Introduction Coins made of nickel or containing nickel (copper-nickel, nickel-plated, etc.) have a special appeal among collectors, because they often represent transitional phases in minting technology, responses to economic pressures (like the rising cost of silver), or aesthetic and metallurgical experimentation. In the Netherlands, while many older coins were silver or copper based, the mid-20th century onward saw increasing use of nickel (or nickel alloys) for durability, cost, and modernization. Rarity in these coins may arise from low mintage, withdrawal before general circulation, errors, proof issues, or wartime constraints. This article explores the Dutch context: what coins qualify, which are rare, and what makes them valuable to collectors, along with broader historical context. 2. His...
The $20 Double Eagle: history, design, value, and the $34,000 Pawn Stars purchase #goldcoin #collectables
The U.S. gold $20 "Double Eagle" is one of the most iconic American coins — minted from 1849 through 1933 in various designs and with many rare variations. Prices today range from bullion-equivalent levels for common, heavily worn examples to multi-million-dollar sums for the rarest, highest-grade specimens (e.g., the famed 1933 Double Eagle and certain Paquet/1861 variants). Recent dealer price guides and auction records show a wide price spectrum, driven by date/mint, variety, grade, provenance, rarity, and market conditions. A widely seen Pawn Stars clip shows the Gold & Silver Pawn Shop (familiar to fans of the show) buying an 1861/1861-era Double Eagle for about $34,000 — a realistic outcome when an uncommon date and high grade meet demand. (Sources used: Pawn Stars clip and market/auction databases, PCGS, Heritage, APMEX, AP News.) AP News +4 YouTube +4 pcgs.com +4 1 — Introduction: why the Double Eagle matters The $20 Double Eagle occupies a special place in U...