Gold has always fascinated us humans, and gold is the oldest known metal. Gold coins are concentrated wealth. Read this brief history of U.S. gold coins.
Production of gold coins in the United States began as early as 1795 — not long after the Independence. This was long before the great discoveries of gold, so gold coins were minted in low numbers. For example, before 1834 the highest yearly mintage of $2.50 gold pieces was 6,812 coins.
Prior to 1849, the highest denomination produced was $10, and a ten dollar gold coin was known as an "Eagle". But as we all know, something happened in 1849: the Great Gold Rush!
Gold was found in California that year, and many thousands of people went there hoping to get rich. Then as now, the best way to strike it rich was actually to sell tools and supplies to a hungry crowd, ie. the miners.
In any case, enormous quantities of gold were recovered, and much of that gold was later used to strike coins. Since transporting the gold all the way to the U.S. Mint in Philadelphia was both unsafe and inconvenient, a branch of the U.S. Mint was opened in San Francisco; and now the very first 20-dollar gold pieces were also struck. These large gold coins entered the market in 1850.
Another new gold denomination was the $1 coin. This coin was minted from 1849 to 1889; it was impopular due to its small size. You don’t like it when a valuable coin gets lost! Back in those days, a dollar could be more than a day’s income for a worker.
For many years in the mid-to-late 1800s, a postage stamp cost three cents, or you could spend $3 for a sheet with 100 stamps. To make such transactions easier, a three dollar gold coin was minted, beginning in 1854 and coming to an end in 1889 (maybe the price of those stamps increased that year?).
Some of the most well-known U.S. gold coins are those designed by the famous artist Augustus Saint-Gaudens. Commissioned by President Theodore Roosevelt, he completely re-designed the looks of the $10 and $20 gold pieces.
These Saint-Gaudens gold coins, which are coin collecting favorites, were minted from 1907 to 1933; and especially the 20-dollar gold coin is famous. It is known as the “Saint-Gaudens $20 gold piece”, and the series of this coin includes one of the most rare and expensive of all U.S. coins ever produced — the 1933 $20 gold piece.
Millions of this gold coin were minted, but before they were ever distributed the President decided to withdraw all minted gold from the market. Therefore, the whole issue of 20-dollar gold coins from 1933 was destroyed. Only a few specimens survived, and one of these survivors was sold a couple of years ago in an auction to an anonymous coin collector for over seven million dollars!
There are a few more of those 1933 $20 coins around; consider yourself very lucky if you ever find one of them.
In 2008 My Little Pony toys celebrated 25 wonderful years of whimsicality and celebrity status. Created by Hasbro, My Little Pony toys have brought magic and fun to little girls worldwide for many years, and they are still popular today, providing enjoyment for both children and adults.
These rainbow coloured little ponies have a long and interesting story to tell but their indelable characterisitics remain, they are as wonderful and whimsical as Hasbro intended when they were created.
Almost all little girls would love to own a pony and if they can’t have the real thing My Little Pony toys are the closest things they have to their dreams coming true. Particularly for little girls born in the 1970’s as My Little Pony toys became part of their lives in the 1980’s and inspired the whole generation. Those same little girls around the time of the first ponies are now adults who still love their Little Pony toys, which have become very collectable.
My Little Pony toys continued to be massively popular after the first generation of children grew up and stopped playing with them but their shapes and colours changed and other companies made toys to compete with them. When they were first launched in 1983, before any competition hit the market, My Little Pony toys did so well that they even outsold Barbie at one point.
The inception of My Little Pony toys followed the closely related My Pretty Pony toys, their American predecessor, that had been introduced to the marketplace in 1981. My Pretty Pony was made by Romper Room, a division of Hasbro at the time. My Pretty Pony was considerably larger in size than My Little Pony toys and her colour was brown rather than the range of pastel colours that My Little Pony toys became known for.
The first generation of My Little Pony toys ran from 1983 to 1995 (1992 in the US) and there were initially only six little ponies. These original six ponies were all Earth ponies, that is they had no wings or horns, unlike later little ponies. They had soft, silky manes and tails that you could brush, and each one had their own symbols on their behinds. Each little pony came with a ribbon and a comb for grooming them.
One of the first My Little Ponies released also came with the Grooming Parlour (Pretty Parlour in the US), launched in 1983. The Grooming Parlour was a blue rectangular case that opened out into a parlour, where you could groom a little pony. It came with a comb, ribbons, hats, a bridle, a saddle and nametags to display under a pony placed on the centre stage. It also had a tabby cat included with a pink basket that it could sit in, strapped to the pony’s back.
