For those into Coin Collecting the US Mint has already releases the 2011 proof sets for the year. This is the Silver Proofs that include the 5 different quarters that are being released this year from the America the Beautiful collection. There are also 4 Presidential $1 collection, 1 Native American $1 coin, 1 Kennedy Half Dollar, 1 Jefferson Nickel and One Lincoln Penny included in this set. The asking price form the US Mint is currently at $67.95.

The current price of gold closed in New York on March 24 2011 at $1438.80. This is up nearly $50 in the past 2 months. Those riding the gold boom are still on their way up. This will continue as long as the world’s economies continue to faultier.

Gold has always been the safe haven for investors when the markets are in turbulent times. This should last the remainder of the year. If you have invested in gold coins as an investment, it is time to consider cashing in on your investment before the price drops and the values of your investment diminishes. It might be too soon now, but you need to keep it in mind as the year progresses.

The 2010 American Buffalo one ounce Gold Proof coin is currently listed at the US Mint as selling for $1,710. The Chinese 1 ounce Gold Panda coin for 2011 is currently being sold for $1510.10 if purchased in a bulk set of 10. These are 0.999 pure gold coins.

These are some of the best coins to buy in 2011. It all depends on the reason you are purchasing the coins.

For additional resources on coins, please see Best Coins to Buy 2011. This site and all of its contributors strive to bring you the most accurate information available. If you have any comments to help us improve out site, please leave them. Thank you for visiting.

What is true is that this coin can only be found in the proof sets for that year, but not every set, just a limited number of them. The S is so small that for most people a magnifying glass is needed to see it.

To locate the S, look on the reverse side of the quarter where the eagle is located. In the second row of chest feathers just off center to the eagles left is an S. The top of the S is embedded deeper than the bottom.

Recently there were 1800 coins submitted by collectors to the PCGS for verification they had a superbird coin. Out of all those coins only 11 were found to be authentic.

There were 81,980 proof sets produced that year of which an estimated 15,000 are of then superbird variety. Both the cameo and deep cameo coins are said to contain the S. If you are into coin collecting and looking for this rare coin the time might be well spent. A regular 1952 proof quarter will sell for about $135 in PR 65 or better condition a 1952 Superbird Washington Quarter of the same condition can be worth nearly $425.

There was one of these superbird coins of PR65 (DC) quality that sold of $1639 in July of 2010. So keep your eyes open and your magnifying glass close by when you look at your old coins. You never know what you may find.

For additional resources on coins please see Seated Liberty Half Dollar Guide. This site and all of its contributors strive to bring you the most accurate information available. If you have any comments to help us improve out site please leave them. Thank You for visiting.

The 2010 United States America the Beautiful Quarters Proof Set (Q5A) is available for sale for $14.95. They are made up of blanks that consist of 8.33% nickel and 91.66% cooper. These blanks are feed thru press twice to give them more detail than the coins in circulation. Then they are polished o a high luster finish. These are only minted at the San Francisco mint that is evident with the mark S on them.

The 2010 United States America the Beautiful Quarters Silver Proof Set (SV2) is available for sale for $32.95. These blanks are made of 90% pure silver that has a total weight of silver at 0.904 ounces. Just like the regular proof sets, the silver proof sets are only minted at the San Francisco mint.

At the present time both sets have sold over 100,000 units to the public for coin collecting purposes. These figures were helped since both sets had advance orders of over 70,000 units before they were available to the public.

The quarters included in both sets are the 2010 Hot Springs National Park, 2010 Yellowstone National Park, 2010 Yosemite National Park, Grand Canyon National Park and the Mount Hood National Park Quarters. 

If a set of the circulation coins is more to your liking, the cost of a set of 5 is at $9.99. But since 3 of the coins have yet to be minted and there might be a limited minting of one of the coins, there is no guarantee they will ever be made available directly from the mint.

This is the latest updated news on the America the Beautiful Proof Sets for 2010.

For additional resources on coins please see How to Photograph Coins. This site and all of its contributors strive to bring you the most accurate information available. If you have any comments to help us improve out site please leave them. Thank You for visiting.

Before, with 35mm cameras, a special lens would be needed for close-ups or a zoom lens. The problem with a zoom is that it introduces more variables. A close up lens allows for a sharper and clearer image to appear.

