What Is the Meaning of Numismatics?

History

• Numismatics has been around since ancient times. The design and value of a coin is determined by the government and the citizens that use it as currency on a daily basis.

Significance

• Numismatists look for coins that are highly detailed and have historical significance from a given era. This information can help collectors find the most valuable coins to add to their collection.

Misconceptions

• Not every coin minted is a collectible coin for numismatists. Commemorative coins issued by mints other than the United States mint are not typically collected by serious coin collectors.

Famous Ties

• Many famous names throughout history have collected coins. Some famous names include Britain's Prime Minister Tony Blair, U.S. President John Quincy Adams, and King Louis XIV of France.

Fun Fact

• The Lincoln penny is the U.S. coin with the longest circulation. It was created in 1909 to commemorate Lincoln's 100th birthday. In 2009, four special edition pennies were created to commemorate the 200th anniversary of the president's birthday.