Unlike most pieces of decorative arts offered at auction houses across the country, the number of coins produced by series, year, and mint is well documented by the governing bodies that created them. This allows for fairly consistent estimations of rarity. With the introduction of third-party grading in the 1970s and 80s came a standardized system in which a coin’s condition is assigned a numerical value. This led to an accurate estimation of a coin’s worth based on what examples at the assigned grade had previously sold for.… Read More

The February 2020 Skinner Coins and Currency auction offered choice older collections; and experienced spirited bidding with many lots far surpassing their high estimates, with particularly strong results for ancient and world coins, with American rarities, peppered throughout the auction. The auction was 99% sold by lot. Three of the more prominent collections were amassed in the mid-20th century, creating excitement with our buyers for such fresh-to-market material.  

Approximately 128 Mostly Roman and Byzantine Ae Coins, sold for $11,250 1940 Greek George II Proof 100 Drachmai, NGC PF65, sold for $2,125

Some of the more notable groups of ancient Greek and Roman coins included denarii of Cleopatra, Julius Caesar, Cassius, and Marc Antony (lot 1002), and sestertii of Nero, Trajan, Caligula, and Nerva (lot 1008).… Read More

While much of numismatics and connoisseurship focuses around type, years, mintages, and condition, there are other nuances worth considering while enjoying coin collecting. Many individuals build their collections around a type that they enjoy, whether that be the Morgan dollar series, Barber coinage, or period, such as the early Federal era. From here, they attempt to collect each year, mintmark, and major/minor variety, sometimes with a focus on pieces in mint state, other times just what they can afford at the time.… Read More

Coins are the most widely collected forms of currency and represent the largest number of lots in this online-only auction. Numerous examples of paper currency, tokens, medals and stamps are also included. Over 1,000 lots are being offered, spanning many centuries and a great diversity of countries and cultures. The auction opens on Thursday, August 17 at 10AM and begins closing on Friday, August 25 at 2PM.

As with all categories of antiques and collectibles, coins and other types of currency appeal to collectors for many reasons: rarity, age, historic significance, artistic merit, personal associations, and investment potential.… Read More

One of the largest nuisances in the field of numismatics is detecting counterfeits. Dealers and collectors alike can still find themselves susceptible to coins and currency meant to deceive. Everybody has a story from when they were duped or made mistakes regarding valuable pieces or even seemingly insignificant ones. Every now and then, we see counterfeit pieces brought in by consignors who are unaware of the item they have. Here are a few easy tips to make sure your coins are original.… Read More

Carson City Morgan dollars are some of the most iconic coins in American numismatics. The Morgan dollar series in and of itself is highly collectible, obtaining staggering prices for higher end pieces. However, coins from the Carson City Mint, bearing the “CC” mintmark, have always excited numismatists, especially Morgan collectors. The branch mint produced only thirteen years of Morgan dollars, while the whole series experienced twenty-eight years of issue.… Read More