Here on iTaggit, we have many successful coin collectors who have some pretty amazing collections.  There are some collections that the owners have made public, but many others that remain private for personal reasons.  Luckily for all of us, user mgood has made his coin collection public!  I had a chance to browse around a bit and found a very nice coin that exemplifies the appeal of coin collecting.

Pictured at right is a 1928 Peace Dollar, straight from mgood's collection of US coins.  It is in mint condition and has never been in circulation.  It is amazing to me that something worth only $1 at face value is worth $570 after only 80 years of appreciation!!  This is the kind of return collectors look for on their items, and much of the reason for collecting these types of things in the first place (aside from that warm, fuzzy feeling you get when you finally have found that last piece that completes the collection).  To view the collection, just click here!

If you would like your item or collection highlighted, feel free to message me or go ahead and blog about it!

Happy collecting!

Chris 

I would like to sell my collection of Morgan Silver Dollars. I am havin trouble finding a coin dealer or collector who would like to buy them. I have 7 of them with dates from 1880-1921. Some have mint markings. I have an 1880 with an S mint mark, a 1892 with an O mint mark, a 1904 with an O mint mark and a 1921 with an S mint mark.

There have been multiple ship wreck discoveries in 2007 that have yielded large amounts of buried treasure, so to speak, but the code-named “Black Swan” is one of the most impressive. Odyssey Marine Exploration, the world's leader in deep-ocean shipwreck exploration, has recovered 500,000 silver coins, which weigh more than 17 tons, hundreds of gold coins, worked gold, and countless other artifacts. If the results of the conservation and documentation are consistent with speculation, this recovery will constitute the largest collection of coins ever excavated from a historical shipwreck site.
“Our research suggests that there were a number of Colonial period shipwrecks that were lost in the area where this site is located, so we are being very cautious about speculating as to the possible identity of the shipwreck,” said John Morris, Odyssey Co-founder and CEO. “Nevertheless, we have treated this site with kid gloves and the archaeological work done by our team out there is unsurpassed. We are thoroughly documenting and recording the site, which we believe will have immense historical significance.” Although your personal coin collecting might not produce 17 tons worth of material, it is still prudent to manage your collections for future purposes. Good luck finding buried treasure of your own!

According to an article from the Associated Press, an anonymous buyer has paid more than $30 million for a collection of rare U.S. Prototype coins, some from the 1700s, that never went into circulation, according to Laura Sperber, a partner in Legend Numismatics, who brokered the deal. The collection consists of around 1,000 coins that collectors refer to as pattern coins. They all have trial designs on them that never went into production because the U.S. Mint chose others. Gathering such a large collection of pattern coins is difficult because so few were created in the first place, and they were usually supposed to stay in the possession of the Mint, since they were, after all, the rejects. It took the seller about ten years to assemble the coin collection, which spans the period from 1792 to 1942. Highlights of the collection include test designs for the first pennies made in 1792 and six coins from 1872 that are often referred to as “Amazonian” patterns because the female figure portraying liberty is much stronger and regal looking than in earlier versions.
Until 1909, when Abraham Lincoln's face was immortalized on the penny, presidents weren't allowed on coins because, at the time, putting the nation's leader on a coin seemed too similar to the practice of kings being displayed on European coins. “To put an individual on coinage was considered very unrepublican because the people have the power in a republic,” said Douglas A. Mudd, Curator of the American Numismatic Association Money Museum. That wasn't considered the best example for a country less than a decade removed from the Revolutionary War. For more information, check out the original article.
Perhaps the new buyer, who preferred to be referred to as Mr. Simpson for security reasons, will post his new collection to iTaggit and let us help him organize his valuable pieces. 'Til then, be sure to post your coin collection to our gallery, and if you need help with appraisal estimates, enter them into our “What's My Item Worth” collection.

Catherine Olivia

Collecting coins is a hobby that can be enjoyed by anyone of
any age. A lot of coin collectors started as children, with the
help of their parents or grandparents collecting pennies or
dimes. For some coin collecting can become a lifetime hobby.

There are various reasons to collect coins. Some people collect
coins from a specific period of time, some collect coins based
on perceived future value, some collect coins based on type of
metal, some for historical value. Some people happily collect
more common everyday coins, going through their pockets at the
end of the day for them is fun, checking dates and mintmarks on
their change. Some collectors can spend thousands of dollars on
rare silver and gold coins from the 1800's and early 1900's.
Some collect coins from different countries.

With any new hobby comes the learning. As coin collecting is a
hobby involving an outlay of money for coins from the start,
it's best to join a group to get help from experienced
collectors. You will need someone to buy the coins from, and it
can be difficult to find a reputable coin dealer. Someone who
has been coin collecting for years can help you choose a
knowledgeable and honest coin dealer. You'll need to learn
about the value of different coins. This can be done by
following what coins are being sold for, and what dealers are
paying for coins. You will need to be shown how to assess the
true value of a coin which can be based on many factors such as
age, mintmark, and condition.

The mintmark of the coin can usually be found near the date and
on newer coins the mintmarks are as follows: "P" Philadelphia,
"D" Denver, "S" San Francisco,"W" West Point New York. Older
coins may show the following mintmarks: "C" Charlotte North
Carolina, "CC" Carson City Nevada, "D" Dahlonega Georgia, "O"
New Orleans. It's interesting to note that from 1793 to 1838
the only mint in operation in the US was in Philadelphia and
coins from these years have no mintmark.

As you become a more experienced coin collector your "eye" will
mature and you'll be looking more closely at details like the
lettering on a coin, making sure the letters are still clear
and not worn down. You'll pay attention to the general
condition of a coin, and you may stray away from coins that
have a lot of obvious wear and tear. These are a part of
grading a coin. You'll learn to look for minting errors which
can make a coin quite collectible. For example a three legged
buffalo instead of a four legged one, or perhaps an
off-centered image.

As with any hobby, the more you learn about coin collecting the
more you'll be able to enjoy it.

About The Author: This article courtesy of
http://www.gold-coins-guide.net