This lowly, seemingly insignificant denomination teaches much about history, art and numismatics.

When it comes to legal tender, there are two, related paradoxes in numismatics.

We all make certain assumptions about money. We assume that there will be enough currency and coin to complete any transaction, that we can spend and receive money without difficulty or doubt, and that money will hold its value over short spans of time.

World banknotes represent a tangible connection to history and culture around the world, offering numerous enjoyable opportunities for those who want to travel the globe through numismatics.

More than just geographic neighbors, the three major nations of North America have shared numerous historical and contemporary experiences – including in the realm of numismatics.

Originally published in The Numismatist, November 2003

Originally published October 2019

It happened so gradually that it may not be immediately noticeable, but today’s American coin designs are symbolically quite different from their predecessors. It used to be a good bet that a circulating coin would have a portrayal of Liberty on the obverse, and a rendering of an eagle on the reverse. But these days, allegories of Liberty and images of.

Originally printed in The Numismatist

Every New Year brings reflections and resolutions, but the arrival of a year ending in “0” is especially noteworthy. Decades are natural markers of experience – long enough to have distinct identities, but brief enough to have meaning on a human scale. If the 2020s will be your first full decade as a coin collector, or if you’d just like a capsule.