When I was 13 or 14 years old, little else interested me as much as coin collecting. For my birthday I had asked for the book, How to Grade U.S. Coins, and I don’t recall exactly what happened, but I think my parents were unable to find the book or it was going to be late, or something to that effect. They contacted the author, James Halperin, and not only did he send them the book in time for my birthday, but he sent a poster along with it.

I wish I could say I’m now a multi-millionaire and just bought him a brand new Porsche, but alas, I am not.

In any case, Jim is now the CEO of Heritage Coins, and in addition to his numismatic endeavors, he is a novelist, and judging from all the reviews on Amazon, a well-liked one at that. You can also read his novels for free at truthmachine.com and firstimmortal.com.

I want to publicly thank Jim for being willing to help a young lad from New Hampshire who wanted to buy his book.

I recently e-mailed him to thank him and he replied with some excellent links from Heritage Coin Galleries that I wanted to share with everyone.

Coin Grading (Mint State and Proof)

Auction Results Archive

Coins for Sale

Coins & Currency at Auction

Numismatic Articles

Coin Glossary

Virtual Coin Collection

The Collectors Handbook (free download)

Price Guide for Beginners

Price Guide for Numismatists

Charla Wouk looks at an old coin and sees more than a piece of metal struck by a die and worn by time.

The longtime coin collector, or numismatist, sees a tiny piece of history.

“I can just see Doc Holliday sitting there throwing that silver dollar across the poker table,” says Wouk, smiling at the thought.

For 13-year-old Noah Cross of Pleasant Hope, every coin he adds to his growing collection comes with a little sense of wonder, even if the daydream doesn’t involve someone so mythical.

“You think, ‘Hey, my grandpa probably used this coin to buy a pop,” he says.

What’s this coin been used for? Where has it been? Whose hands have touched it?

Read the full article.

When Allan Crawford was 7 years old, his baby sitter helped him start a coin and stamp collection to keep him out of trouble.

More than 70 years later, Crawford and his wife, Lois, own California Coin & Stamp, one of two collectible coin and stamp stores in San Luis Obispo County.

Crawford’s quaint shop is filled with books, stamp memorabilia and coins, some of which date to 400 B.C.

The couple sells and trades collectible coins and stamps. Customers can also buy gold or bullion.

Half of the customers who visit his shop become collectors, although stamp collecting has dwindled over the years. Stamps only make up 5 percent of his business.

“Stamps used to be the most popular hobby in the world,” he said. “But today’s kids are interested in coins.”

What you see: The small shop has comfortable wooden stools, where customers can sit and study the collectibles that fill glass cases. Items cost a few cents to thousands of dollars.

The shop sells stamps from around the world, including the first stamp from Great Britain now worth $180. The coin collection includes a Roman coin from 425 A.D. It’s now worth $950.

What he sees: Crawford has a vast knowledge of coin and stamp history. Many of his customers bring in collectibles to be appraised and explained because they don’t realize the value of their items, he said.

Read the full article.

Holding a 1794 Liberty dollar in your hand is seductive.

The weight of the silver feels substantial, unlike today’s coins. The Liberty dollar transports you to the era of George Washington’s presidency, the founding of the first U.S. bank and the Whiskey Rebellion. And then there’s the price tag: $7,000 at Main Street Coin’s gallery in Fairfield, Ohio.

“You buy coins because you love them,” says Mike Dickmann, gallery co-owner. “For 40 bucks, you can buy history.”

In fact, the market for investing in rare coins has been building since 1999, when the U.S. Mint sparked new interest in coin collectibles by issuing the first state commemorative quarters. The U.S. Mint has sold 24.71 billion of them.

Read the full article.

If you’re familiar with the Buffalo nickel series, you’re probably aware that its design had such a high relief that it’s common to find them so worn you can’t even read the date. That makes the coin shown above all the more impressive. On a scale of Proof-60 to Proof-70, this 1913 Type I Buffalo nickel graded PCGS Proof-68. It was sold from the Captiva Collection for $75,900 in the Bowers and Merena August 2005 Baltimore auction.

Try not to get any drool on your keyboard.