Buying antique coins is a great way to enjoy the heritage of old numismatic items. The coins range from rare gold and silver coins dating back hundreds of years to modern day coins from various nations.
Rare gold coins dating back hundreds of years
Despite the fact that there are millions of coins minted during the 18th and 19th centuries, there are still a few rare gold coins dating back hundreds of years. These may not be as common as you think, but they are worth a look.
One of these coins is the “Unbelievable Mint Error” gold coin, a coin that was struck during the reign of King George I. This coin was one of the smallest mintage coins on the St. Gaudens Double series. It has a mintage of just 11 to 15 today, and it is believed that it is still around.
Another coin is the 1343 Edward III Florin, also known as the double leopard. This coin is 96% pure gold and was issued only between January and July 1344. The reverse of the coin shows the Royal Cross inside a quatrefoil. It is a coin that has a lot of value and a lot of history.
The Fugio cent is a coin that is meant to remind the bearer to pay attention to business affairs. It has a Latin motto: “fugio”. It can fetch tens of thousands of dollars, though it can be found for a few hundred.
A couple in England discovered a collection of 17th and 18th century gold coins while they were renovating their kitchen. This was the largest discovery of buried gold coins ever. The coins were buried six to eight inches below the surface of the ground.
Mint marks on coins
During the first 200 years of United States coin production, there was no mint mark on antique coins. But that doesn’t mean that the mint mark was a non-existent gimmick. The United States has used several official mints in the past, including Philadelphia, Charlotte, Denver and New Orleans.
The “P” mint mark was the first to appear on a coin in 1979. The P-mint mark became the standard on all coin denominations over one cent in 1980. This is a small letter atop the coin that does not usually appear as part of another device.
There are several other small letters that appear on some of the coins of the day, but these are the most common. The D-mint mark does not appear until 1906, but it is on several coins today.
The “S” mint mark has been used by the San Francisco mint since 1854. It is also a small letter, but it is the one to get. The “S” is also the best-spelled of the three, and it is often the one that is the most obvious.
The “C” mint mark is also a small letter, but it only appears on gold coins minted from 1838 to 1860. The “P” mint mark did not appear until 1978, but it was not a regular feature on Philadelphia coins until 1980.
Cyprus’s import restrictions on ancient coins
Several years ago, the United States government imposed import restrictions on ancient coins minted in Cyprus. This action was done in reaction to a request by the Cypriot government. These restrictions are part of a larger agreement between the United States and Cyprus.
The import restrictions are intended to prevent the illicit trade in culturally valuable property. The statute confers authority on the president, secretary of the Treasury, and the assistant secretary of state for Educational and Cultural Affairs to place restrictions on the import of artifacts. The president can impose import restrictions on items on the Designated List, which includes coins more than 250 years old.
The Ancient Coin Collectors Guild has challenged the import restriction on ancient coins as a violation of the Cultural Property Implementation Act. The organization has argued that the import restrictions have hurt the ability of American collectors to acquire rare ancient coins.
The Guild has been working with the American Numismatic Association to protect the rights of American collectors. Peter K. Tompa is a lawyer and the executive director of the organization. He represents museums and collectors.
The Guild was able to formally assert that it had a legitimate interest in acquiring the ancient coins. The case was based on sound archaeological research and internationally accepted UNESCO principles.