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Numismatic Innovators with Dr. Donald Kagin | Episode 1: David Hall and the Birth of PCGS
5 november 2026 · 40 min
Numismatic Innovators with Dr. Donald Kagin | Episode 1: David Hall and the Birth of PCGS Lees meer
How did a coin in a little plastic holder change the rare coin market? In the premiere of Numismatic Innovators, Dr. Donald Kagin sits down with David Hall to explore the origins of the Professional Coin Grading Service (PCGS) and how independent grading changed the way collectors buy and sell coins. This monthly interview series is presented by the American Numismatic Association and hosted on Worth Its Weight.
About Dr. Donald Kagin
Don Kagin was the first person in the United States to earn a doctorate in numismatics. He is president of Kagin’s, Inc., a former ANA vice president, and the author of America’s Golden Age, a reference on private and pioneer U.S. gold coins.About David Hall
David Hall is a longtime rare coin dealer and the co-founder and first president of PCGS, which began grading coins in 1986. He helped bring independent coin grading into widespread use and helped develop the Set Registry, which lets collectors compare their collections online.Explore more
Kagin’s, Inc.
Professional Coin Grading Service (PCGS)
The story of how PCGS began, in David Hall’s own words
Numismatic Innovators series page and listener questions
Worth Its Weight is an ANA production from the Money Museum, where history adds up—with interest!
To learn more, explore show notes, and discover more stories carried by money, visit money.org.
Follow the money. Literally.
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Political Pocket Change: When Campaigns Get Dirty
3 november 2026 · 30 min
Think today's political campaigns are nasty? America's politicians have been slinging mud for centuries—and sometimes, they struck their insults in metal. Lees meer
From Andrew Jackson's transformation into a jackass to Martin Van Buren's unfortunate footsteps, political tokens of the 1830s turned economic frustration into pocket-sized satire. By 1896, opponents of William Jennings Bryan were manufacturing enormous silver dollars, ridiculous caricatures, and even a miniature coffin to mock his monetary policies. And the tradition didn't end there.
In this Election Day special, host Caroline Turco explores the wonderfully irreverent history of American political exonumia, tracing how tokens, medals, and metallic mementos reflected the changing relationship between money and public participation. Along the way, we celebrate a distinctly American freedom: the right to criticize our leaders, challenge their decisions, and even mint our disagreements.
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Featured Numismatic Objects
1834 Andrew Jackson “I Take the Responsibility” Hard Times Token
A satirical political token depicting Andrew Jackson emerging from a strongbox with a sword and money bag. The reverse portrays a jackass bearing the letters “LL.D.,” mocking Jackson's honorary law degree and his interpretation of presidential authority.
Smithsonian National Museum of American History — Object and Images
ANA — Tales from the Vault: Hard Times Tokens
1837 “Illustrious Predecessor” Hard Times Token
A running jackass illustrates Martin Van Buren's promise to follow Andrew Jackson's policies, while a tortoise carrying a treasury chest mocks the administration's proposed financial system.
Smithsonian National Museum of American History — Object and Images
1896 Bryan Money — Comparative Dollars
Oversized silver pieces manufactured to ridicule William Jennings Bryan's proposed free coinage of silver at a sixteen-to-one ratio with gold. These medals turned a complex monetary debate into a striking visual argument.
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Weekly Weigh-In: October 30, 2026
30 oktober 2026 · 12 min
Coins in Costume: Hidden Identities & a $93,000 Silver Eagle | Weekly Weigh-In, October 30, 2026 Lees meer
Some coins have been keeping secrets beneath their costumes. In this Halloween edition of the Weekly Weigh-In, Caroline Turco unwraps a Continental dollar’s earlier identity, investigates a gold sovereign masquerading as a Canadian quarter, and examines the extraordinary rarity behind a nearly $93,000 Silver Eagle.
Plus: a chill in gold and silver prices, quarters suiting up for youth sports, the return of a fractional Gold Buffalo, and a new chapter for the Coin of the Year awards.
Worth Its Weight—made for collectors, open to the curious.
In this episode
A ghost beneath the surface: X-ray research identifies a 1748 Mexico City eight reales beneath a silver Continental dollar. What does this reveal about its manufacture—and what questions remain unanswered?
