Coin Curator Blog
Insights on graded US coins. Market analysis, education, and investment guides for numismatists.
How to Spot a Counterfeit or Doctored Coin
Counterfeits have gotten good — but most still fail basic physics. A scale, a caliper, and a few minutes of looking will catch the overwhelming majority, plus the two scams (added mintmarks, fake slabs) you must know.
Best Key-Date Coins Under $500 to Buy First
You don’t need five figures to own famous key dates. Seven real, recognized keys you can buy graded for a few hundred dollars or less — the smart on-ramp into serious collecting.
MS-63 vs MS-65 vs MS-67: Which Grade to Actually Buy
A single point on the Sheldon scale can double a coin’s price. Where the value lives, where the “price cliffs” hit, and how to pick the right grade for your budget and goals.
Where to Buy Graded Coins: eBay vs APMEX vs Heritage vs GreatCollections
Four ways to buy the same slabbed coin — a global marketplace, a fixed-price dealer, a white-glove auction house, and a low-fee certified-coin auctioneer. Which to use, when, and the buyer-premium math that actually decides your price.
Buying Graded Coins Online: The Complete 2026 Guide
A slabbed coin removes two of the three big risks — authenticity and over-grading. The step-by-step process for buying with confidence: verify the cert, judge the photos, compare marketplaces, and avoid the red flags.
Best Dealers for Graded Coins in 2026
APMEX, JM Bullion, Monument Metals, Heritage, Stack's Bowers, GreatCollections, and David Lawrence. Where to buy what — and the fees, return policies, and dealer reputations that matter.
Junk Silver vs Graded Silver: Which Is the Better Hold?
Pre-1965 US silver coins (junk silver) trade on melt value plus a small premium. Graded examples of the same coins trade on numismatics. Which strategy actually wins long-term?
Modern Commemoratives Worth Collecting
Most modern US commemoratives trade at issue price forever. A handful break out — the 1995-W Olympic Gold $5, the 2014 Baseball HOF curved coins, and the 2019 Apollo curved gold. We name names.
The 1933 Double Eagle: $18.9 Million History Lesson
Only one 1933 Double Eagle is legal to own. The other 12 known specimens were ordered destroyed by the government. The smuggling, court fights, and final 2021 sale at auction.
The 1804 Silver Dollar: King of American Coins
No 1804-dated dollars were struck in 1804 — they were minted in 1834 as diplomatic gifts. Only 15 known. The last sold for $7.68M. The 230-year story of the most prestigious US coin.
Mercury Dime Guide: the 1916-D & Full Bands
One of the most beautiful US coins. Most dates are pocket-change cheap, but the 1916-D key and the “Full Bands” strike designation turn this affordable series into a real pursuit.
1909-S VDB Lincoln Penny: The Most Famous Penny
484,000 minted. Pulled from production after 11 days over designer's initials. PCGS MS-65 RD trades $5,500 — worth 8,000x its weight in gold. The penny that started a series.
American Silver Eagle: Modern Bullion Investing
Launched 1986. The most-purchased modern bullion coin in US history. Trades near spot for common dates, but key dates and high-graded proofs unlock 5-50x premiums.
Bust Half Dollars (1807-1839): Affordable Vintage
For ~$200, you can own a coin struck before the Civil War. Bust Half Dollars are the most accessible early American silver — and a deep specialist community has documented every die variety.
Walking Liberty Set Building
65 issues, 1916-1947. Adolph A. Weinman design. A complete uncirculated set ranges from $25K (basic) to $500K+ (registry tier). The strategic roadmap.
Barber Coinage: Collecting Dimes, Quarters & Halves
One Liberty-head design across three denominations (1892–1916). Affordable Victorian-era silver as a type set — plus legendary keys like the 1894-S dime and the 1901-S quarter.
Buffalo Nickel Key Dates & Varieties
1913-1938. James Earle Fraser design. Half a dozen famous key dates, two iconic die varieties (Three-Legged Buffalo, Two-Feathers), and one of the most beloved aesthetics in US coinage.
Peace Dollar Collecting Guide
One of the most attainable classic US silver dollars. The 24-coin date set is within reach, while the 1921 High Relief, low-mintage 1928, and condition-rarity 1934-S give it depth.
Carson City Mint: Why CC Coins Command Premiums
Carson City Mint operated 1870-1885 + 1889-1893. Coins from the silver mined down the road. Low mintages, frontier-era history, and the iconic CC mint mark — the most romantic coins in US numismatics.
Lincoln Cent Key Dates & Varieties
The longest-running US design and the series that hooks most collectors. The 1909-S VDB, 1914-D, 1922 No-D, and the 1955 Doubled Die — the dates and varieties where the value lives.
Morgan Dollar Key Dates and Varieties
Six key dates separate Morgans worth $30 from Morgans worth $150,000+. The 1893-S, 1895 Proof-only, 1889-CC, and the VAM varieties most collectors miss until it's too late.
Error Coins Worth Thousands: Spotting Mint Mistakes
Off-center strikes, double dies, mules, and broadstrikes can turn a face-value coin into a five-figure asset. The taxonomy of error coins and which categories the market actually rewards.
Saint-Gaudens Double Eagle: A Collector’s Guide
The most beautiful US coin and one of the most collectible pre-1933 golds. The major types (Ultra High Relief, High Relief, No Motto, With Motto), the famous keys, and how to buy common dates well.
Reading PCGS TrueView Images Like a Pro
PCGS TrueView photos reveal what the eye misses: hairlines, scratches, color, originality. How to spot dipped coins, harshly cleaned surfaces, and authenticity red flags from the photo alone.
Pre-1933 Gold Coin Investing: A Complete Guide
Saint-Gaudens, Liberty Heads, Indian Heads. Pre-1933 US gold has outperformed bullion by 4-7% annually for two decades. The grades that work, the dates to watch, and the dealers to trust.
What Makes a Coin a “Key Date” — and Why It Drives Value
Same series, same design — one coin is worth $20, the other $20,000. The difference is the date and mintmark. The supply-vs-demand logic behind key dates, and why they anchor a series’ value.
Building a US Type Set
One coin of each major US design ever issued. A 20th Century type set runs ~$8K; complete 1792-present runs $200K+. The classic numismatic project — and our strategic roadmap.
CAC Stickers Explained: Do They Add Value?
That small green (or gold) bean on a PCGS/NGC slab is a CAC sticker — a second opinion that a coin is solid-to-premium for its grade. What it means, the green-vs-gold difference, and when it’s worth paying for.
Bullion vs Numismatics: When to Buy Which
Modern American Gold Eagles trade near spot. A 1907 Saint-Gaudens MS-65 trades at 130% over its gold content. Different products, different risk profiles. We map when each makes sense.
Slabbed vs Raw: When Each Makes Sense
Slabs cost $30-300 to produce but unlock 30-150% premiums. They also hide some defects and freeze problem coins forever. When grading is the right call, when it's not, and the math.
PCGS vs NGC vs ANACS: Which Grading Service for Coins?
PCGS dominates US coins at 65% market share — its slabs command the highest premiums. NGC is a strong second with comparable accuracy. ANACS holds a niche in detail grading. We compare turnaround, premiums, and the math.