Coin collectors often overlook two of the most reliable, beginner-friendly tools for spotting valuable coins: weight and diameter measurements. While date and mintmark receive most of the attention, physical specifications are among the strongest indicators of authenticity, rarity, and potential value. Counterfeit coins, planchet errors, and off-metal strikes almost always reveal themselves through incorrect measurements.
DJR Expert Guide Series, Vol. 685 gives you a complete, beginner-friendly, non-destructive workflow for evaluating coins using weight, diameter, and thickness. Using simple visual and measurement techniques—no chemical tests, no metal scrapes, and no destructive tools—you’ll learn the same methods professional coin appraisers rely on.
Inside this guide, you’ll learn how to:
Understand why weight and diameter are crucial to identifying valuable coins
Measure coins safely using inexpensive tools such as digital scales and calipers
Compare your results to official U.S. Mint specifications
Identify counterfeit coins using weight mismatches, diameter errors, and edge irregularities
Detect off-metal strikes and planchet errors worth hundreds or thousands of dollars
Distinguish environmental wear from suspicious alterations
Recognize red flags in silver, gold, and base-metal coins
Spot tungsten-filled or cast bullion fakes
Use measurement tolerances safely and accurately
Follow a structured non-destructive workflow for determining when a coin deserves professional authentication
Apply the full DJR non-destructive workflow for evaluating coins
Know when an item deserves professional appraisal or authentication
Whether you're sorting loose change, reviewing inherited collections, evaluating estate boxes, or checking coins purchased online, this guide gives you the expert structure needed to identify coins with real rarity, error potential, or authentication concerns.
Digital Download — PDF • 8 Pages • Instant Access
Coin collectors often overlook two of the most reliable, beginner-friendly tools for spotting valuable coins: weight and diameter measurements. While date and mintmark receive most of the attention, physical specifications are among the strongest indicators of authenticity, rarity, and potential value. Counterfeit coins, planchet errors, and off-metal strikes almost always reveal themselves through incorrect measurements.
DJR Expert Guide Series, Vol. 685 gives you a complete, beginner-friendly, non-destructive workflow for evaluating coins using weight, diameter, and thickness. Using simple visual and measurement techniques—no chemical tests, no metal scrapes, and no destructive tools—you’ll learn the same methods professional coin appraisers rely on.
Inside this guide, you’ll learn how to:
Understand why weight and diameter are crucial to identifying valuable coins
Measure coins safely using inexpensive tools such as digital scales and calipers
Compare your results to official U.S. Mint specifications
Identify counterfeit coins using weight mismatches, diameter errors, and edge irregularities
Detect off-metal strikes and planchet errors worth hundreds or thousands of dollars
Distinguish environmental wear from suspicious alterations
Recognize red flags in silver, gold, and base-metal coins
Spot tungsten-filled or cast bullion fakes
Use measurement tolerances safely and accurately
Follow a structured non-destructive workflow for determining when a coin deserves professional authentication
Apply the full DJR non-destructive workflow for evaluating coins
Know when an item deserves professional appraisal or authentication
Whether you're sorting loose change, reviewing inherited collections, evaluating estate boxes, or checking coins purchased online, this guide gives you the expert structure needed to identify coins with real rarity, error potential, or authentication concerns.
Digital Download — PDF • 8 Pages • Instant Access
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