Kett's Koin Kastle

Originally the nickel was called the Half Dime. It was originally introduced in 1796.

The U.S. Mint originally required that all coins be made of copper, silver, or gold. Today, most U.S. coins are comprised of copper, nickel, and zinc in varying percentages.

Old coins that were minted in the US always indicate United States of America on the coin. It is possible that United States of America may be abbreviated on very old US coins. A coin that does not indicate that it is from the US will generally indicate the name of its country of origin.

Historically, coin collecting has been a more practical pursuit. Before the advent of banks, people saved their coins. Those that were most interesting and beautiful were kept the longest and then eventually passed down to later generations.

Some archaeologists believe that the Indians invented coinage between the 5th and 6th century B.C. Some others believe that coins were first used in Anatolia between 600 and 550 B.C.

Coin albums, as a form of display, make a practical, attractive choice. Albums vary in price depending on the quality and amount of protection they provide. Most are typically designed for a specific collection in mind, such as your entire collection of American Eagles.

Did you know that stamps actually provoked a war in Bolivia and Paraguay? The conflict began when Bolivia issued a stamp claiming a long-disputed area of wilderness.

Did you know that the two-cent piece was the first coin to bear the motto, In God We Trust? The coin was originally designed by James B. Longacre, the Chief Engraver of the U.S. Mint at the time, and is slightly smaller than the modern U.S. quarter.

There are six US Mint facilities total, located in the following cities: Washington DC, Philadelphia, West Point, Fort Knox, Denver, and San Francisco. Each facility performs a specific function, which means some coins only come from certain locations.

Did you know that the first stamp albums were printed and sold in the 1880s? While they are rare, some copies of these albums are still available to avid stamp collectors.

Avoid wrapping your coins in paper when you store them. Paper retains trace amounts of the sulfuric acid used during the manufacturing process. This acid can damage coins, especially those containing copper.

John Jay Pittman is widely regarded as the most successful coin collector in the U.S. He spent around $100,000 amassing his collection during his lifetime. In the late 1990s, his collection was auctioned off for over $30 million.

The 20th century marks the greatest widening of the coin-collecting fraternity, since coin shows, numismatic conventions, academic symposia, and international conferences have become quite common.