SEPTEMBER EDUCATION PRESENTER

By: Jonah Scoles This article is about the debasement of Roman coinage from the middle of the 1st century through the fall of the Roman Empire. Debasement is when the intrinsic value of a coin is reduced by using less of a precious metal to mint it. To understand how far these coins were debased…

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 Dean Cugloitta, Jr. “It Doesn’t Hurt to Ask” Over the past two years, I have rarely interacted with a bank teller. It’s often just a machine. After the pandemic, ATM machines replaced the three spots where the tellers stood. Every time I enter the credit union, I ask for $2 notes. Sometimes they have…

By: Ron GammillFrom “The Gammill Coin Gazette”(July 18, 2008) Collecting Civil War tokens is an interesting pursuit just loaded with history of the Great War between the States. Regular issues of US coinage was hoarded during the Civil War and this dramatically restricted merchants ability to make small change. In response to this situation, many…

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: 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…