Coin

After a gold treasure discovery in Caesaria, Israel once again reported the discovery of another historical treasure trove and this time, the cache featured Hellenistic silver and bronze coins and other objects estimated to be 2,300 years old. This was confirmed by the Israel Antiquities Authority, and according to the officials of the agency, the collection of coinage and objects is one of the most important discoveries in the region and will require more time before the treasure trove can be studied.

Known as a treasured hobby for royals, coin collecting has spread throughout the world and now considered as a favorite hobby by different individuals, from a variety of backgrounds. But how did coin collection become a popular hobby, and what could be the reasons for its popularity? A check of coinage history will tell us that it was Caesar Augustus who was considered the first collector of these items. According to tales and written records, the Roman emperor loved compiling the coins, both local and those given to him by foreign dignitaries.

The result of the public competition to design a new £1 coin design was made public, and will serve as the design for the new coinage that will be used in United Kingdom in a couple of years. The design that captured the attention of the judges to be used for the ‘tails’ part of the coin was from a 15-year old pupil, David Pearce, a student of Queen Mary’s Grammar School. Pearce’s take on coinage design won the contest conducted by The Royal Mint that drew more than 6,000 design-entries.

Herodotus, the famed Greek historian, once said that it was the Lydians who first introduced the manufacture and use of silver and gold coins. This early account of coinage in the world is almost authentic, except for a few details about coinage and its history that should be clarified for modern readers and students of coinage. Historical excavations suggest that some of the early coins used for transactions were found in areas that the world know now as Turkey, and these items were traditionally made from a combination of silver and gold known as electrum.

Gold coins are highly sought-after in the market, and when one hears about gold coins, the immediate response is to ask where these can be found. This is exactly what happened in the United States, particularly during the famed ‘California gold rush’. When news about gold in California was spread through rumours, the general public soon rushed to the site and joined the mad dash to discover gold. The center of the frantic search for gold was Reed Gold Mine, and this was in operation until 1912.

Coins aren’t just ranked and compared through their face values, but through the use of coin grading. Just like in the collection and trading of precious stones like diamonds where the 3Cs take center-stage, in coin collecting and investment, there’s a benchmark too that’s used to compare and contrast actual values. And this benchmark is called coin grading, or a professional and systematic way of determining the grade (or overall quality and ‘marketability) of the coins in question. Coin grade is critical information for many coin collectors and investment.

Collecting silver coins also comes with its own set of responsibilities, and it’s recommended that every enthusiast and student of numismatics should be aware of these. By learning how to store and take care of the silver coins, then it’s easier to preserve its value and get the best offers once these are offered in the market. One creative way of preserving and handling the silver coins is by storing these coins in shield boxes like the Intercept Shield boxes.