Legal Tender
54 articles
Ireland Marks U2's 50th Anniversary With Special Two Euro Coin
A new €2 coin from the Central Bank of Ireland honors U2's five-decade run, with both uncirculated and proof editions snapped up by collectors across Europe.
US Mint 2026 Proof Set Marks End of Circulating Penny and Liberty's Return
The 2026 US Mint Proof Set launches with ten coins that break tradition, including the first post-circulation Lincoln cent, Liberty's return to the dime and half dollar, and five quarters tracing key moments in US history
Courier fraud targets gold buyers as banks tighten payment rules
A surge in courier fraud is forcing gold dealers and buyers to navigate stricter bank controls and legal risks as scammers exploit trust in precious metals transactions for high-value thefts
Germany cuts silver in commemorative coins as metal prices soar
Germany will reduce the silver content in its commemorative euro coins after halting releases due to surging silver prices. The move marks a significant shift for collectors and signals changing economics for legal-tender coinage.
Pulaski Shipwreck Gold Coin Reveals Lost American Wealth
A $5 gold coin minted in 1836 and lost in the 1838 Pulaski disaster has been recovered from the Atlantic, offering a rare glimpse into early US currency and the personal fortunes carried by travelers before the Civil War
Adams Family Coin Collection Auctioned After Decades in Storage
A trove of ancient coins amassed by John Quincy Adams and his descendants was sold in New York after years in obscurity. The sale highlights how changing laws and shifting priorities have transformed the fate of historic collections.
Goloid Dollars and the Failed Quest for a New US Coin Metal
A little-known 19th century plan to create US coins from a gold-silver-copper alloy called goloid triggered fierce debate and exposed the deep fractures in America's monetary system after the California gold rush
US bans foreign coins and shrinks the cent in 1857 currency overhaul
The Coinage Act of 1857 forced foreign coins out of US circulation and introduced a smaller, nickel-based cent. This move standardized American money and ended the use of Spanish and Mexican silver in daily transactions.
How foreign matter creates rare error coins in modern minting
Foreign objects can get into coins at any stage, from molten metal to the final strike. Knowing how these errors happen matters for collectors and anyone watching the real value of physical money.
Unauthorized US Mint strikes challenge the definition of a coin
The 1913 Liberty Head nickel and 1933 double eagle sit at the heart of a legal and historical puzzle, as unauthorized US Mint strikes continue to test what truly counts as a coin.
Rare 1933 Double Eagles and Shipwreck Gold Draw Record Crowds in Pittsburgh
The 2026 ANA World's Fair of Money brought all 11 government-owned 1933 Double Eagles together for the first time, showcased shipwreck gold, and saw over $70 million in rare coin auctions, setting a new benchmark for numismatic events.
Can a Coin Exist Without Metal in the Digital Age
As technology transforms payments and materials, the classic idea of a coin is under pressure. From stone discs to digital tokens, what truly defines a coin in modern commerce
Digital Dollar Plans Face Resistance Over Privacy and Control Fears
As the EU advances its digital euro and the US debates a digital dollar, concerns over surveillance, spending restrictions, and the end of physical cash are fueling public and political pushback
US House Votes to End Circulating Pennies After 232 Years
The US House has passed a bill to stop making pennies for everyday use, shifting the one-cent coin to collector-only status. The measure keeps the penny as legal tender, introduces new cash rounding rules, and allows for changes to the nickel's composition.
US Mint Faces Collector Uncertainty as Trump Coin Sparks Debate
US Mint coin sales stayed slow in July, but attention is turning to the upcoming Donald J. Trump $1 coin, which has stirred debate over putting a living president on legal tender. Collectors and the public are watching closely.
First 2026 Trump Dollar With July 4 Mark Certified Before Public Sale
A 2026 Donald J. Trump dollar with a July 4 privy mark has been certified before official release, launching a scramble for 250,000 hidden coins mixed into standard Mint rolls and bags
Coin Collecting Faces a Digital Future as Physical Cash Fades
As cash use drops and AI transforms authentication, coin collecting is entering a new era. From digital grading to lunar commemoratives, the next 250 years will test how numismatics adapts to a world where physical currency is no longer essential.
Royal Mint Marks Star Trek Sixty Years With Limited Collector Coin
The Royal Mint has launched a Star Trek coin for the franchise's sixtieth anniversary, offering collectors a choice of gold, silver, and uncirculated versions with a second release planned for November
How the US Trade Dollar Lost Its Place in Global Silver Commerce
The US Trade Dollar was designed to outcompete Mexico's peso in Asian trade, but its journey from export tool to domestic headache reveals the risks of currency innovation and the limits of monetary policy abroad
How Digital Tech and New Materials Are Transforming Coins
Coins are being reinvented with digital features, unconventional materials, and advanced minting. From QR codes to microchips and polymer coatings, the future of physical currency is being shaped by innovation and changing consumer habits
US Mint Limits 2026 Palladium Eagle to 5,000 for 250th Anniversary
Only 5,000 American Eagle Palladium coins will be released by the US Mint in 2026, each marking the nation's 250th anniversary with unique dual dates and a Liberty Bell privy. Collectors face a strict one-per-household rule on launch day.
NCBA Awards Spotlight Tax Exemption Battles in US Coin Market
The National Coin & Bullion Association's 2026 awards dinner in Pittsburgh put legislative fights over sales-tax exemptions for coins and bullion at the center of the US numismatic industry's agenda
Jersey's Coinage: From Wartime Shortages to Decimalization and Royal Change
Jersey's coins and banknotes reveal a century of political upheaval, wartime occupation, and monetary reform, from rare royal issues to the transition to decimal currency and the latest commemorative coins
How Foreign Coins Shaped Early U.S. Money and Circulation Rules
Foreign coins once played a central role in U.S. commerce, with legal status and circulation rules evolving over time. This article examines how these coins entered, influenced, and eventually exited the American monetary system
Collectors Divided Over New Semiquincentennial Dollar Coin Release
The upcoming Semiquincentennial dollar coin, featuring a living president, has sparked strong reactions among collectors, raising questions about tradition, precedent, and the future of U.S. commemorative coinage
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