Let’s say you’re going through some old coins and one of the Indian Head nickels catches your eye. Something’s not quite right. On closer inspection, you notice the man portrayed on the front of the coin is wearing a cap instead of the usual feathered braid. Or has a beard. What sort of coin is this...

Collectible coins can pack a lot of value in a small package. Thousand-dollar dimes are common, and million-dollar pennies are out there. And with hundreds of auctions every month and countless private sales, nailing down an exact worth of a coin is trying to hit a fast-moving target. To compile thi...

In 1622, twenty-eight Spanish galleons laden with gold and silver from Mexican mines set sail from Havana to ride the Caribbean current past Florida and onto Spain. Sailing single-file, the last of the ships were caught by a hurricane and sank, taking an estimated $700 million in treasure to the oce...

There are many different places to acquire coins for your collection—pocket change, coin rolls, coin dealers, other collectors, and coin shows among them. But if you want to hang out with the high-rollers, go to a live coin auction. Coin auctions are where the rarest, and most expensive, coins turn ...

Whether you’re branching out from collecting modern coins or going ancient from the start, these relics from days gone by offer a fascinating look into the past and give context to the coins we use today. The Earliest Coins Gold and silver have been used for trading in one form or another for over 4...

A US one-cent coin was approved by the Continental Congress in 1787, five years before the US Mint was created by an act of the US Congress. It was designed (probably) by Benjamin Franklin, made of 100% copper, and carried the motto “Fugio,” Latin for “I fly,” on its face, which gave it it’s popular...

Everyone’s heard stories of Picassos found in attics. Whether they’re true or not, there’s one item that you’re a lot more likely to stumble across and that can be worth nearly as much—old money. Valuable coins and currency have been found in all sorts of unusual places, from desk drawers to forgott...

Back in the day, kids used to get a kick out of taking a penny, putting it on a railroad track, and wait for a train to come by and squash it. Of course, they probably couldn’t spend it afterwards, but still, it was loads of fun. So what can you do if your money is squashed, torn, or otherwise mutil...