Coins & BullionCounterfeit Detection: A Field Guide for Buyers Without a Lab
You do not need an XRF machine to spot 95% of counterfeit bullion. A scale, calipers, magnet, and a good ear catch the vast majority of fakes.
May 10, 2026
Tag: #Numismatics
Coins & Bullion
Coins & BullionWhy Some Coins Cost 10x Their Metal Content: Numismatic Premiums Explained
A numismatic premium is the price above melt that a coin commands due to rarity, condition, history, or demand. Here is how to evaluate whether a premium is justified.
May 10, 2026
Coins & BullionThe Sheldon Scale Decoded: What MS-65, PR-70, and AU-58 Actually Mean
The Sheldon scale runs from 1 to 70, but the meaningful grading distinctions sit in a much narrower band. Here is what each number really represents.
May 10, 2026
Coins & BullionPre-1933 US Gold: Saint-Gaudens, Liberty Heads, and the Confiscation Premium
Pre-1933 US gold coins occupy a strange middle ground between bullion and numismatics. Here is when the premium is justified and when it is just dealer marketing.
May 10, 2026
Coins & BullionAuthenticating a Sovereign: The Five Checks That Catch 99% of Fakes
British sovereigns are among the most counterfeited gold coins in the world. Here are the specific checks that separate a genuine 7.98g sovereign from a dangerous fake.
May 10, 2026
Numismatics & Bullion CoinsModern Bullion Coins: 2026 Cluster Hub
Everything published in Numismatics & Bullion Coins > Modern Bullion Coins, organised for 2026.
May 6, 2026
Numismatics & Bullion CoinsMintage Data: 2026 Cluster Hub
Everything published in Numismatics & Bullion Coins > Mintage Data, organised for 2026.
May 6, 2026
Numismatics & Bullion CoinsHistoric Coinage: 2026 Cluster Hub
Everything published in Numismatics & Bullion Coins > Historic Coinage, organised for 2026.
May 6, 2026
Numismatics & Bullion CoinsError Varieties: 2026 Cluster Hub
Everything published in Numismatics & Bullion Coins > Error Varieties, organised for 2026.
May 6, 2026