It is often said that beginning coin collectors should "buy the book before you buy the coin." There are many excellent reasons why new collectors are told this. It is often said that "knowledge is power." That is especially true in numismatics. And acquiring knowledge, especially for novice coin collectors, can help them make smart decisions. Those.

Successful bids and ill-advised purchases help clarify the age-old dilemma.

The American monetary system has been evolving for more than two centuries, with some interesting twists and turns along the way. Did you know that in addition to the familiar cent and nickel, at one time or another five additional coins circulated with a value of five cents or less? Or that for a short time in the 19th century, Americans had the.