My Little Pony toys changed thier appearance slightly over time but they retained their pastel colours and individual symbols on their sides. Following the Earth ponies originally, Unicorns and Pegasus ponies became available, and baby ponies were made as three models, earth, Unicorns and Pegasus. The early babies were similar to their “mothers” but smaller and in slightly softened colours. Later on babies were made with more distinctive personalities of their own.
In 1997 (1999 in the US and globally in 2003) the My Little Pony brand was re-launched by Hasbro, and enjoyed a huge revival in popularity (although for many they had never really gone away as My Little Pony toys were lasting icons representing childhood dreams). The second generation of ponies were made in totally different poses. They were different to the original first generation ponies, smaller and slimmer with long legs, turning heads and jeweled eyes. They were mostly Earth ponies, but some unicorns, and no Pegasus ponies and only two baby ponies.
The Generation 2 My Little Pony toys ceased to be manufactured in 2003 and the new generation, the current one, was released. The third generation of ponies includes the re-release of some of the original generation ponies, but standing in different poses and with shiny bodies instead of matte, and matte symbols on their flanks.
From 2003 to 2005 only Earth ponies were released, then in 2005 Pegasus ponies were released and in 2006 Unicorn ponies. In 2008 Hasbro reduced its My Little Pony toys down to just seven ponies and from now no new ponies will be created, although some older generation models may be released.
Whatever happens in the future of My Little Pony toys, they will always retain their charm and appeal to millions of little girls and adults worldwide and they are sure to have a long, magical life ahead. Their magical, playful nature and iconic status will withstand the test of time and remain for future generations of little girls to enjoy.
Antiques and collectibles come in all sorts of shapes and sizes. A person can find the most unlikely object to collect in crazy places. For example, at a recent flea market, a person found an original copy of the Declaration of Independence in a desk. What some people think is junk may actually be a very expensive piece of history. People from all over the world collect things and finding them in today’s world has become easier than ever.
One of the first places that a person should consider searching for antiques and collectibles is Ebay. If a person is looking to find an item, then this is the place to go. A person can save a ton of time if they use the internet instead of searching for antique dealers, especially with the price of gas rising more and more everyday. Ebay is very easy to use even if a person has never shopped on the internet before. They offer a little bit of everything, and if a person looks hard enough, they can find exactly what they are looking for in a snap.
Other places to find items of antiques are everywhere. The internet is loaded with websites, but a person must thoroughly research them in order to ensure that they are reputable. Antique dealers are found on every street corner if a person is looking hard enough. A person can also find great pieces at junk stores or flea markets. The world of antiquing is vast and a person just has to know what they are looking for in order to make it simpler.
The world of shopping for antiques and collectibles is simple if a person just looks hard enough. They can search the world over and finally find their missing classical antiquities. The journey can be filled with hope and fun and the reward of the perfect antique collectible to complete a collection. It can be as thrilling as winning the Super Bowl. Antiquing is a fun journey for those who take the time and effort to find what they are searching for.
One beautiful thing you can put in your home is a fine crystal animal figurine. Crystal animal figurines are a great way to add charm and style to any home. They can be a real upgrade from your current décor and show your personal style as well as your love of animals. Your first step to collecting crystal animal figurines is to figure out your budget. Some crystal animal figures can be quite costsly. It is a good idea to give yourself a spending limit before you begin your shopping. This gives you the ability to look around for the best prices. Most of the time smaller animal figurines will cost less than large ones.
Other factors that go into determining the price of a crystal animal figurines are its design and cut. The more intricate and involved the figurine is the more you can expect to pay for it. Once you determine your budget it is time to start shopping. There are many places where you can find fine crystal animal figurines. Some of the best places to look include department stores, online stores, and the glass shop at your local mall.
Don’t feel like you need to buy the first thing you see. Look around and find the figurines you like best. When buying a piece think about whether they will blend with the other figurines you may already own. There are so many styles and types of crystal animal figurines that it won’t take long to find what you want.
Think about the size of the different pieces in your collection of crystal animal figurines. Although the size that you buy will be determined in part by your budget, also take some time to consider how all the pieces will look when put together in a display case. When working with a limited budget you will need to decide if you would rather have several small figurines or a couple of large ones.
