By Mark Ferguson for COIN VALUES

While multimillion dollar coins and multimillion dollar coin deals are the stuff of pipe dreams for most of us, we still delight in viewing such coins when they’re displayed. A typical first-time reaction is to tremble when given the opportunity to hold and examine one of these trophy coins, even if it’s in a holder.

Coin dealer Julian Leidman, no stranger to trophy coins, told me about 30 years ago: “After a while they’re all the same,” meaning handling and making deals in such coins becomes routine, just like handling much more common coins.

The late Elvira Clain-Stephanelli, former executive director and curator of the Smithsonian Institution’s National Numismatic Collection, once said, while showing me a 1913 Liberty 5-cent coin, an 1804 Draped Bust silver dollar and other notable pieces, “They’re just pieces of metal.” Read Full Article

By Mark Ferguson

Investors and hobbyists pursue the American Eagle series of bullion coins for different reasons.

Hard-money types are looking for an economic hedge when they obtain gold, silver and platinum pieces in various sizes.

While the collector may enjoy building a portfolio of hard assets, other motivations are also involved. The numismatically inclined often seek to build a complete set of American Eagles.

For a number of dedicated hobbyists, the ultimate in quality – as in Mint State 70 or Proof 70 – is the goal. While few American Eagles leave the U.S. Mint in less than MS-68 or Proof 68, a “perfect” 70 can be elusive. Read Full Article