At a glance ~ Quick answers to some frequently asked questions (and other helpful information!)

What is a... ?

Blue Ike:  A Blue Ike is an uncirculated, 40% silver Eisenhower Dollar dated 1971 through 1974 that's still in its original cellophane and blue envelope as it was issued and sold to collectors by the US Mint.  More info...

Brown Ike:  A Brown Ike is a proof, 40% silver Eisenhower Dollar dated 1971 through 1974 that's still in its original hard plastic case inside a brown cardboard box as it was issued and sold to collectors by the US Mint.  More info...

GSA Dollar:  A GSA Dollar is a uncirculated silver dollar from the Carson City, Nevada mint dated between 1878 and 1891 that is still in its original hard plastic case inside a cardboard box as it was issued and sold to collectors by the US Government.  More info...

Mint Set:  A mint set is a set of several coins of different denominations, all of the same date, produced and packaged each year by the US Mint especially for collectors.  They contain regular coins that are the same as the coins released into circulation, and contain coins from both the Philadelphia and Denver mints.  More info...

Proof Set:  A proof set is a set of several coins of different denominations, all of the same date, produced and packaged each year by the US Mint especially for collectors.  "Proof" coins are manufactured differently than regular coins - "proofs" are made from specially prepared, highly polished dies which give them mirrored surfaces, and they are not meant for general circulation.  More info...

Susan B. Anthony ("SBA") Dollars:  A SBA or Susan B. Anthony Dollar is a one dollar Proof coin produced for collectors in 1999, and comes in a government issued plastic box.  More info...

US Eagle:  A US Eagle is an uncirculated or proof silver, gold or platinum bullion coin produced for collectors and investors by the US Mint from 1986 to the present.  Silver Eagles are in the $1 denomination, Gold Eagles are in the $5, $10, $25 and $50 denominations, and Platinum Eagles are in the $10, $25, $50 and $100 denominations.  The Gold and Platinum Eagle denominations correspond to the 1/10 ounce, 1/4 ounce, 1/2 ounce and 1 ounce sizes, respectively.  Only Silver Eagles are available on this web site at this time -- please call Pete Dodge at (615) 832-9904 if you are interested in purchasing Gold or Platinum Eagles.  More info...

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Pete's favorite question:  You're telling me that my coin is only worth $10, but I saw the same thing on eBay for $6,000.  Why is that? 

Answer:  Condition is everything!  Even if you believe your coin is in "excellent" condition ~ and it might be ~ if I've only offered you $10 for it, TRUST ME, it's not worth anywhere near $6,000.  For example, if you have a 1922 silver dollar in "excellent" condition, it might be worth $10.  However, the same coin that's been certified as "Matte Proof 65" by PCGS or NGC will be worth many thousands of dollars ~ and I would pay many thousands of dollars for it!  While we're on that subject, a "proof" coin is actually manufactured differently than a normal coin ~ proof coins are made especially for collectors and they're made with specially polished dies that give the coins highly mirrored surfaces, and they're handled very carefully by Mint employees as they're packaged for sale to collectors.  Not all proof coins are worth more than other coins, though ~ like anything else, it all comes down to rarity and desirability.