A chill in the metals market: An October 29 snapshot of gold and silver prices, followed by the $92,812.50 sale of a 2026-P Team USA privy-mark Silver Eagle.
The quarter at the masquerade: A 1969 Canadian quarter struck over a 1966 British gold sovereign brings $28,125. Was its transformation an accident or deliberate mint-floor mischief?
Quarters suit up and a Buffalo rises again: The U.S. Mint unveils its 2027 youth-sports quarters and wheelchair-basketball half dollar, while a one-tenth-ounce reverse-proof Gold Buffalo is scheduled for December 10.
A new dragon watching over the hoard: NGC will manage the Coin of the Year awards beginning in 2027. We revisit memorable winners featuring lunar exploration, Ukrainian cultural heritage, and a Chinese dragon.
Sources & further reading
Continental dollar research
CoinWeek: X-rays reveal a hidden Spanish dollar beneath the Continental dollar
Robert L. Rodriguez, The Continental Dollar: A Journey of Discovery — Whitman Publishing
Precious metals & the Team USA Silver Eagle
Reuters: October 29 gold and precious-metals report
GreatCollections: October 18 au…
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The Blood Countess or Blood Money?
27 oktober 2026 · 29 min
The Blood Countess or Blood Money? Lees meer
A souvenir banknote. Two rival rulers. Hundreds of "victims." What can money reveal about the so-called Blood Countess, Elizabeth Báthory?
In the final spooky-season episode of Worth Its Weight, Caroline Turco explores the terrifying legend of the Blood Countess—and then examines the evidence behind it. Beginning with a modern souvenir note featuring Báthory and Čachtice Castle, we follow coins and historical accounts into a world of divided kingdoms, religious conflict, powerful families, and war.
Coins of Matthias II and Gabriel Báthory introduce the competing authorities surrounding her. Alongside these objects, we examine her wealth and estates, interpretations of her household’s healing practices, and Cambridge academic Dr. Annouchka Bayley’s reassessment of her work educating young women.
How much of the familiar story rests on evidence? What might others have gained from her downfall? And how does a disputed reputation become a marketable legend?
*Content advisory: This episode discusses allegations of torture, murder, and violence against women and girls.
The interpretations discussed in this episode remain contested. The coins illuminate Báthory’s world; they do not independently establish her guilt or innocence.
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Featured numismatic objects
Čachtický Hrad €0 souvenir note, Slovakia, 2019 — EEBX 2019-1. Featuring Elizabeth Báthory and Čachtice Castle. The seller’s description discussed in the episode presents her murderous reputation as fact. This is a souvenir, not legal tender. View the note and seller’s description.
Stephen Báthory medal commemorating the recovery of Livonia and Polotsk, circa 1582. Its reverse adapts imagery from Roman Judaea Capta coinage. Examples were distributed at Jan Zamoyski’s wedding to Gryzelda Báthory in 1583. View both sides and the auction description.
Matthias II silver five-thaler piece, Hungary, 1610, Kremnica mint. A crowned, armored portrait and dynastic arms proclaim th…
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Weekly Weigh-In: October 23, 2026
23 oktober 2026 · 13 min
Cigar Box Gold, Medieval Kings & D. B. Cooper’s $20 Bill | Weekly Weigh-In Lees meer
A gold coin hidden in a cigar box brings $97,600, newly reported dollar errors send collectors checking their purchases, and a damaged $20 bill carries a six-figure connection to D. B. Cooper.
This week, Caroline Turco catches up on what’s making news in numismatics, from strong proof-set sales and growing interest in circulated banknotes to a rare Norwegian coin identified during museum cataloguing. We also explore how Harold II presented himself on money in the fateful year 1066—and make a personal detour to the Paris Opera.
In this episode
Proof-set follow-up: Strong sales for the $107 Semiquincentennial Proof Set add another perspective to the affordability discussion.
Collector market: Arthur Friedberg’s analysis examines stronger prices for circulated large-size U.S. banknotes.
Cigar box treasure: An exceptionally preserved 1867-S Liberty Head half eagle emerges from a family collection.
Missing-layer dollars: Three reported Trump dollar errors—and why an asking price is different from a completed sale.
In circulation: The Gettysburg Address quarter begins its journey through the banking system.
