The United States was nearly 100 years old before it issued its first paper money for general circulation. Until 1862, coins were used as the official currency of the country. Today most people don’t give much thought to what’s on a paper bill other than the number that says what it’s worth and mayb...

Sadly, any time there are large amounts of money to be made, crooks are nearby, trying to figure out how to make a fast buck. Given that billions of dollars change hands every year in the silver and gold coin and bullion business, it’s not surprising that it attracts thieves of all stripes, from pet...

When Japan attacked Pearl Harbor, the nation reeled in shock and fear of imminent invasion of the Hawaiian Islands spread. Concerned that if such an invasion were successful, large amounts of U.S. currency would fall into enemy hands, the government sought measures to prevent it. On January 10, 1942...

People collect all sorts of things for all sorts of reasons. From bottle caps to Beanie Babies, for fun and for profit, collecting can be a rewarding hobby, a rewarding business, or both. And few collections are as fascinating—and potentially profitable—as coins. To be sure, collecting coins for fin...

The U.S. Mint continued its release of 2017 collector coins with the March 2 launch of the American Gold Eagle Proof coins. Unlike the investor-grade bullion coins, these collector-quality coins have a frosted proof-quality finish and mirror-like fields. Beautiful Design Combines Old and New The coi...

Metal coins have been around for thousands of years. They’re small, convenient, and easy to recognize. And until recently, they usually represented a specific amount of precious or semi-precious metal—typically gold, silver or copper. On the other hand, large quantities can be heavy and hard to hand...

2016 $1 American Silver Eagle MS70 PCGS The first question to ask yourself before buying silver coins (or any others, for that matter) is whether you’re buying them for their monetary (bullion) or collectible (numismatic) value. The goals may be similar—building wealth, for example—but the tactics a...

Fiat money is one of three basic types of currency. Commodity money has intrinsic value in itself—a piece of silver, a diamond, or a goat. When commodity money is used, it’s basically a barter transaction. Representative money is more like a promissory note. The issuer says the coin or note represen...