobby was only afforded by royalty as it was not cheap to buy and trade these coins.

As years go by, the hobby of collecting coins has gone widespread, reaching almost every nook and cranny. Most beginners would start with affordable coins and once their collection grows, move up to collecting those that has more than just face value.

One of the more interesting coins that numismatists, or people who collect coins, look for is the US Twenty-cent piece. This coin was struck from 1875 to 1878. Quite amusing is the fact that the last two years when these coins are produced were reserved only for coin collectors!

This coin has proven to be quite a failure because it was confused for the already existing quarter dollar coin during that time. The two coins looked identical in size with the twenty-cent piece measuring 22 mm and quarter coin at 24.3 mm. Both coins feature the Liberty Seated design on their obverse or front sides and an almost same eagle on its reverse side. This resulted to poor demand, which prompted the abolishment of this certain coin by 1878.

The US Twenty-cent piece was designed by William Barber and weighed 5 grams. It is composed of 90% silver and 10% copper. More than its metal composition, this coin is more memorable for its history, being one of the coins with the shortest mintages in the history of America.

As you see, there are a lot of things that you can learn about culture, history, and the people behind the minting of coins in different parts of the world. That is the reason why coin-collecting is not only a hobby but a tool on preserving a little piece of history in our hands.

If you want to start on your first coin collection or wanting to grow your current one, it is important to have a reliable partner who can help you expand your hobby further. Colonial Acres Coins has been in the industry for more than two decades of helping people find that prized coin that will complete their collection or to provide resources for those who want to start on the craft. If you want to start on numismatics, visit Colonial Acres today and learn the tricks of the trade the fastest way!

Increasing the Value of Your Rare Coins

Are you planning on selling your collection or purchasing coins for the purpose of reselling them? It is important to know the value of the coins you purchase and the techniques for proper preservation. Doing so helps you get the ideal price for your collection when you decide to sell them.

Increasing the value of your rare coins also gets you a decent profit once you sell them.

How do you increase the value of your collection?

Avoid Cleaning Rare Coins
A rare coin has higher value when you leave it as it is. When you clean it using an abrasive or cleaning detergent, you remove its natural color, reducing its coin value. A rare coin gets hairlines or scratches and will lose its natural luster when you clean it thoroughly. Cleaning it will cost you more than half its uncleaned original value.

Cleaning a coin and selling it to a collector will not get you the value you want. A keen eye will quickly and easily detect the difference between a cleaned and an uncleaned coin.

Cleaned pennies have an unnatural, orange hue and will have blotches or streaks of color. Silver coins have an unusual and uniform grey color when cleaned. Generally, cleaned coins have a uniform reflectivity that they would normally not have.

Store the Coins Properly
Rare coins retain or increase in value when you store them properly. Scratched, marred and blotched coins lower their value that is why it is important to keep them in a holder.

Holders protect your coins from the elements and from falling. There are different kinds of holders such as 2x2 cardboards, plastic and Mylar holders just to name a few. These holders have their pros and cons, and varying price ranges. Look for one that is within your budget and can store your growing collection.

For advanced collectors there are AirTite, binders, tubes and albums. These storage supplies are pricier, but will preserve a larger collection better. AirTite holders are similar to 2x2 plastic holders but are round instead of square.

Get an Appraiser for Your Collection
There are certain coins that do well in auctions while others do not. With the help of an appraiser, you can find the right buyer and auction to get the most of your collection.

They also help you inspect and authenticate rare coins in your collection. You do not want to find yourself in a situation where you try to sell a counterfeit or severely damaged coin to another collector.

These are some of the ways to increase the coin value of your rare collectibles. Collecting coins can be a profitable hobby, only if you know how to store, authenticate and find the right market.

Coin Value 101: Survival Rate

Coin collecting has become a popular hobby for many people, most especially today. With the rise of the Internet, many collectors already have access to loads of information about the coins that they are collecting and there to purchase, trade or sell them.

There are many factors that one should consider when determining your coin value. On top of our list are the following: mintage, survival rate, grade, melt value, and of course, demand.

For today, let us talk a little about survival rate or the surviving population of coins.

The total base number for a certain coin population is its mintage, which is also known as the quantity produced for that particular type of coin. After these coins are produced, they are released to circulation.  There are some instances, though, that these coins become outdated and are pulled out from circulation because of wear and tear. Some survive the test of time and these coins that are still circulating today is known to be its surviving population or survival rate.

Many numismatists would converse on actual survival percentages of coins but there seems to be no precise computation. Initially, the base supply would always go back to its mintage. However, there will be many factors that come into play and research will be your best friend. For example, there might be low mintage for a certain kind of coin. Following this train of thought, you would assume that survival rate will also be lower than the most and will technically be rarer that the rest. However, this does not mean that you have in your hands a high-value coin because other factors such as eye appeal, historical value or melt value may not be attractive to other collectors.

Research is of utmost importance when you are a coin collector because there are many factors that can come into play. While surviving rate can determine the rarity of your coin and its maximum supply, you also need to consider its intrinsic and face value because this will affect demand. It is important to note that despite limited supply, a coin will not have that much value if there is no apparent demand for it.

Numismatic firms like Colonial Acres Coins provide a facility wherein you can purchase coins that can complete your collection. Not only that, they also provide resources and lots of information in their website so you can make an educated guess as to which coin would serve its purpose in your collection. 