From ceiling to coin: A former opera singer’s personal pick connects the Palais Garnier, Marc Chagall, and French commemorative coins.
Olaf’s unexpected appearance: A closer reading of an inscription reveals a rare coin of Norway’s king and future saint.
Harold II and 1066: Crown, sceptre, and the word PAX—peace—preserve a king’s authority before his defeat.
D. B. Cooper’s ransom: The surviving portion of a single $20 note sells for $134,200.
Sources and further reading
Proof sets and the collector market
CoinNews: 2026 Innovation Reverse Proof Set Breaks Record — includes the latest Semiquincentennial Proof Set sales update.
Greensheet: October 2026 Market Analysis—Collector Grade Notes Strong
Cigar box treasure
Heritage’s auction description: 1867-S Liberty Head Half Eagle, …
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Haunting Notgeld
20 oktober 2026 · 28 min
A headless rider guarding a lonely cross stone. Witches flying across the Brocken on Walpurgis Night. A mysterious piper abducting a village's children. Lees meer
In the years surrounding Germany’s defeat in World War I, communities across the country issued their own emergency money, or notgeld, to fill shortages of official currency. What began as a practical solution soon became something more colorful—and considerably stranger.
In this spooky-season episode of Worth Its Weight, Caroline explores three German notgeld notes that draw on local legends, folklore, and fear. Along the way, she examines how emergency money became a canvas for community identity, tourism, collector demand, and stories much older than the notes themselves.
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What Was Notgeld?
Notgeld—literally “emergency money”—was issued by municipalities, businesses, and other local organizations when official coins and currency became scarce. During and after World War I, shortages of metal coinage encouraged increasingly widespread local issues. By 1920 and 1921, many colorful Serienscheine were produced in sets aimed partly at collectors, featuring local history, scenery, legends, and folklore.
The ANA Edward C. Rochette Money Museum explores German emergency currency, its origins, materials, and transformation into a collector market.
ANA Money Museum — German Notgeld
ANA Money Museum — World War I German Emergency Money---
Featured Objects:
Berga, 25 Pfennig, 1921 — The Headless Rider
Issued by the town of Berga an der Elster on October 1, 1921, this 25-pfennig note depicts a headless horseman standing watch near a boundary stone.Its inscription tells the story:
“The rider without a head keeps watch at the stone cross every dark night. He fell while storming the castle. His name is no longer spoken.”
The note belonged to a larger illustrated series drawing on local legends and supernatural stories. Its imagery shows how notgeld could preserve folklore as readily as civic monuments or histor…
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The Witch-Hunting King: James VI and I
13 oktober 2026 · 25 min
In 1590, King James VI of Scotland became convinced that witches had tried to kill him by summoning storms at sea. What followed were the infamous North Berwick witch trials, brutal interrogations, executions, and eventually James’s own treatise on witchcraft and demons, Daemonologie. Lees meer
In this spooky-season episode of Worth Its Weight, Curator Caroline Turco explores the complicated Christian worldview of James VI and I through witch trials, royal theology, and the coins that carried his ideas into everyday life.
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Show Notes & Links
James VI and I
James became King of Scotland as an infant in 1567 and inherited the English throne in 1603, ruling there as James I. His reign joined the crowns of Scotland and England under a single monarch and produced coinage that increasingly reflected his ideas about kingship, religion, and union.Explore James I and his coinage through the ANA Edward C. Rochette Money Museum’s Kings and Queens of England exhibit. ANA Money Museum — James I and the Gold Unite
The North Berwick Witch Trials
After storms disrupted Anne of Denmark’s voyage to Scotland and later endangered James and Anne on their journey home, accusations emerged that witches had deliberately raised the weather against the royal couple. The resulting North Berwick prosecutions implicated more than 100 people and became one of the defining witch-hunting episodes of James’s reign.The University of Edinburgh’s Survey of Scottish Witchcraft explores the legal procedures, evidence, and wider history of Scottish witch trials. Survey of Scottish Witchcraft — Trial Procedures and Evidence
For broader context on both women and the Scottish witch hunts, explore the Survey of Scottish Witchcraft, a University of Edinburgh research database documenting thousands of accused witches and their cases. Survey of Scottish Witchcraft
James VI, Daemonologie (1597)
Written as a dialogue, Daemonologie presented James’s arguments for the reality of witchcraft, demons, spirits, an… -
Weekly Weigh-In: October 9, 2026
9 oktober 2026 · 12 min
Coming up: a familiar collector tradition gets an unfamiliar price tag, new research revisits a famous coin’s ownership history, and a supposed rarity proves disappointing. Lees meer
Plus, funding for coin clubs, an auction for young collectors, and a new series coming to this podcast.
