Coin and stamp news
 

Before You Buy Used Stamps
Stamp collectors need to be cautious and perform some due diligence before purchasing used stamps - particularly when seeking to buy rare or very expensive stamps. Here are some of the more important considerations to keep in mind in this...

Determining the Grade of a Coin
condition or quality of a coin. It is essential to know what the grade of a particular coin is, because, as a general matter, the higher the grade of a coin, the higher its numismatic value....

Greto Garbo Stamp to be Issued
On September 23, five days after the 100th anniversary of her birth, the U.S. Postal Service will unveil a Garbo stamp at the Scandinavia House here in New York; it'll be a joint issue with the Swedish Post, which will...

What Determines a Coin's Value?
Many collectors have come across a particular coin from time to time and wondered whether they had something of great value in their possession. This feature describes the main factors influencing a coin's value and provides some guidance in obtaining...

Stamp Basics for Beginning and Experienced Stamp Collectors
Here is some basic stamp collecting information for beginning and experienced stamp collectors....

Hundreds Gather at Iwaco, Washington for new Lewis and Clark Nickel
The Associated Press reports that more than 1,000 people crowded parking lots at Cape Disappointment State Park to witness release of the shiny new "Ocean in View" nickel, which marks the arrival of the Lewis and Clark expedition at the...

Interesting U.S. Coin Facts & Trivia
Here are some randomly selected U.S. coin facts and trivia which may be of interest to collectors....

The Canadian Maple Leaf Gold Coin
The Canadian Maple Leaf gold coin is regarded by many as the world's most beautiful, legal tender, bullion coin. It is also the purest gold coin of regular issue in the world, with a gold content of .9999 (24...

Commemorative Coins to be Struck for Veterans of Two Wars
The U.S. Mint will be minting special coins that commemorate the 60th anniversary of the end of World War II and the 30th anniversary of the end of the Vietnam War.The World War II coin will feature the words "Freedom"...

U.S. Postal Service Issues Stamps Depicting Mickey Mouse & Friends
The U.S. Postal Service recently issued a set of four stamps depicting classic Disney characters bringing the party to life. Celebration stamps feature Mickey Mouse and Pluto, Alice and the Mad Hatter, Ariel and Flounder and Snow White and Dopey....

United States Mint to Produce 24-Karat Gold Bullion Investment Coins
The United States Mint recently announced that it will develop a program to manufacture 24-karat (99.99% fineness) uncirculated gold bullion investment coins in early 2006. This will mark the first time that the United States Mint will produce 24-karat gold...

New Mexican Stamps Thought Offensive to Blacks
Cnn.com reports that the Mexican government has issued a postage stamp depicting an exaggerated black cartoon character known as Memin Pinguin, just weeks after remarks by President Vicente Fox angered U.S. blacks. Read more......

Top 5 Stamp Collecting Books
Here is my recommended list of 5 top stamp collecting reference books which every serious stamp collector should consider acquiring....

24c "Inverted Jenny" Airmail Stamp of 1918 Commands Record Price
A rare U.S. stamp from a botched batch - depicting an upside-down airplane - has been sold at auction for $525,000, the highest-ever price for a 20th-century U.S. stamp. The stamps depict a Curtiss JN-4 "Jenny," a First World War...

Rare Nickel Sells for $4 Million
A rare 1913 Liberty Head 5 cent coin recently sold Thursday for $4.15 million - the second-highest price ever paid for a rare coin. Legend Numismatics, a coin dealership in Lincroft, New Jersey, bought it from collector Ed Lee of...