Love This! The Malachite design

is perfect for this bracelet.

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U.S. Gold

The U.S. Buffalo and American Eagle are two of the most beautiful coins the United States have ever created! USA Gold 99.99% Pure Buffalo Coins Weight: 1 Ounce (31.132 grams); Denomination: $50  USA Gold 91.67% Pure American Eagle Coins Weight: 1 Ounce (33.931 grams); Denomination: $50; Weight: 1/2 Ounce (16.966 grams); Denomination: $25; Weight: 1/4 Ounce (8.483 grams); Denomination: $10; Weight: 1/10 Ounce (3.393 grams); Denomination: $5

How to Spot Fake Confederate Civil War Currency

Russell Huebsch is going to show s the simple steps to telling a real confederate notes from the faux....

"Collecting Civil War Confederate currency is potentially very profitable because of the nostalgia for the time period in Southern states, but also rife with fakes. Some of the confusion surrounding Civil War-era currency comes from innocent mistakes, such as facsimiles, and from criminals purposely printing forgeries. Recognizing some of the most common signs of a facsimile or forgery can eliminate most fraudulent sales.

The Cut

The South was cash-strapped during the Civil War and could not afford the machinery needed to properly cut paper money. Instead, they used scissors and other hand-cut methods. This means that legitimate Confederate currency should not have perfectly cut edges like you would see on modern currency. You might even compare Confederate currency to how a coupon looks after you cut it out from a newspaper. 

The Paper

Again, the Confederate States of America was forced to use cheap rice paper instead of a sturdier material because of the lack of wealth in the area. Rice paper feels very flimsy -- kind of like a baking sheet - and much thinner than modern currency. Some states, such as Texas, printed currency on papyrus during the pre-Civil War period, so it is possible to find currency made out of other material, but most CSA currency used rice paper.

The Ink

Most real CSA currency contains writing - most bills have hand written numbering and signatures -- in iron gall ink. Some denominations used a stamp for numbering but at the very least the treasurer had to sign the note. Iron gall ink has a dark brown color, but it also oxidizes over time which leads to bleeding through the back of the note. While some CSA notes have stood the test of time and resisted bleeding, you should be able to see the ink bleed through the back on nearly all legitimate notes.

Common Fakes and Facsimiles

There are a number of legally produced replicas of CSA currency for educational and entertainment purposes, but they may have the word "replica" on them or easily won't pass the previously mentioned tests. Some, however, such as replicas found in Cheerios boxes in the 1950's, are so old that they may begin to look legitimate and have been passed down to the next generation, so some people think they are actually heirlooms from the Civil War.

You may also encounter contemporary counterfeits, which are counterfeits notes produced during the Civil War. There are several contemporary counterfeits, so it is hard to adhere to general guidelines when identifying them. One of the more common counterfeit notes was produced by Samuel Upham. Early Upham notes have Jefferson Davis's head replaced with a donkey and Samuel wrote his name and address on them at the bottom, but many people simply cut off the name and passed them off as legitimate currency. Upham soon began counterfeiting Confederate currency due to the huge number of people passing off his notes as fakes. In many cases, contemporary counterfeits hold just as much value as real notes.

Modern forgeries have almost no value, but many forgers use the same serial number over and over. The best way to spot a forgery is to compare the serial number with a list of known fakes. In addition, learn all of the denominations used by the CSA. For instance, the CSA never produced notes worth more than $1,000. Even the $500 and $1,000 notes are extremely rare, so finding one in mint condition should draw immediate suspicion."

Huebsch, Russell. "How to Spot Fake Confederate Civil War Currency." Yahoo! Contributor Network. N.p., 2 Aug. 2012. Web. 20 Aug. 2013. <http://voices.yahoo.com/how-spot-fake-confederate-civil-war-currency-11632834.html?cat=37>.

I wouldn't mind getting a pair of diamond dangle earrings 

like these

How would you like this 14k chain hanging around your neck?

One of our many gorgeous estate antique rings! Cabochon Amethyst haloed by Seed Pearls set in 14k gold.

Reasoning behind Mint Marks on U.S. Coinage

Here's what the U.S. Mint tells us about Mintmarks; check it out.