And before we’re done, Canada puts a ghost on its money.
Apparently, inflation wasn’t frightening enough.
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Links and Resources
2026 Semiquincentennial Proof Set — U.S. Mint
How the U.S. Mint determines product prices
1792 half disme — Heritage Auctions, Lot 3414
Aluminum-cent replica report — Coin World
Hobby Protection Act — Federal Trade Commission
CAC Grading charitable funding announcement
Funding requests: Email jalbanese@cacgrading.com by October 31, explaining your organization’s purpose and proposed use of the donation. John Albanese asks applicants to write in their own words, without AI assistance.
ANA events — YN auction catalog and participation information
Royal Canadian Mint — new releases
The history behind the Gibraltar Point Lighthouse mystery
Worth Its Weight is an ANA production from the Money Museum, where history adds up—with interest!
To learn more, explore show notes, and discover more stories carried by money, visit money.org.
Follow the money. Literally.
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A Coin to Die For: EID MAR with Shanna Schmidt
6 oktober 2026 · 1 uur 5 min
Spooky season at Worth Its Weight begins with a killer coin. Shanna Schmidt joins Caroline Turco for a conversation about the EID MAR and the ancient coin industry, connecting a notorious piece of Roman history with the people who collect, study, and trade ancient money today. Join us for a look at the enduring fascination of ancient coins—and the stories they carry into the modern world. Lees meer
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Guest Shanna Schmidt: Shanna Schmidt is an ancient coin dealer specializing in Greek coinage and the founder of Shanna Schmidt Numismatics. The daughter of renowned numismatist Harlan J. Berk, she grew up in the coin business before launching her own firm in 2016. She has served on the American Numismatic Association’s Board of Governors and helps collectors build collections and navigate major auctions worldwide.
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In this episode:
Reading the EID MAR’s imagery—and the contradictions behind its message of liberty.
Ancient coins as political advertisements, historical evidence, and objects of fascination.
Shanna’s journey from music and advertising to ancient coins, and finding her confidence in a predominantly male industry.
What auction representation involves, including bidding strategy, client advocacy, and lessons learned under pressure.
Shanna’s perspective on cultural property, collecting, and the importance of preserving a coin’s ownership history.
Her personal experience of the gold EID MAR investigation and its impact on the trade.
The S&S Library, historic auction catalogs, and efforts to preserve and digitize numismatic research.
Subscribe Today!
If you enjoyed this episode, follow Worth Its Weight wherever you get your podcasts and leave us a review—it helps more listeners discover the stories money carries.
And if there’s a coin, note, or piece of monetary history you think deserves an episode, send us your two cents. You never know what might make its way onto Worth Its Weight.
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Learn More About the American Numismatic Association
Money Mus…
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Weekly Weigh-In: October 2, 2026
2 oktober 2026 · 11 min
A growing hobby doesn’t always mean rising prices—and that can be good news for collectors. This week, Caroline explores the distinction between enthusiasm and value, from falling bullion prices and steady classic coins to the creative appeal of hobo nickels. Along the way: a real treasure hunt, the truth behind a $235,000 penny headline, a Team USA Silver Eagle that challenges the meaning of a “complete” collection, and Supergirl’s surprisingly ancient numismatic predecessors. Apparently, putting heroes on money never goes out of style. Lees meer
Show Notes
Follow the clues, find the treasure: Stack’s Bowers is offering $40,000 in numismatic prizes across four cities: Miami, October 6–10; Philadelphia, October 13–17; San Francisco, October 20–24; and Boston, October 27–31. Rules, clues, and participation details.
An energized hobby versus rising prices: Coin World’s price-sheet analysis examines the contrast between bullion-linked modern issues and steadier classic collector coins. Metals prices mentioned in the episode reflect an October 1 snapshot.
