Building a living reference from real-world coin finds and sales
.. for a lack of a better way to refer to what I’m doing. In a nutshell, they were talking about “it” so I’m talking about them, talking about “it.”
SKIP TO THE END if you’re not interested in my long-winded blabber about what all this is, why I’m doing it, etc.
How many times have you thought “What’s so great about that coin?”
For me, countless times. Sometimes I thought it was cool but it wasn’t. Sometimes I thought it wasn’t cool and it turned out to be one of the hottest coins out there! So, this is what this section of my site is dedicated to. I won’t be able to do this for every video but I have been consistently doing this for a handful of my favorite YouTubers for the past year. I have built up a significant database on my computer, so now I’m sharing it with you on here.
Why all this?
A lot of great coin information is shared online, but never really gets written down. I thought about this the other day when thinking about my dear mother who passed away almost 25 years ago now. How much information was lost when she passed? Well, then I thought about some of my favorite guys on YouTube.. their information is there but ONLY there, and it’s almost impossible to find.
It flashes by in YouTube videos, live streams, auction recaps, and comment sections. Someone mentions a date and a price.. then the moment passes, the video gets buried, and the details are gone forever, unless you watch it again (which I NEVER do).
This page is where I slow all of that down.
I’m building a growing reference library based on real coins that real collectors are talking about, one coin at a time.
What this project is (and isn’t)
This is not a list of fantasy values or “every penny is worth $10,000” claims.
It is:
- a running archive of specific coins and errors
- pulled from credible coin content and market activity
- documented in plain language
- and organized so you can actually use it
The goal is simple: If a coin keeps coming up in strong videos, auctions, or collector discussions, it deserves its own page. Assuming I live long enough, I will eventually have a page for every coin, but for now we’ll have to settle with a page for every coin mentioned.
Where the coins come from
Most of the entries here are inspired by:
- YouTube creators (coin roll hunters, error specialists, market watchers)
- Recent auction results and sold listings
- Coins shown and discussed in detail, not just mentioned in passing
When a video references a coin that’s worth digging into, I turn that single coin into a dedicated post.
I’m not trying to steal anyone’s traffic or information! Each post links back to its source so you can watch the original discussion for yourself. In fact, I encourage you to do so.
Why I’m doing this?
Two big reasons.
1) Coin knowledge moves fast
Some of the best insights happen off the cuff.
A quick note about a doubled die.
A sale that surprises even experienced collectors.
A modern coin nobody cared about five years ago but sells now for $100!
Those moments are easy to miss and hard to find later.
2) Collectors need usable references
Most people searching rolls or collections don’t need a textbook.
They need to know:
- what to look for
- how to recognize it
- and whether it’s something collectors are actually paying for
That’s the gap I’m trying to fill.
How each coin page is built
Every coin page follows the same basic idea (in theory, maybe):
- The coin and year
- What makes it interesting (error, variety, strike issue, etc.)
- How to identify it
- Why collectors care
- Recent market behavior (when available)
- A reference back to the video or source that sparked the post
Some posts will be short and focused, others will grow over time as more examples surface.
This is meant to be a living archive, not a static list.
Special Note
I do NOT provide financial advice. None of this is meant to advise you on what to buy or sell. Ever. I’m only referencing something that someone else said. If I had great advice.. well, I’d be rich. Marrying my wife is the smartest thing I’ve ever done. Anything before or after that is considered questionable behavior.
How to use this site
If you’re:
- checking pocket change
- hunting coin rolls
- sorting an old collection
- or just learning what to look for
Start with the hub pages below, then drill down to individual coins.
Coin hubs (growing over time)
Lincoln Cents
- Wheat cents
- Memorial cents
- Shield cents
- Errors, doubled dies, cracks, clips, and cuds
Nickels
- Buffalo nickels
- Jefferson nickels
- Varieties and major mint errors
Dimes
- Mercury dimes
- Roosevelt dimes
- Overdates, missing mintmarks, and silver-era errors (era errors? Geez)
Quarters, Halves & Dollars
- State and America the Beautiful quarters
- Kennedy halves
- Eisenhower dollars and larger-format errors
Paper Money & Tokens
- Error notes
- Misalignments
- Historic tokens when they intersect with the coin market
(These sections will expand as new posts are added.)
New and Recent Additions
I’ll keep a running list of the latest coin pages here so you can easily see what’s new:
This page is meant to be revisited. If it hasn’t changed in a while, I’m probably behind.
A note about prices and value
Coin prices aren’t fixed, they depend on:
- condition
- eye appeal
- clarity of the error
- timing
- and how many collectors were paying attention that day
So prices mentioned here should be treated as snapshots, not promises. They’re meant to help you understand why a coin sold, not how to predict what the next coin will do.
Why videos matter here
YouTube has become one of the most important places where collectors share information. When a knowledgeable creator highlights a coin, it often changes how others view it.
That doesn’t mean every mention makes a coin valuable, but repeated, thoughtful discussion usually means something is worth paying attention to.
That’s what I’m documenting.
Want to suggest a coin or video?
If you see a video that made you stop and think, or a coin that keeps popping up and doesn’t have a good reference page yet, let me know.
If it fits the goal of this project, it belongs here.
Recent Posts
(coming soon)