The Coin Reference

Gold & silver coins, worth knowing by name.

A reference for real money you can hold — the classic US and world coinage, what each piece is, how grading works, and how to spot a fake before you ever hand over a dollar.

US coins

America's classic gold and silver coinage — the workhorse money before fiat.

US Gold Coins →

The pre-1933 US gold series — double eagles, eagles, and the rest — the designs, denominations, and what the 1933 recall swept up.

US Silver Coins →

Morgan and Peace dollars, Walking Liberty halves, Mercury dimes — the classic 90% silver coinage that circulated as honest money.

World silver

Classic silver coinage by country — the coins that ran trade long before the dollar.

United Kingdom
Silver coinage
Canada
Silver coinage
Mexico
Silver coinage
Spain
Pieces of eight
France
Silver coinage
Italy
Silver coinage
Japan
Silver coinage

Learn & verify

Before you buy: read the grade, and check it's real.

Grading →

How coin grading works — the Sheldon scale from Good to Mint State — walked through on the Mercury dime. The grade is most of the price.

Spot fake coins →

The tests and tells for authenticating silver — weight, ring, magnetism, dimensions — so you catch a counterfeit before you pay for it.

Art & limited edition →

Modern art rounds and limited-mintage pieces — where collectibility and silver content meet.

Glossary →

Every coin and sound-money term, defined in plain language — from AG-3 to uncirculated.

Put a number on it

Coins are sound money you can hold. These tools show what that money is worth — then and now.