The Happy Coin Blog

We recently purchased Proof Trade Dollars from 1879 and 1882, graded by NGC and PCGS respectively. There has already been a lot of interest with these coins and we would like to take a moment to shed some light on why exactly proof trade dollars are so interesting! The Trade Dollar has one of the most unusual backstories in U.S. coins. First struck in 1873 under the Coinage Act of 1873 and designed by William Barber, it was never meant to be used in American pockets. Instead, it was created to c …

The Happy Coin was recently thrilled to come into possession of thrilling piece of American Frontier history.This gold piece, struck in standard 0.900 fine gold, predates the 1854-S $20 Liberty by a year, and represents a fascinating period in California in the heyday of the Gold Rush.  It all started at the United States Assay OfficeThe U.S. Assay Office was the forerunner of what would in 1854 become the San Francisco Mint, which began producing quarter eagles, half eagles, eagles, and do …

One of the perennial collector's coins in the American Numismatic Catalog, the Buffalo Nickel continues to stir enthusiasts with striking portrayals of this nation's First Peoples and the times when wild beasts roamed the Great Plains.We recently came into possession of a breathtaking example of a Type 1 Nickel in an NGC Graded MS68 Holder.  One can easily be mesmerized by the precision engraving that contributes to the Buffalo's coveted "Full Horn" detail and speckled, dynamic fields. …

We recently had the opportunity to offer on and purchase one of the most celebrated (and in some ways, controversial) American coins of all time: the 1909-S VDB Lincoln Wheat Cent.This particular coin is graded by NGC as MS65 Red/Brown and is a stunning example of, given the prevalence of wheat cents in any young person's pocket, possibly the most quested-over single design in American numismatics. The bas-relief of President Abraham Lincoln by designer Victor David Brenner has grown to be …

Probably the most common question we are asked by our customers here at The Happy Coin is, “How do I know if these coins are worth anything?” The world of numismatics is sometimes rather impenetrable for the curious, with many just wondering if the handful of coins they discovered in the back of the closet has any real value or is just spending money. As a TL; DR – here is a cheat sheet for checking for the different silver contents of American Coins. It is probably most necess …