The half dime, an early American coin, played an important role in the country’s monetary history. Did you know that 5-cent pieces were once called half dimes, not nickels? Introduced during George Washington’s presidency, the half dime was first produced as part of an experiment to replace the British pounds-and-shillings system. In 1792, the Coinage … Read more
Every year, just like the Oscars and Golden Globes, the coin world eagerly awaits the Coin of the Year (COTY) awards. As a Grand Rapids coin dealer, Mullen Coins keeps a close watch on this exciting event. Krause Publications’ annual COTY awards highlight the best coin designs from around the world. For 2011 coins, the … Read more
Creating a type collection is an exciting way for new coin collectors to start their journey. A type collection is when you collect one example of each design within a specific group of coins. This makes it both fun and affordable, allowing collectors to focus on history, art, or specific themes. Let’s explore how to … Read more
Introduction: The 1943-D Lincoln Wheat Cent penny is a rare coin that collectors highly value. This particular penny stands out because, while most 1943 pennies were made from steel due to wartime metal shortages, a few were accidentally minted in bronze or copper. The scarcity of these bronze/copper pennies makes them some of the most … Read more
Introduction: The 1944-S Lincoln Wheat Cent is a rare and intriguing coin that draws the attention of coin collectors. Unlike most 1944 pennies, which were made from copper, a few 1944 pennies from the San Francisco Mint (marked with an “S”) were accidentally made from steel. This mix-up makes the 1944-S Steel Cent one of … Read more
Introduction: The 1943-S Lincoln Wheat Cent Penny is a rare find that excites many coin collectors. Most pennies from 1943 were made from steel because copper was needed for World War II efforts. However, a few 1943 pennies from the San Francisco Mint (marked with an “S”) were mistakenly made from bronze/copper. These rare coins … Read more
Introduction: The 1958 Lincoln Wheat Cent Penny with a doubled-die obverse is a dream find for many coin collectors. This rare error coin features a unique doubling on the front, which makes it highly valuable and sought-after. Most pennies from 1958 are ordinary, but a few have this special error, making them worth far more … Read more
Introduction: The 1888 Indian Head Cent with a “Last 8 Over 7” error is a fascinating piece in the world of coin collecting. This rare variation occurred when a die used for making these coins had a mistake, leading to a faint impression of the number “7” underneath the last “8” in the date “1888.” … Read more
Rare 1913 Liberty Head Nickel made headlines after being sold for a whopping $3.7 million at a public auction. The coin, known as the Olsen-Hawn piece, is one of just five known 1913 Liberty Head nickels. It gained additional fame when it appeared in a 1973 episode of the popular TV show “Hawaii Five-O.” This … Read more
Wisconsin Quarters: Have you ever thought about how a quarter, which is usually worth 25 cents, could be worth a lot more? Well, it can happen if the quarter has a special flaw or feature that makes it rare. This is especially true for some unique Wisconsin quarters issued recently. In this article, we will … Read more