Do you have a passion for antique clocks? Perhaps you’d like a grandfather clock. Or maybe you would to put one in your home, an antique grandfather clock will add character and charm to your interior. Or perhaps you can see buying and selling grandfather clocks as a business opportunity. You will need to know what to look for and which companies are the best to go to.
People with a bit of disposable income can indulge in a variety of things, like getting a top of the range car or going on luxury holidays. Antiques are highly collectable and greatly desired, they are also a great investment choice since antiques almost always rise in value.
Antiques are so popular nowadays that finding an antique grandfather clock should be quite an easy task. However a couple of essential questions must be answered in order to get you the right one at a good price.
Find Out How To Shop
Antique shopping can be a skill in itself; people who have read a bit about it know that it is different to retail shopping. So it is important that you learn a bit more about antique grandfather clocks so that you can tell which ones are of quality.
A quality antique grandfather clock has certain characteristics. {Reiterate the importance that you should know what to look for when trying to find that perfect clock.So again it’s essential to know what you are looking for in a clock when you go looking.} Knowing this essential information will allow you to see the value of the clock, so that you can make an informed purchase.
With your newly gained knowledge you will be able to choose wisely and avoid any disappointment with your purchase, as well as even getting a better deal.
Why Not Use a Clock Kit
If you ever come across an antique clock that really like but see that it is not in the best of conditions, can be very disappointing. But it is possible to restore it original condition with the use of a grandfather clock kit. Bear in mind that you shouldn’t try to change the character of an antique by jazzing it up; it will lose it’s character and value. Restoring antiques to their original condition and charm is highly encourage, so that you can enjoy it’s authentic beauty.
The first and best place to start is with a dealer who can give you relevant advice on antique grandfather clocks and how to select one. Many professional have experience with antique grandfather clocks, they will be happy to give you some help, giving you relevant knowledge for choosing a grandfather clock.
You should have fun whatever your reason is for getting an antique grandfather clock, be it to charm your home or to make some profit.
Are you a sports memorabilia collector? If so, you might be surprised at how much the value can climb by the time you choose to sell. On the other hand, your special collection could decrease in value.
Avoid Disappointment.
We have all heard stories about enterprising kids who get involved in sports card collecting. With the promise that the sports cards are worth a great deal of money and will be worth a fortune in the future, these youngsters buy boxes of cards that are supposed to be a really great deal. Most of these are fakes and worthless … and a waste of a young person’s long saved allowance. When you buy a ‘group’ of sports collectible items, beware of this type of scam. The appraisal value will be 0!
For the serious sports collector, an appraisal is essential. People just breaking into the collectibles business are often sorely disappointed because they did not get their items appraised for value before selling. They discover after the fact that they sold their memorabilia for just a fraction of their worth.
Where to Have Sports Memorabilia Appraised.
Some reputable sports memorabilia appraisers include:
AllAuthentic Sports Memorabilia — This organization is staffed with professionals who can provide references and offer instant appraisals.
Vintage Sports Memorabilia Appraisals — Vintage Sports has a sports artifacts library for thousands of vintage sports items. The company prefers to work by email. Requests for information should be limited to two items that are older than 1980.
Krause Standard Catalog of Sports Memorabilia Price Guide.
Robert Connely holds clinics about appraisals. He’s a member of the American Society of Appraisers and was honored by the Royal Institution of Chartered Surveyors.
Founded in 1992, American Legends provides paid appraisals.
Sports Memorabilia Appraisal Expert Witness provides a tollfree phone number and volunteers background information to help give reference to its value as an appraisal business.
Appraisals Will Help Establish Insurance Values.
Not only are appraisals of your sports memorabilia important to determine resale value, but if you have valuable collectibles, you will want to have your valuable insured. Insurance companies will be more willing to recognize the claimed value if you have had an appraisal done. Make sure you have documented proof.
Is the Price Right? What Are the Standards?
Courts, banks, insurance companies, auctions houses and even the IRS recognize the Uniform Standards of Professional Appraisal Practice. Don’t just depend on a local sports shop or the first available appraiser you come across if you are thinking about selling your sports memorabilia.
In the case of very valuable sports collectibles and memorabilia, it is worth the additional cost to pay for more than one appraisal. Before selling, realize that prices will change. If you had an appraisal done several years ago but decided to hang onto your sports memorabilia, you should get the updated value before selling.
Some Tips About Sports Memorabilia and Collectibles.
Collectibles that have to do with retired players will hold their value better. This is because once retired, the player’s status is not going to change.