With many of the modern Digital cameras, there is more than one lens incorporated into the camera itself. The standard lens allows for a clear shot at approximately 12 inches while the close-up lens can focus on the coin even when only 2 inches away. Some cameras call this the macro setting or have a figure of a flower.

Next, because you will be taking a shot of such a small object where the maximum detail is desired, the camera should not be held. Even the smallest amount of movement could ruin the picture. This is when a tripod is very useful.

Choosing the right background can make the difference on how well the coin will appear. Shiny coins look best with a dark or black background. For a tarnished or dull finished coin, a brighter background would be best, like white.

The material to be used for the background should not endanger the coin or its finish. For this reason, a soft cloth in the appropriate color would do, like a t-shirt.

The lighting is very crucial. The flash should be disabled because you will not be able to control it, and at such a short distance, will not be even. Sunlight would be best just as long as it is not direct. The point is to have an even distribution of light on the coin without causing shadows. A small aperture setting could assist in this effort.

The focus should start with the zoom all the way out, and then get the camera as close as possible while remaining in focus. The zoom will affect the outcome and should be avoided, if possible.

Set the focus and take the picture. Those that are into coin collecting might wish to take several shots so they have a choice of which picture turns out the best. This is the best way to know how to photograph coins from your collection or someone else’s.

For additional resources on coins, please see Yellowstone Quarter. This site and all of its contributors strive to bring you the most accurate information available. If you have any comments to help us improve our site, please leave them. Thank you for visiting.

The set of two rolls is being sold for $32.95 and the bags are for sale at $35.95 each. Both of these prices are above the face value of the coins, but they are in mint condition and uncirculated.

Today, on June 3, 2010 at 10:30 am MT, there will be a ceremony at Old Faithful Inn commemorating the official launch of this coin. Edmund Moy, the director of the US Mint, will be present at this ceremony. There is also a live pod cast of this historic event for those that are unable to visit the park today. Children under the age of 18 attending the event will receive a new quarter for free.

The tail side of this coin has an image of Old Faithful, with a bison standing in the fore ground. The head side is the original portrait of George Washington, designed by John Flanagan in 1932.

This is the second quarter issued in the America the Beautiful Quarters Program that will eventually release 56 new quarters commemorating the US national parks and sites across the nation. There are a total of 5 coins scheduled to be released each year, until all have been minted.

The specifications of the Yellowstone Quarter, for anyone into coin collecting, is 24.26mm diameter and with a thickness of 1.75mm.

For additional resources on coins, please see 2010 America the Beautiful Quarters Silver Proof Set . This site, and all of its contributors, strives to bring you the most accurate information available. If you have any comments to help us improve out site, please leave them. Thank you for visiting.

A major change has occurred to the Lincoln penny. The head side with the side view of President Lincoln will still be the same since 1909, but the tail side has been changed again. From the wheat back, to the memorial, and now the shield, this is all new for 2010. The composition of this coin is 2.5% copper and 97.5% zinc. There is a two roll set of this first year issue coin that went on sale for the mint on April 8, 2010 and they are still available.

Other US Mint coins released this month of April are the Millard Fillmore $1 coin cover on the 2^nd and the 2010 Presidential $1 coin uncirculated set that was released for sale on the 13^th.

In the month of May, the US Mint will be releasing 2 new sets and one coin. The America the Beautiful Quarter Proof set is slated for release on the 13^th. The Franklin Pierce $1 coin is set for release on the 20^th and the America the Beautiful Quarter Silver Proof set is available for coin collecting enthusiasts on the 27^th.

This is the list of what is happening in this month and the next, with US Mint Coins 2010.

For additional resources on coins please see America the Beautiful Silver Quarters

This site and all of its contributors strive to bring you the most accurate information available. If you have any comments to help us improve out site please leave them. Thank You for visiting.

This has become one of the fastest sellers of silver coins in recent history. But different than the 2010 American Veterans Disability for Life Commemorative coins, this one has a larger household limit of 100.

The surcharge that is associated with this coin when it is purchased from the US Mint is forwarded to the National Boy Scouts of America Foundation that supplies funding to the local councils for distribution to the troops.

The coin itself is to commemorate the 100 years of the Boy Scouts, which occurred on February 8, 2010.