Five-cent canvases: According to Kagin’s post-sale press release, the September 28 opening session of the Candace D. Kagin hobo nickel collection realized more than $100,000 across 137 lots. Explore the auction catalog.
Behind the $235,000 penny headline: A family’s long-held 1943 bronze cent receives authentication—not a newly discovered windfall from pocket change. The reported figure is a valuation; the sale price was not disclosed. Read the story.
The Team USA Silver Eagle: A special issue with a mintage of just 403 raises questions about collecting boundaries. Bidding on the featured example closes October 18. Auction background and listing link.
Supergirl meets ancient coinage: Explore the U.S. Mint’s Comic Art program. Compare its modern heroes with Heracles on Alexander’s coinage, Aeneas on a Caesar denarius, and Commodus dressed as Hercules.
Coming Tuesday: Shanna Schmidt joins Caroline to discuss the EID MAR a…
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United States, Divided Interests
29 september 2026 · 25 min
America's Founders warned against political parties. Then they helped create them. Lees meer
They questioned each other’s motives, accused their opponents of endangering the republic, and became convinced that only their side could save the country. Sound familiar?
In this episode of Worth Its Weight, discover how the battle over the First Bank of the United States helped turn disagreements among the Founders into America’s first political parties. Alexander Hamilton saw a bank that could strengthen the nation. Thomas Jefferson saw a dangerous concentration of money and power. James Madison challenged its constitutionality. George Washington had to decide.
The argument reached far beyond banking: How much power should the federal government wield? Who should benefit from its policies? And when did a political opponent become a threat to the country itself?
Through subscription certificates, speculative fortunes, and eagle-adorned banknotes, we trace the financial dispute that helped harden those divisions—and arrive at Washington’s warning against party spirit, written with help from Hamilton himself.
This is the third installment in our exploration of America’s financial founding, following Benjamin Franklin’s paper money and the creation of the decimal dollar.
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Numismatic References:
Bank of the United States subscription certificates, 1791 – Known as scrip, these certificates recorded an initial $25 payment toward a $400 share. Their resale fueled an early American speculative frenzy.
First Bank stock – The Bank’s authorized capital comprised 25,000 shares at $400 each. The federal government subscribed for one-fifth; private investors supplied the remainder.
Federal debt securities – Investors paid three-quarters of their stock subscriptions with eligible government debt and one-quarter in gold or silver, connecting public credit to the Bank’s capital.
First Bank banknotes – Privately issued promises of payment in specie, or gold and silver, on demand. Thei…
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Weekly Weigh-In: September 25, 2026
25 september 2026 · 12 min
What draws people into coin collecting—and what makes them stay? Lees meer
Host and Curator Caroline Turco and The Numismatist editor-in-chief Caleb Noel explore the many routes into numismatics, from younger adults taking an interest in Europe’s banknote designs to the community and excitement of live online auctions. Along the way, they check the metals markets, visit a Roman silver hoard, and discover how hobo nickels, Saint-Gaudens, and working dogs connect collecting with interests people already love.
Show notes and mentioned resources
Selling & Buying on Whatnot: A Beginner’s Guide — Kevin Wang’s introduction to livestream selling, including opportunities and considerations for buyers and sellers.
Money Museum eBay Store — Browse the museum’s store and monthly auctions of specimens already represented in its collection.
Candace D. Kagin Hobo Nickel Collection — Explore the collection and coverage of the auction series beginning September 28.
Greysheet’s Conversation with Ian Russell — Discussion of the coin market, growing audiences, and online platforms.
ANA Reading Room — More numismatic news, collecting advice, and stories from the American Numismatic Association.
Coming up on Worth Its Weight
October 1: Numismatic Innovators with Dr. Don Kagin debuts with PCGS co-founder David Hall.
October 6: Caroline welcomes ancient-coin specialist Shanna Schmidt.
Worth Its Weight is an ANA production from the Money Museum, where history adds up—with interest!
To learn more, explore show notes, and discover more stories carried by money, visit money.org.
Follow the money. Literally.
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A More Perfect Dollar
22 september 2026 · 24 min
What if one dollar were worth 1,440 units? Lees meer
Before the United States could place its ideals on its coins, its founders had to answer a deceptively difficult question: What should American money actually be?
