Lesson 103.1: Mints and mint marks

U.S. coins are struck at several mints, and many carry a small letter (a mint mark) showing where they were made. The same date can exist from more than one mint, and collectors often treat each as a separate slot in a set. Look for the mint mark with a magnifier, and record it in your portal.

Lesson 103.2: Proof vs. business strike

"Business strikes" are made for circulation or general sale. "Proofs" are specially made, usually with mirror-like fields and frosted designs, and often sold in protective packaging. They're different products, so they're tracked separately.

Lesson 103.3: Bullion-priced vs. collector-priced

Some coins are priced mostly on their metal content; others carry a collector premium for scarcity, condition or demand. PCGS notes that many collections are "bullion based and not necessarily tied to great scarceness" (PCGS). Knowing which kind you hold helps you set realistic expectations. CoinWeek's reminder applies: "unless you know who actually wants your coin, you might end up with much less than you paid for it" (CoinWeek).

Lesson 103.4: Case study: the American Silver Eagle

The American Silver Eagle has been issued every year since 1986 in several finishes, which makes it a popular set to build: by year, by finish, or both. It's a good example of set collecting (101.3), mint marks (103.1) and proof vs. business strike (103.2) all in one series. Our set-completion tracker Coming soon includes it.

Try it in your portal

Add one coin with its year, mint mark and finish. If it's graded, add the cert number and verify it.

Educational only. This is not insurance, tax, legal or investment advice. Collectibles can lose value; past prices don't predict future ones.

Sources

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Last reviewed 2026-10-28 · Draft

103: Coins 101