Sweat stains do not necessarily make a jersey authentic. Anyone can wear a jersey long enough to sweat in it and try to pass it off as the real thing.
Watch for smudged autographs, dog-eared pages in books, worn edges on cards.
There is a system with trading cards called grading. A graded card has a more reasonable guarantee of authenticity. Graded cards are sealed to discourage card switching, a low tactic of some sellers. The appraiser will recognize graded cards and their value.
Although John Wayne collectibles have always been sought after, they have become increasingly more in demand since the celebration on his 100th birthday in 2007. Born Marion Robert Morrison, John Wayne epitomized rugged masculinity and has become an enduring American hero. He is famous for his distinctive voice, walk and 6’ 4” height. They don’t make Western heroes like John Wayne anymore!
There is no shortage of great collectibles for fans of John Wayne memorabilia. The Bradford Exchange has a unique selection including John Wayne tribute knife replicas. Each issue of these quality limited edition John Wayne memorabilia features a unique portrait of The Duke on a hard-fired porcelain blade. The handles have been beautifully decorated with a raised bronzed picture of The Duke and include his signature to add to their appeal.
Another popular item to include in your John Wayne memorabilia collection might be a stained glass tiffany lamp featuring magnificent Western scenes reminiscent of John Wayne at his best for years to come.
Throughout John Wayne’s career in movies, which spanned an impressive 50 years, he was recognized as the ideal Western hero.
Whether he was storming the beaches at Iwo Jima or defending the Alamo, John Wayne represented the qualities of a true American hero. Fine porcelain collector plates are also available as a tribute to John Wayne’s illustrious career.
The Timeless Hero collectible stained-glass wall clock is another item you might want to acquire for your own John Wayne memorabilia collection or as a fantastic gift for a John Wayne fan. This lovely clock displays striking portraits of the screen legend in illuminated stained glass. Demand for these unique John Wayne memorabilia continues to grow.
Many people love train collections. Now you can purchase heirloom-quality electric train sets that are decorated with some of the dramatic scenes from some of The Duke’s most popular films.
Whether you prefer figurines, wall art, replica knives/rifles, or collector plates, you are sure to find plenty of John Wayne collectibles to suit every taste and budget.
The collecting of Civil War covers actually began during the war, and one design actually promotes the collecting of the covers! It is said that some publishers continued printing and selling covers after the war ended, but rumors of modern production of these designs are, mostly unfounded. Patriotic covers from the War Between the States were published by a variety of manufacturers mostly in the North.
The Civil War was serious business to American citizens, even if they chose to express their sentiments in a humorous way via the mail. Patriotic covers were enormously popular in 19th Century America.Wars create a need for smartly worded, visually compelling political expression such as patriotic covers.There has to be at least 200 cachet publishers and printers who produced the popular patriotic designs.
Since collecting was a popular pastime, it was only natural that citizens began to collect Civil War patriotic covers. Special albums were created and sold during the war that made it easy for collectors to mount the envelopes. Today these albums can command as much as $1,000 at auction.
Political activists worked with designers to stir support and sentiment. To do so, they used patriotic symbols including the American Eagle, the American flag, stars, and the Liberty Bell. Depictions of soldiers were common as were symbols of ‘Lady Liberty.’
Designs were predominately printed in red and blue (also to inspire patriotism!) but exist in a wide range of colors, The most highly prized hand-colored designs were produced primarily by the Charles Magnus Company, the F.K. Kimmel Company, and Berlin & Jones.Very little colored envelope stock was used most covers will be found on white.
Twenty-five years ago, the lowest-priced unused Civil War patriotic covers could be purchased for a quarter or less. The affordability of this fascinating branch of collecting makes it extremely accessible to novice collectors and appealing to Civil War enthusiasts. Even covers that have been posted are offered in the $10-$20 range if their quality is relatively poor or their subject is common. Rarer designs, however, elicit bids of many thousands of dollars.
What’s on the design A-List when it comes to Civil War patriotic covers? President Abraham Lincoln is one of the most expensive, while the Rose of Washington by Charles Magnus is undoubtedly one of the most popular.
You are able to enjoy a great many hobbies when you are young and full of energy. Energetic sports such as weightlifting or football are enjoyable when you are young. However, with the advancing years, participation in these sports is increasingly more difficult. For many people, this is a depressing sign of their oncoming old age.
Then again, everyone has to go through this and you should not be upset that you can no longer play with the young ‘uns. What you should do instead is change your interests to match your physical capabilities and personality. You should begin to acquire memorabilia that bring to mind your favorite sports.
