The Vault Blog

Cent coins and half cents were the first to be produced by the United States Mint as stated by the Coinage Act of 1792. Production started in 1793 and from then on, cent coins, large and small, have been a part of United States coinage history.

Continuing our series that follows the evolution of a denomination, we will tackle large cents from their inception to their demise for which the small cent would take over. They would be produced every year from 1793 until 1857 with the exception of 1815 as there was a shortage of copper which prevented planchets from...read more

If you could not tell, we love the ‘100 Greatest’ series by Whitman Publishing. Numismatics is a grand landscape full of coins, new and old, medals, and currency. There is so much to learn in the hobby, no matter how long you have actively been a part of it. Likewise, these books provided and published by Whitman with a number of different topics at hand are also a great tool to learn from. We love them here at SilverTowne and that is exactly why we have decided to explore their lists and relay that message to our customers and supporters. If anything, you will find numerous numismatic items you have never heard of or did not know how important they were to...read more

Ag stands for silver on the periodic table of elements. We here at SilverTowne are a business built on high-quality silver coins, medallions, and bars. Therefore, it makes sense that we want you to know a few things about the precious metal. We buy it, we sell it, and we know its importance in today’s market. It is versatile and has the ability to change in value over time, making it one of the most affordable and commonly collected precious metals out there.

Let us explore and explain some of the biggest things to know about silver from our point of view---one that has been in business...read more

“It’s like Fort Knox.” Do you recall ever hearing those words or words like them used to describe a place that is hard to get into? Most likely you have and it means just that. Precautions, safety, security, authorizations, access. All those things are also used to describe a place that not just anyone can walk into. That comparison and saying are used for a reason and it’s because Fort Knox set a precedent for secure facilities across the bar.

While some today may think that Fort Knox is just a military base (which it is), some may not realize that while the United States Army was stationed in the Kentucky location, a United States Bullion Depository was built in the early 1900s for which the Army would be deployed to defend if threats were present. With all the branches of the United States Mint including its headquarters in...read more

The summer months also mean the wedding season is in full effect and although it may not be as fully functioning as it usually is during this time due to obvious reasons, we are well aware that the majority of the population will be attending some sort of ceremony. With ceremonies, come gifts and well, we like to think we have you covered in that department.

While cash is always a great option for the happy couple, how about something a little more unique? While there are a number of silver bullion options available at our website that are categorized by ounces, shapes, and themes, keep in mind that weddings are definitely one of those special occasions we have a category for! The special day is a momentous occasion in most of our lives and deserves to be celebrated and remembered. While...read more

1792: a big year in numismatics. The first thing to come to mind? The Coinage Act of April 2, 1792. After the United States Constitution was ratified by a majority of the states in 1788, Congress members and many of its founders found the need for a national Mint to create an identity among a brand new economy. Cut to 1792 and the first mint would be established and Philadelphia would be chosen as its location for, at the time, the Pennsylvania town was the nation’s capital.

While the first circulating coins would not be produced until 1793, coinage in the form of copper would immediately be produced. Among these, the half cent and the cent coins. But if you are knowledgeable about the way the United States Mint operates, you are...read more

United States coinage: where do we start? There are many ways to go about this, but simply put, why not start at the beginning?

This new blog series, Evolution of a Denomination, aims to take you through the changes coinage from the United States has gone through dating back to the very first coins produced at the original United States Mint in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania. One of those coins? The lowest face value coin struck by the Mint: the half cent.

Half Cents (1793-1857)

After the United States Constitution was ratified in 1788 by the majority of the states, many of its founders felt the need for...read more

We know that certain circumstances led to spring sports being canceled in addition to many other things this year. A lot of hard-working athletes suffered because of it and for that, we are sending lots of heartfelt wishes to those youngsters, especially the seniors. But we also know that just because they did not get the chance to strut their stuff this year does not mean that they should not get recognized for all their years of hard work.

One of those sports in the midst of it all was softball. Invented in the winter of 1887 in Chicago, Illinois, as an indoor game, the game of softball is now a premier sport that has over hundreds of leagues and over thousands of players across the country. From little league to Team USA, young women now take part in a fostered and growing sport that...read more