The coin was able to be produced because of the coin act or Public Law 110-363. There are two different coins that were minted. The Proof Silver Dollar has an introductory price of $39.95 and a regular price of $43.95. The uncirculated Silver Dollar has an introductory price of $33.95 and a regular price of $35.95. The introductory prices are good for sales until April 21, 2010 at 5:00 pm ET unless they are sold out before hand.

The physical description of the coin is 26.730 grams in weight. The diameter is 1.5 inches or 38.10 mm. The metal used to make the coin is 90% silver and 10% copper.

The main difference in appearance of the 2010 Boy Scouts of America Centennial Silver Dollar between the proof and the uncirculated is the mirror finish of the proof. If you are into coin collecting and want one of these coins for your collection, I suggest you act fast before the mint sells out and the price goes up.

For additional resources on coins please see Franklin Mint Coins and Dollar Silver Certificate

This site and all of its contributors strive to bring you the most accurate information available. If you have any comments to help us improve out site please leave them. Thank You for visiting.

If you are looking for investment grade coins, the purer the coin is the better. Gold bullion is 99.99% pure gold. The only coin that is made today that fits that description is the American Buffalo Coin. Most gold coins are 91.67% gold and the rest is an alloy, except to the Krugerrand. That one only has copper added to it. That is also the reason its appearance is just a little different than the rest of the gold coins on the market.

At the present time, the US mint is claiming that they are having difficulty in obtaining bullion planks for the Silver Eagle Coins. Last year, there were no Silver Eagles made and this year they are yet to be released despite they are required by law to do so.

For coin collecting purposes, the US mint is rolling out other coins. The Boy Scouts Silver Dollar is being released in March.  Also in March, the bronze medal commemorating the women air force pilots, and the Millard Fillmore Presidential $1 coin and first spouse medal set are scheduled.

These are just some of the best coins to buy 2010. The gold coins will cost over $1000 each because the price of gold bullion is still over that amount.

For additional resources on coins please see Franklin Mint Coins and Dollar Silver Certificate on this site.

This site and all of its contributors strive to bring you the most accurate information available. If you have any comments to help us improve out site please leave them. Thank You for visiting.

Up until about 1964, most coins in the United States were minted from silver.  Most of thm were minted as 90% silver and 10% alloy (usually copper).  The most well-known of the 90% silver dimes that are collected are the Roosevelt and the Mercury coins.

Mercury silver dimes were minted from 1916 to 1945 and are a 90% silver.  Proofs were made until 1942 and then only circulated versions were made due to the war.  In 1946, the Mint then changed the design and minted the Roosevelt silver dimes, shortly after the President’s death.  It is, by the way, the Roosevelt 90% silver dimes that gave the March of Dimes its name.  Roosevelt, being a polio victim, worked hard to get the foundation into the mainstream.

Until 1964, the Roosevelt 90% silver dimes were made of 90:10 silver:copper.  That then changed in 1964-5 to become copper clad in copper-nickel.  New all-silver collector sets became available from the Mint in 1992.

The most popular, low-cost, and fun way to find silver coins is to buy bulk bags of circulated silver coins, which are usually sold by weight.  The coins have little collectible value and are sold mostly as silver alloy.  Many new collectors like to sort through the coins from the bag, however, to hunt for rare gems or to create bags of only dimes, only quarters, and so forth.  This is probably the best way for a newbie on a low budget to get started with silver dimes.

For those of you that are into coin collecting a few facts should be made known. The US Mint strikes its silver coins from 99.9% pure silver bullion. The Franklin Mint uses sterling silver. This sterling silver is only 92.5% pure silver. The remainder is generally made up of copper, but other alloys have been known to be used including germanium, zinc and platinum. The minimum millesimal fineness of sterling silver should be 925.

When making a purchase of a US mint coin from the Franklin Mint, collectors might wish to check prices so they do not over pay. As an example the 2010 silver eagle from the US Mint is being offered at $25.95. This same coin from the Franklin Mint is $75, but comes in a nice wooden box and a certificate of authenticity.

The Franklin Mint does have a great selection and is a place where coin collectors can find coins that are already sold out by the US Mint, but they should not be the first choice for those coins still in production.

There are a few sites that specialize in the reselling of Franklin Mint Coins, but the price is dependent upon the demand. One fact is for sure, these coins are of a high quality workmanship.