Struck between 1926 and 1939, the Oregon Trail Half Dollar is widely considered America’s most beautiful commemorative coin. Explore the history of Ezra Meeker, the stunning husband-and-wife design, and how this coin became the poster child for numismatic greed.
Long before the Morgan Dollar, the Seated Liberty design dominated 19th-century American commerce. Explore the history of these classic silver coins, from half dimes to silver dollars, and learn why the Mint had to add arrows next to the dates during the California Gold Rush
It is one of the shortest-lived and strangest denominations in US Mint history. Learn how a massive Civil War coin shortage gave birth to the 1864 two-cent piece, and how this heavy copper coin became the very first to bear the iconic motto “In God We Trust.”
In 1896, the United States decided to turn its money into a canvas. Explore the history of the Educational Series, a short-lived set of silver certificates featuring sweeping, edge-to-edge murals that were deemed too beautiful—and too controversial—to survive.
In 1923, it took a wheelbarrow full of cash just to buy a loaf of bread in Germany. Explore the numismatic legacy of the Weimar Republic’s hyperinflation, from emergency porcelain coins (Notgeld) to the legendary 1 Billion Mark coin.
Before the Civil War, local Michigan towns and “Wildcat Banks” printed their own beautiful paper money. Learn the chaotic history behind Obsolete Banknotes, why most of them became worthless paper, and why they are highly prized by local collectors today.
You don’t need a museum to hold Ancient Egyptian history. Explore the coins of the Ptolemaic Dynasty, from massive bronze “hockey pucks” to the historically accurate portraits of the legendary Cleopatra VII.
It is the most common coin in America, but it broke all the rules. Learn the history of the Lincoln Cent, including the infamous 1909-S VDB, the WWII Steel Penny, and why pre-1982 copper pennies are still hoarded today.
Which gold coin should you buy? We break down the “Big Three” international gold bullion coins: the 22-karat Krugerrand, the ultra-pure 24-karat Canadian Maple Leaf, and the beautifully designed Austrian Philharmonic.
Long before modern engraving, Great Depression-era hobos used pocket knives and nails to carve Buffalo Nickels into miniature folk art. Learn the history of the Hobo Nickel, famous artists like “Bo” Hughes, and why these altered coins are so highly collectible today.