In this episode of Worth Its Weight, follow the dollar from the monetary chaos of colonial America to Robert Morris’s mathematically elegant—but magnificently impractical—1,440-unit system. Discover how Morris risked his wealth and personal credit to sustain the Revolution, why Thomas Jefferson rejected his tiny monetary unit but preserved his decimal logic, and how Alexander Hamilton helped transform those accumulated ideas into the Coinage Act of 1792.
The result was more than a new collection of coins. It was a shared language of value for a country still learning to think of itself as one nation.
History fades. Coins remember.
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Numismatic References:
Spanish Milled Dollar – One of the most familiar and widely circulated coins in colonial America. Jefferson favored it as the national monetary unit because Americans already understood and trusted its value.
1783 Nova Constellatio Patterns – Experimental coins produced for Robert Morris’s proposed national coinage system. Their name comes from the Latin legend meaning “a new constellation.”
100-Unit Bit – A silver pattern representing 100 of Morris’s proposed units. Despite sometimes being called a cent, it did not equal one-hundredth of a dollar.
500-Unit Quint – A silver pattern worth five times the 100-unit piece.
1,000-Unit Mark – The largest silver denomination in Morris’s proposed series. Even this substantial coin equaled only about 69.44 cents.
Jefferson Nickel – Introduced in 1938, pairing Thomas Jefferson’s portrait with Monticello, the home he designed. On the current coin, “Liberty” is reproduced from Jefferson’s handwriting.
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Key People:
Thomas Jefferson – Author of the 1784 Notes on the Establishment of a Money Unit, and of a Coinage for the United States. Jefferson advocated a…
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September 18, 2026 Weekly Weigh-In
18 september 2026 · 13 min
Host Caroline takes a quick look at what’s making news in numismatics this week: Lees meer
The Federal Reserve raised interest rates—and gold apparently didn’t receive the memo. Archaeologists may have uncovered the largest coin workshop in the ancient world. A shipwreck that has been surrendering treasure for more than four decades just produced sixty pounds of copper. Two countries that share the same king are taking very different approaches to representing him on money. And a one-cent coin sold for nearly $200,000.
Worth Its Weight is an ANA production from the Money Museum, where history adds up—with interest!
To learn more, explore show notes, and discover more stories carried by money, visit money.org.
Follow the money. Literally.
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B. Franklin, Printer
15 september 2026 · 19 min
Before Benjamin Franklin was on American money, he made it. Literally. Lees meer
We remember Benjamin Franklin as a Founding Father, scientist, inventor, diplomat, and statesman. But decades before he helped declare American independence, Franklin was a printer—and one of his most fascinating jobs was printing money.
In this episode of Worth Its Weight, discover how a young printer became an advocate for colonial paper currency, won contracts to produce it, and developed ingenious ways to stay one step ahead of counterfeiters. From deliberately complicated designs and colored fibers to shimmering paper, nature-printed leaves, and a mysterious ink recipe that took modern science nearly 300 years to uncover, Franklin understood something fundamental about money:
Paper is only valuable if people trust it.
And protecting that trust became part of his extraordinary legacy.
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Numismatic References
Pennsylvania Colonial Currency Printed by Benjamin Franklin – Franklin received his first contract to print Pennsylvania paper money in 1730, beginning a decades-long involvement in colonial currency production.
1739 Pennsylvania Paper Money – Franklin incorporated complicated typography and intentionally varied spellings of “Pennsylvania” into these notes, creating additional obstacles for counterfeiters attempting to reproduce them.
Franklin Nature-Print Notes – Franklin used impressions taken from actual leaves to create extraordinarily detailed printing blocks for the backs of colonial notes. The unique networks of veins were difficult for counterfeiters to reproduce by hand.
Colonial Currency with “To Counterfeit is Death” Warnings – Colonial notes frequently carried stark warnings about the legal consequences of counterfeiting. In some jurisdictions and circumstances, currency counterfeiting could be punishable by death.
United States $100 Federal Reserve Note – Benjamin Franklin has appeared on the $100 Federal Reserve note since its introduction in 1914. Today’s note…
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September 11, 2026 Weekly Weigh In
11 september 2026 · 11 min
Hosts Caroline & Caleb take a quick look at what’s making news in numismatics this week: Lees meer
Two American silver coins cross the million-dollar mark, gold and silver are climbing again, eBay adds another layer of protection for coin collectors, and–believe it or not–we have another buried hoard to reveal. Plus, a brand-new educational commemorative from India.
