History

The Sheldon Rarity Scale and other ways to define rarity in coins - I've counted 13 scales proposed for defining rarity in coins. Only a few are well accepted and none are as universally accepted as the Sheldon scale for grading coins. Perhaps the most common rarity scale is also an adaptation of Sheldon's scale.

Kings and Queens of England from 1066 - Kings and Queens of England from 1066

How American Coinage Started - American Coinage began soon after the Declaration of Independence. Up until then European coins were being used and one ounce of silver was considered to be one dollar.

Edgar Bertram Mackennal, Sculptor (1863-1931) - Bertram Mackennal was a coin designer, known especially for the portrait and other coin designs of King George V.

Samuel Johnson and the 2005 50p Coin – Johnson’s Dictionary - In 2005 the Royal Mint issued a 50 pence coin into general circulation in the UK to commemorate the 250th Anniversary of Samuel Johnson’s Dictionary of the English Language. So who was Samuel Johnson and why was his dictionary special?

Metals used in Modern British Coins - What are the metals used in coins? Gold and silver are no longer used and the cheaper metals alloys used have also been changing.

The Early Development of US Silver Dollars - The American colonies started out with none of their own coinage, so they used foreign coins. At the time of the revolution, all coins in America were rare. Britain simply didn't supply the colonies with money. So in the Articles of Confederation of 1781, individual states were allowed to coin money.

Glossary of Numismatic Terms - Numismatics is the study of coin collecting and it also has its own language with many words and terms. Our Glossary of Numismatic Terms give the explanation to some of these coin collecting words.

What is the Trial of the Pyx? - The Trial of the Pyx is an annual ceremony conducted since the 12th century in which the coins of the UK (minted by the Royal Mint) are tested to check if the coins have the correct metallic content, weight and size.

The United States Coinage Act of 1792 - The United States Coinage Act of 1792 (or Mint Act) was "An Act establishing a Mint, and regulating the Coins of the United States". It created the United States Silver Dollar as the standard money and lawful tender of the United States, together with a decimal system for US currency.