Articles by Jeff Garrett

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 [...]

My company has recently been working on the sale of a magnificent collection of Proof United States gold coins, including several of which rarely come to market. The chance to handle even a single Proof U.S. gold coin is special for most [...]

For decades, inflation in the United States has been a key focus for anyone who considers precious metals for investment. The spike of inflation in the 1970s (peaking at about 13%) precipitated by the oil embargo created the first rush to precious metals [...]

My morning ritual includes a cup of coffee and an attempt to answer the many emails received overnight. This can be exciting, as you never know what someone will be sending an inquiry about. My handling of the “Great Kentucky [...]

The summer months are traditionally the slowest for the rare coin business. The few major shows going on — such as the Long Beach and Baltimore Whitman expos — are the lightest-attended in their per-year rotations. The June shows this year were no exception. [...]

On July 4, 1826, there were parades, fireworks and speeches around the country to celebrate the 50th birthday of the United States. In Philadelphia, there had been invitations sent to the original signers of the Declaration of Independence to attend, but none were able. [...]

As gold prices surged to record levels in the last month or so, the value of “generic” United States gold coins has fallen to historic lows in relation to spot gold prices. Gold recently topped $2,400 per ounce for a few days. Generic gold coins are [...]

United States Large Cents were first produced in 1793 and continued nearly uninterrupted until 1857. The lone exception was 1815, when the United States Mint experienced a shortage of metal. By the late 1850s, the price of copper made the coins expensive to [...]