Worth Its Weight is an ANA production from the Money Museum, where history adds up—with interest!
To learn more, explore show notes, and discover more stories carried by money, visit money.org.
Follow the money. Literally.
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The Labor of Money: The Hardest-Working Coins in History
8 september 2026 · 23 min
Which coin worked the hardest for its place in history? Lees meer
In this Labor Day episode of Worth Its Weight, we’re clocking in with five of history’s hardest-working coins—from the silver owls that helped build Athens to the Spanish dollars that crossed oceans and the humble American cent that kept everyday commerce moving.
These coins paid armies, built monuments, connected continents, funded governments, and passed through countless hands. Some worked for centuries. Others traveled thousands of miles. And one helped finance a civilization whose influence we still feel today.
So… which deserves the title of history’s hardest-working coin?
Turns out, they’ve all earned a day off.
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Numismatic References
Athenian Owl Tetradrachm – One of the ancient world’s most recognizable coins, depicting Athena on the obverse and her sacred owl on the reverse. Struck from the rich silver deposits of Laurion, these coins helped finance Athens’ navy, government, monumental building projects, and Golden Age.
Roman Denarius – Introduced around 211 BC during the Second Punic War, the silver denarius became the backbone of the Roman monetary system for centuries, paying soldiers, collecting taxes, and traveling wherever Rome’s armies marched.
Augustus Denarius with Cippus Reverse – Referenced in the episode as an example of the denarius at work under the Roman Empire. Its reverse inscription commemorates Augustus’ restoration of public roads—particularly fitting for a coin that could travel thousands of miles through the Roman economy.
Chinese Cash Coins – Round cast coins with distinctive square central holes that remained a fixture of Chinese commerce for more than two millennia. Produced under numerous dynasties, cash coins could be strung together in large quantities for everyday transactions.
Spanish Colonial 8 Reales, or “Piece of Eight” – Struck from New World silver and accepted around the globe, the Spanish dollar became one of history’s great international trade coins…
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September 4, 2026 Weekly Weigh In
4 september 2026 · 8 min
Hosts Caroline Turco & Caleb Noel take a quick look at what’s making news in numismatics this week: Lees meer
Surprise coins from the U.S. Mint, counterfeits convincing enough to fool the experts, precious metals on the move, a look back at a very big week in Pittsburgh—and a stash of silver that’s been waiting more than four centuries to make the news!
Worth Its Weight is an ANA production from the Money Museum, where history adds up—with interest!
To learn more, explore show notes, and discover more stories carried by money, visit money.org.
Follow the money. Literally.
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Tomorrow's Pocket Change
1 september 2026 · 25 min
What if you could buy a ticket to the future? Lees meer
In this episode of Worth Its Weight, discover the surprising origins of America’s commemorative coinage, the World's Fairs that inspired it, and the stories these tiny time capsules still tell—from the grandeur of Chicago’s White City to the controversies of Columbus and the fight for women’s representation.
History fades. Coins remember.
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Numismatic References:
World's Fair Commemorative Coins
1892 Columbian Exposition Half Dollar – The first U.S. commemorative coin, issued for the World's Columbian Exposition in Chicago.
1893 Columbian Exposition Half Dollar – Second year of the commemorative issue.
1893 Isabella Quarter – The first U.S. coin to depict a historical woman. Authorized for the Board of Lady Managers at the World's Columbian Exposition.
1903 Louisiana Purchase Exposition Gold Dollar – Issued for the St. Louis World's Fair, featuring Thomas Jefferson.
1904 Louisiana Purchase Exposition Gold Dollar – Companion issue honoring President William McKinley.
1915 Panama-Pacific Octagonal $50 Gold Piece – The only octagonal coin ever issued by the United States Mint, inspired by the shape of Gold Rush-era private gold pieces and created for the Panama-Pacific International Exposition.
1915 Panama-Pacific Exposition Gold Dollar – Features a laborer on the reverse, honoring the workers who made the Panama Canal possible.
