Articles by Jeff Garrett

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 [...]

The internet has vastly expanded the reach and scope of the rare coin business. You can now buy and sell coins with companies and individuals around the globe. With a few clicks, you can find coins you have been looking [...]

About two weeks ago, the numismatic world was stunned to hear the announcement of the sale of Whitman Publishing to CDN (Coin Dealer Newsletter, publisher of the Greysheet). Whitman has been serving the numismatic community since 1932, and its history closely mirrors the evolution of [...]

In the last few weeks, gold has finally started to move in a positive direction as it briefly topped $2,000 USD for the first time in months. Tensions over global conflicts have once again made gold look attractive as a [...]

Much attention in numismatics is focused on quality. One of the most common pieces of wisdom dispensed by experienced numismatists is to buy the best you can afford. The purpose of this article is to highlight the fact that the [...]