If you are looking for a fantastic site that will help you find the collectibles you seek, take a look at: Sports Collectibles.
You may have heard about someone spending millions of dollars on a baseball card or a piece of memorabilia, and this might have turned you away from the idea of gathering collectibles. However, this should not be an issue for you. Million dollar deals like those are extremely rare, and only carried out by those who have plenty of money to waste. It’s a fact that the collectibles hobby is open to everyone. Lots of money and free time are not necessary. All it requires is the desire to acquire some items that will remind you of your favourite sports. As your collection gets bigger, you’ll get more and more enjoyment from adding new pieces.
The most popular type of sports collectible is, of course, the card. For decades, football and baseball cards plus every other type of card you can think of, has been reproduced and distributed. If you look around enough, you might even find a big old box from your childhood, or a relative’s childhood.
This is a really good way for you get into sports card collecting, and the best part is that it doesn’t cost anything. However, cards aren’t the only sports memorabilia that are considered highly collectible. Other items that are also considered to be collectibles are balls, pictures, helmets, or jerseys. If you have a ball you caught at a baseball game, it is a collectible.
If you decide that collectibles are a good hobby for you, get out there and buy some items. First, buy a cleaning kit that will allow you to keep items in pristine condition. Then you need to get accessories that will let you showcase your collectibles. This could be a binder for your baseball cards, or some sort of display case to keep everything behind glass.
No matter which collectibles you purchase, they need to be kept away from possible hazards. Your collectibles are likely to be valuable down the road if you make the effort to preserve them properly.
Collectibles aren’t limited to a certain sport or a certain era. Some collectors prefer to collect vintage baseball cards, while others like to collect more modern memorabilia such as NASCAR races or NFL games. Sports collectibles such as diecast model race cars or helmet replicas can be found for your favorite sports personalities. Or, if you are just a fan of the sport in general, you can purchase more generic collectibles that don’t support anyone in specific.
If you wish to be involved in sports without the risk of injuries, then the sports collectibles hobby may be the perfect hobby for you. To get started, all you need to do is pick a sport or a player that interests you, and start finding items. After you start to get a knack for it, you will find it difficult to stop!.
I hope you enjoyed this article. For more information on sports collectibles, I recommend that you check out: Sports Collectibles.
Exclusive to the Ashton-Drake Galleries, Heavenly Handfuls miniature baby dolls have to be the cutest dolls around! With the realistic detail normally found in full-size dolls, the 6″ M&M’s dolls are a favorite with collectors.These little marvels come with a brightly colored sweater and a unique cap. Your heart will be melted by these adorable dolls!
The highest quality vinyl is used to create the lovely hand-crafted Heavenly Handfuls collections. In addition, their soft bodies are poseable which makes them more fun. Holding one of these precious baby dolls in the palm of your hand is sure to produce a warm feeling in your heart! Each one is truly a masterpiece.
The Heavenly Handfuls Sweet As You Please Baby Doll Collection is as realistic a doll collection as you’ll find, right down to the creases in the bottom of their little feet. The dolls have their own crocheted booties to keep them warm and the lovely costumes are perfectly made to scale.
The Heavenly Handfuls Collection also includes the collectible Miniature Kitten Doll Collection. Mohair is applied by hand to each of the highly detailed and beautifully crafted poseable kittens. These sweethearts have precious baby costumes with their name clearly displayed on the front.
If you love monkeys, you’re sure to love the Heavenly Handfuls L’il Monkey Hugs Collectible which comfortably sits in the palm of your hand. These extremely lifelike and fully poseable baby monkeys are each dressed in a beautiful outfit. The perfect gift for a monkey lover, these delightful dolls are also covered with mohair which has been applied by hand.
The Dancing For The Cure Breast Cancer Support Baby Doll is another lovely doll in the Heavenly Handfuls collection. Dressed in a lovely custom-designed outfit, these very lifelike 5″ ballerina dolls also proudly wear the pink ribbon.
For a touch of magic, you should take a look at the Heavenly Handfuls Wizard of Oz Vinyl Baby Doll Collection. At only 4 1/2″ tall, each doll is finely hand-crafted and hand-painted. Their superbly crocheted costumes and fabric “blankies” are specially decorated with characters such as Toto on Dorothy’s blanket.
If you love these dolls as much as I do, you’ll want to take a look at: Heavenly Handfuls.