"Why Mint Marks?

Mint marks date from the days of ancient Greece and Rome.  The practice was inaugurated in the United States by an Act of March 3, 1835, which established the first branch mints in this country.  This Act provided that the Director of the Mint prescribe regulations for identifying the coins stamped at each institution, thus assuring central control of all coinage so that production from the different branches of the establishment should be exactly standard.  The use of a mint mark on branch Mint coins also insured recognition of the Mint of issue when received in circulation or returned to the Mint.  Thus responsibility for the coinage was established.  Currently, all circulating coinage produced at the Philadelphia Mint has a "P" mint mark except for the one-cent coin, or "penny."

Philadelphia Mint Marks

Philadelphia was the only mint in operation in those earliest years, and identification of the coinage was not necessary.  The practice was continued even after the branch mints were established.  In 1942, however, when World War II restrictions upon the use of metal made a change in the 5-cent piece necessary, a substitute alloy composed of 35% silver, 56% copper and 9% manganese was adopted.  In order to more easily distinguish between the regular copper-nickel alloy and the substitute composition, the mint mark was moved from its usual position at the right of Monticello and placed above the dome of the building on the wartime 5-cent piece.  The letter "P" appeared for the first time on Philadelphia coinage.  After the war, when a return to the regular alloy was made, the mint mark was restored to its former position and the letter "P" on Philadelphia coinage was discontinued.

In July of 1979, the Susan B. Anthony dollar coin was introduced, replacing the standard 1 1/2 -inch coin.  Once again, the "P" mint mark was placed on Philadelphia production, this time on the dollar denomination.

Denver Mint Marks

Denver coins have always carried the letter "D" except during the date freeze mentioned later in this text.  (See: The Coinage Act of 1965.)

San Francisco and West Point Mint Marks

The "S" Mint mark was used on San Francisco coins until 1955, when production there was suspended.  Operations were resumed in 1965, but on a limited basis.  A supplemental coinage of cents for circulation was produced from 1968 through 1974; nickels were struck in 1968, 1969 and 1970.  All bore the letter "S," as did a coinage of dimes in 1975.  Cents were manufactured at San Francisco for general circulation, as well as the West Point Bullion Depository, under auxiliary authority of the Congress in the early 1980's.  However, in order to assure maximum circulation of this small production, no mint marks were used.  Special Mint Sets were produced for collectors at San Francisco during 1965, 1966 and 1967.  Due to the restrictions on coin identification in force at that time, no mint marks were used.  Proof coin operations were moved from the Philadelphia Mint to San Francisco in 1968, and the letter "S" identifies that special numismatic coinage.  In addition, all proof coinage produced by West Point carries a "W" mint mark.

The Coinage Act of 1965

The coinage Act of 1965 prohibited the use of mint marks for a period of five years.  This, together with the date freeze, eliminated distinguishing features on our coins which could tend to cause their removal from circulation during a critical period when the Mint was striving to build up coin inventories.  No mint marks appear on coins dated 1965, 1966 and 1967.  Congressional authorization permitted resumption of the practice in 1968, at which time the mint marks, usually positioned on the reverse of the coins prior to 1968, were permanently relocated to the obverse side.

All master dies, including those used in the Mint's numismatics and medals programs, are manufactured in the Die Manufacturing Division of the Philadelphia Mint.  Mint marks are placed in the hub at Philadelphia.  This hub is the tool that produces the working dies used to stamp the coins.  Working dies are then delivered to the appropriate Mint facility for coinage purposes.  In addition, all working dies needed for the Denver facility are produced by the Denver Die Manufacturing Division along with some of the dies for the for the United States Mint at San Francisco.  Because of its secondary position in any coin designs, it has been the custom to make the mint mark as inconspicuous as possible and still be functional."

"The United States Mint · About The Mint." The United States Mint · About The Mint. N.p., n.d. Web. 15 Aug. 2013. <http://www.usmint.gov/about_the_mint/collectors_corner/?action=mint_marks>.

A little project that a few of the girls, at the shop,
 started in the summer of 2012.