By Eric Von Klinger for COIN WORLD

A high mintage does not always ensure that a coin is common, nor do low mintages necessarily equate with high prices.

Although they tend to learn these truisms early, today’s collectors might be astounded to find that standard catalogs relegated mintage figures to appendices until well into the latter part of the 20th century. The figures were generally ignored until Wayte Raymond’s Standard Catalog of United States Coins first appeared in the 1930s; the book copied U.S. Mint tables, which expressed amounts in dollar and cent totals rather than number of coins. A Guide Book of United States Coins (the “Red Book”) similarly partitioned mintages from valuations until the 1960s. Read Full Story

Sometimes it’s the little things in life that throw you the biggest curve.

Most everyone has been admonished at one time in their life to be aware of the “fine print” on documents. But what do you know about the fine print on coins?

A reader e-mailed recently to ask: “Why does the design on the Wyoming quarter appear to have a tiny three-letter mark just above the ‘m’ of unum?”

That “fine print” or three-letter mark on the Wyoming quarter represents the initials of the U.S. Mint Sculptor-Engraver, who executed the design. In the case of the Wyoming coin, that would be Norman E. Nemeth, who “signs” his State quarter designs nen.

Often collectors are confused by the designer’s initials on a U.S. coin; some mistake it for a Mint mark.

Two- or three-letter initials appear somewhere in the design of each of the 45 State quarter designs now in circulation. Those initials identify the Mint sculptor-engraver who worked on the coin. Read Full Story

A large bourse with strong public attendance has made Whitman’s Coin & Collectibles Convention in Baltimore – held three times annually – one of the country’s most active coin shows. The Nov. 16 to 18 show demonstrated that the coin market is vibrant in nearly all segments.

Business was brisk for dealers trading in inexpensive circulated coins. Not enough nice high-end coins are available on the market to satisfy demand.

Stack’s conducted a successful preshow auction. Q. David Bowers, of Stack’s, remarked that the room could have been empty (it was well attended) and the auction still would have been successful because of Internet and telephone bidding. Read Full Article

By Jeff Starck COIN WORLD Staff

In determining whether a given coin has “eye appeal,” it all depends on the person you ask. To some, it’s a simple matter of taste, but to others, it’s so obvious as to have specific requirements and characteristics that a coin must meet.

The fact is, eye appeal is neither that loosely defined nor that strictly determined. The truth lies somewhere in the middle.

A definition

Without getting too far ahead of ourselves, simply put, in determining a coin’s grade, eye appeal is the element that “grabs” the viewer. Eye appeal is the overall look of a coin, according to a “coin lingo” guide at the Professional Coin Grading Service Web site.

Coin World columnist Q. David Bowers wrote in an April 9 column this year that, “eye appeal is a matter of opinion, but if a coin appears to be beautiful to your eyes, chances are good that when your collection is sold someday, buyers will feel likewise.”

In an earlier column, in the Feb. 5 issue, Bowers provides some questions to ask about a coin to determine its eye appeal. “Is the coin richly lustrous, or is it grainy or ‘greasy’ in appearance? Are there stains or spots? Is it dull gray, brown or even black? In a word, is it beautiful? Does it beckon, saying to you, ‘Buy me!’ ” Read Full Article