Articles

By: Fred De Vall They say beauty is in the eye of the beholder. That’s true also of coins and currency when discussing their quality and value. There have been several attempts at developing a “scale” for determining the quality and value of hobo coins such as: Superior, Above Average, Average, Below Average, and Crude….

By: Bryon Crowder At the KNC meeting on 8-12-2025 a couple members asked me about the possibility of cleaning up 1943 steel cents. Since this was a 1-year only type coin, I had left it out of my presentation in July. In 1943 the U.S. Mint changed the composition of the copper cent to zinc…

By: Jonah Scoles (YN) Money today is made with Computer Numerically Controlled mills that make the coin dies and machines that strike the coins. But back in ancient times, coin dies had to be engraved by hand. This meant hours hunched over a die creating the works of art. Only the most experienced die engravers…

By: Bryon Crowder People would ask me what kinds of coins I like to collect. Being a smart-alec, I would humorously reply ‘Bargains!’ I think most collectors would agree that there is a certain smile you get when you buy a coin for significantly less than its value. This is what happened here. I used…

By: Dean Cugliotta, Jr.KNC LM 82 Collecting replacement notes, most commonly known as “Star Notes,” has excited me since I first discovered them in 2009. My first star note came from Scott’s Coin Store in Portage, MI. Most of the Star Notes in my collection I have picked out of circulation. They are heavily circulated…

By: Christina DeGrush I am Christina and I started collecting coins because I like the history. My favorite, as many of you know, are Canadian Coins, Particularly the $5 Canadian Maple Silver Coins (illustratedbelow). I also have a collection of Canadian large cents as well as dimes. I enjoy the English coins from the Tudor…

By: Bryon Crowder As a follow up to my presentation on coin conservation/cleaning, I am going to add an article to the newsletter. This will be an ongoing feature in the newsletter entitled: THE DIRTON COIN CONSERVATION. Anybody that has collected coins for at least the last 10 years is probably aware of the double…

By: Ron Gammill Die States provide valuable insights into a coin’s history and production process. Whether you’re a seasoned collector or just starting out, understanding die states enhances your appreciation of numismatics! Below you see four distinct die progressions involving stars 12 and 13 on a large cent. The final die state is referred to…

By: Ron Gammill Charles Cushing Wright (1796-1854) was born in Damariscotta, Maine, where he taught himself engraving as an apprentice to John Osburn, a jeweler and watchmaker in Utica, New York. After working for several years as an itinerant engraver, Wright settled in New York City, where he established a die engraving firm in partnership…

By: Fred De Vall A true HOBO nickel starts with the Buffalo nickel as the “host” coin to use in carving an image usually on the obverse side of the coin. These coins were used because they had a large enough face and profile for the carvers to modify as they wished when carving their…

By: Jaden Boyd The Roman siliqua (pronounced sili-kwah), a key currency in the late Roman Empire, holds significant historical value and reflects the economic practices of its time. Emerging in the 3rd century AD, the siliqua was a silver coin, and it became a vital component of the Roman monetary system. Its name is derived…

By: Ron Gammill Die States provide valuable insights into a coin’s history and production process. Whether you’re a seasoned collector or just starting out, understanding die states enhances yourappreciation of numismatics! Early Die State (EDS):EDS coins are struck from dies that have seen minimal use and have not been retooled. Look for crisp fields, sharp…