Colonial Acres Coins is one of the leading numismatic firms in all of Canada and prides itself by giving collectors the chance to safely purchase coins online. With more than twenty years of dealing with coins, you can rest assured that you have an expert in your hands when you deal with Colonial Acres.

How to properly keep your coin collection

Since medieval times, coins have been used as a symbol for a civilization’s progress and stability. Coins of different content and design represent the civilization’s culture, and because of this, the coin values not only lies in the material they are made of but also the culture they represent. Coin collection has been a hobby of many people, especially the rich and noble in the older times. In the modern era, anyone can have his own coin collection—but not all are capable of preserving them to keep the coin value from depreciating.

Starting your own coin collection requires diligence. Coins are delicate objects, and most are stored for their historical or collector value. Rare coins must be treated with utmost care. Any blemish or tarnished part of a coin can greatly lower its value. Coin collections must be properly stored and handled. Today, we share with you some tips to help you keep your coin collections safe.

1. Whenever you handle coins, make sure you touch only the edges and not the face. Oil and dirt from your hands can cause the coin surface to tarnish.  Wash your hands before handling your coins to remove dirt and oil.
2. Store coins in airtight vessels.  There are a lot of options on what storage vessel you can use, but each has its own pros and cons.

• Cardboard containers lined with clear mylar are the most inexpensive way of storing your coins. However, the plastic can contribute to coin toning and spotting.
• Coin flips also provide good storage means, although they are not airtight. Coins can still slide around in them and this could result to some minor scratches.
• There are popular brands that hold coins and they are made from clear acrylic and non-yellowing agent. They offer an airtight seal, and frame the coin nicely so it doesn’t slide around. This is a good way to store your coins, although it can get a bit expensive.
• Coin slabs are sealed hard plastic holders that are meant for long-term storage and are best used for rare coins. They are very expensive, but still considered as the best way to store coins.

3. Always keep your coin collection in a cool and dry storage area. Heat and moisture can cause corrosion and will greatly affect your coins’ value.

Coin sellers, like Colonial Acres Coins, also sell these storage vessels. Colonial Acres support collectors to store their coins properly by selling them storage boxes and accessories. Colonial Acres has been in business since 1991 and with their expansive and extensive knowledge in coins, you can trust that you will get the best of coins and the best storage option that is meant to protect and preserve the coin value your precious collection.

Colonial Acres Coins is one of the leading numismatic firms in all of Canada and prides itself by giving collectors the chance to safely purchase coins online along with access lots of helpful information through their informative website. Colonial Acres deals in Canadian & US coins and paper.

Things to Avoid Doing to Collectible Coins

Coins collection is a serious hobby and should not be taken lightly. Coins are fragile and are easily exposed to damage, especially those of higher mintage and value. Beginner collectors ought to know how to take care of coins, because there are common misconceptions about cleaning and storing coins. Some may not hold true to all, but if you are collecting high value coins and want to keep the coin values stable, it would be best to know what to avoid doing to your coins.

1. Handling coins with dirty or unsanitized hands

Our hands always carry oils and dirt, and these two can cause great damage to more delicate coins. They can cause minor discoloration, tarnishing and minuscule scratching. The damage may not sound so great to you, especially if you're a beginner--- but always keep in mind that collector and rare coins depreciate greatly in value if exposed to even these little kinds of damage.

2. Cleaning coins

This may sound like a surprise to you, but yes-- cleaning coins will damage them. Every time you clean your coins, you expose them to the air. Metal always deteriorates when exposed to air, since it will oxidize and start to tone. The best thing to do is to store your coins in dust-free and air-proof containers to prolong the coin lifespan. Also, keep cleaning at a minimal rate, and only when necessary.

3. Using saliva to clean coins

Unfortunately, some people believe that saliva is the best cleaning agent for coins. This is a mistake you should avoid. Your saliva could cause discoloration to your coins, so instead of using it, use a trusted cleaning agent by expert coin collectors.

4. Breaking the coin holders

Always make sure your holders are in their best shape. An airproof container that is damaged may no longer be able to protect your coins from discoloration and oxidation. Check your holders for damage and if the damage cannot be repaired, do not hesitate to replace the holder immediately. Otherwise, the coin housed by the holder will tarnish over time because of exposure to dirt and air.

5. Scraping coins against hard surfaces

Coins will most likely result to scratching every time you drag the across a table. Whenever you handle coins and inspect them or clean them, make sure you put the coins on a soft surface. A velvet pad is the best option, although for less expensive alternatives a clean soft cloth will do the job.

Taking on coin collection requires diligence and knowledge about coins. One should not carelessly handle them. Doing so could decrease the value of your coins, and that is one of the many fears of every coin collector.

To be a coin collector is to make sure your coins are safe from damage. Coins dealers such as Colonial Acres Coins also sell various books about coin collection that can greatly influence your habits regarding the subject. So if you want your coins to be in best shape-- drop by and shop at Colonial Acres Coins, and you will not only get top tier coins but also great tips and books to help you preserve your coin collection.

Colonial Acres Coins is one of the leading numismatic firms in all of Canada and prides itself by giving collectors the chance to safely purchase coins online along with access lots of helpful information through their informative website. Colonial Acres deals in Canadian & US coins and paper.