Articles by Jeff Garrett

A privy mark is a small, distinguishing symbol or mark added to coins during the minting process, typically used to commemorate a special event or to add a layer of security. The use of privy marks has a long history [...]

For more than 50 years, I have been attending the annual Florida United Numismatists (FUN) Convention. In the 1970s, when I first started going to the show, it was held in my hometown of Clearwater at the old Fort Harrison Hotel downtown. My earliest memories [...]

For much of the last 50 years of my career, the rare coin market has been dominated by investors. Starting about 1979, when rare coins soared because of record gold and silver prices, the market for numismatics was dominated by [...]

Mint errors are one of the most complicated segments of the rare coin market. We receive dozens of calls and emails each month from individuals inquiring about the value of a mint error. Many are just damaged coins that people [...]

By almost anyone’s measure, the world has changed a lot in the last few weeks. The United States presidential election was anxiously anticipated for months by people on both sides of the political spectrum. Democrats and Republicans were equally optimistic about their [...]

Despite this being the sixth edition of my popular book, 100 Greatest U.S. Coins, I could not wait to open the box when they arrived this week. The new books have been redesigned, with a much more modern look. Whitman Publishing was sold [...]

The 1909-S V.D.B. Lincoln Cent is certainly not one of the rarest U.S. coins, but it is one of the most famous. The elusive cent is listed in my book 100 Greatest U.S. Coins (6th Ed., 2024), and it is probably one of the [...]

One of the oldest pieces of advice given to anyone new to the hobby is “buy the best that you can afford.” This old adage is often shared along with “buy the book before the coin.” These days, buying a [...]

Each year, my family tries to travel abroad to escape from our normal routine and spend some quality time together. I also feel it is important for my family to experience other cultures. Generally, the trips are intended for me [...]

One of the highlights of the recently completed 2024 ANA World’s Fair of Money was the exhibit of the Egyptian portion of the Tyrant Collection. The collection is billed as the world’s most valuable private coin collection, and for anyone who has seen [...]