World Coins
Buying Your First Ancient Coin: A Simple Timeline
A stage-by-stage timeline for buying your first ancient coin, from learning the market and setting a budget to checking authenticity before you pay.
Buying and Selling
When to Get a Coin Professionally Graded (and When to Skip It)
A step-by-step timeline for deciding when professional coin grading is worth the fee and when the cost exceeds any possible gain in value.
Getting Started
If Your Coins Have Green Crust on Them
Found green residue on a stored coin? Learn what PVC damage is, how to isolate affected coins, and why scrubbing or soaking makes the problem worse.
Albums and Supplies
What Coin Collecting Supplies Really Cost
A plain-English breakdown of what beginner coin supplies cost, from folders and flips to magnifiers and storage, so you can start without overspending.
Getting Started
What a Coin Appraisal Really Costs
Dealer evaluations are often free, but written appraisals for estates or insurance can cost $75 to $500 or more. Here is what to expect and how to pay less.
Getting Started
Coin Roll Hunting: How to Search Bank Rolls for Finds
How coin roll hunting works: getting rolls from your bank, what to search for inside them, and how to return searched coins without upsetting tellers.
U.S. Coins
Silver Dollar Terms to Know Before You Buy
A plain-English glossary of Morgan and Peace dollar terms, from CC mint marks and VAM varieties to bag marks, toning and DMPL surfaces.
Paper Money
What to Check Before You Buy Paper Money Online
A beginner’s pre-purchase checklist for buying banknotes online: photo angles, grading terms, serial numbers, prices, seller red flags and return terms.
Albums and Supplies
A Timeline for Upgrading Your Coin Storage
A stage-by-stage timeline for upgrading coin storage, from the first jar of finds to flips, folders, albums, capsules, safes and bank safe deposit boxes.
Albums and Supplies
A Timeline for Replacing Old Coin Holders and Flips
What to replace right away, what can wait a month, and what can safely sit for a year, plus how to spot PVC damage and choose inert storage.