Modern Commemorative Coins Referenced
1987 Constitution Bicentennial Silver Dollar – Celebrates the 200th anniversary of the signing of the U.S. Constitution.
2016 National Park Service Centennial Silver Dollar – Honors 100 years of the National Park Service and illustrates how commemorative coins continue to celebrate America's natural and historic treasures.
2019 Apollo 11 50th Anniversary Silver Dollar – Marks the first Moon landing with the U.S. Mint's distinctive curved coin design.
2025 United States Navy 250th Anniversary Commemorative Coin – Issued to celebrate the 250th …
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Live from Pittsburgh with a Panel of Numismatic Experts!
27 augustus 2026 · 56 min
Recorded live on the bustling bourse floor of the 2026 ANA World’s Fair of Money in Pittsburgh, the premiere episode of Worth Its Weight brings five leading voices in numismatics together for a lively, candid conversation about coins, collecting, and the future of the field. Lees meer
Host Caroline Turco poses BIG numismatic questions to a panel whose expertise spans American, ancient, and early American numismatics, grading, museums, markets, publishing, and historical research. Along the way, the conversation moves from spirited debate to personal stories about the objects that have meant the most to each panelist.
You’ll hear the activity of the World’s Fair of Money unfolding around them: collectors talking, deals being made, and an entire community gathering to celebrate history you can hold.
Meet the panelists:
Jeff Garrett is one of the country’s foremost authorities on United States coinage, an author and longtime professional coin dealer, and a past president of both the American Numismatic Association and the Professional Numismatists Guild. He is also the co-author of the Encyclopedia of U.S. Gold Coins and a senior editor of the Guide Book of United States Coins, better known as the Red Book.
Dennis Tucker is an award-winning numismatic author, researcher, and lecturer. During his nineteen years as publisher at Whitman Publishing, he helped guide the publication of twenty editions of the Red Book and scores of books exploring coins, medals, banking, and American financial history.
John Kraljevich is a nationally recognized authority on early American coins, medals, currency, and historical objects. An acclaimed researcher, writer, cataloger, and longtime ANA Summer Seminar instructor, he was named the ANA’s Numismatist of the Year in 2016.
Douglas Mudd is a historian and museum professional who served as curator of the ANA’s Edward C. Rochette Money Museum for more than two decades. Before joining the ANA, he managed the National Numismatic Collection at t…
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The Motto that Minted Debate
21 juli 2026 · 27 min
In God We Trust. Lees meer
Four little words. Big theological baggage. Carried by money.
In this special sneak-peek episode of Worth Its Weight, follow the surprising journey of America's national motto from its beginnings as a Civil War memorial to its unexpected role in the fight against communism—and discover how money tells some of history's most remarkable stories.
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Numismatic References:
Coins
1864 Two-Cent Piece – The first United States coin to bear the motto In God We Trust.
1865 Three-Cent Nickel – One of the earliest additional denominations to receive the motto.
1866 Shield Nickel – Among the first circulating coins to permanently adopt the new inscription.
1866 Liberty Seated Quarter, Half Dollar, and Silver Dollar – First silver denominations struck with the motto.
1866 Liberty Head Gold Eagle, Half Eagle, and Double Eagle – First gold coins to display the motto.
1907 Saint-Gaudens Double Eagle – Designed without In God We Trust at Theodore Roosevelt's request, sparking public criticism.
1908 Indian Head Eagle and Half Eagle – Also introduced without the motto before Congress required its return.
Paper Money
1957 $1 Silver Certificate – The first U.S. paper currency to carry In God We Trust.
1963 Federal Reserve Note – Marked the beginning of the motto's appearance on Federal Reserve Notes.
Tokens
1863 Straight's Elephantine Shoe Store Token (Albany, New York) – A whimsical Civil War store card depicting an elephant wearing boots on all four feet. Issued by Straight's Shoe Store at 398 Broadway, Albany, it illustrates the wide variety of patriotic and commercial tokens that circulated during the Civil War coin shortage.
Civil War Tokens (1861–1865) – Privately issued merchant tokens that helped ease the nationwide shortage of small change and often featured patriotic, political, or religious themes.
Curious what these objects look like? Visit the Money Museum website to see many of the coins and notes discussed in this episode, along with …