Jewelry Antiques of the 20th Century

The introduction of the internet has completely turned around the way people find things to collect. It is surprising to many novice collectors how many expensive and rare coins are still in loose circulation. Good coins for new collectors to start with would be the “wheat pennies”, which followed the popular Indian Head pennies and were produced between 1909 and 1958. The wheat penny is named for it’s design, which includes a pair of wheat stalk bundles on the back side of the coin, and a picture of Lincoln on the front side. A particularly interesting U.S. coin… Continue reading Check Your Change for Some Great Collectible Coins

The popular collections of antiques typically include fully functional furniture made from specific periods of time. Because it didn’t rely on mass production and power tools, antique furniture is often more durable and of greater value than most of the stuff made today. Collecting antique furniture usually requires some knowledge about age, how many pieces remain usable today, its condition and use, along with some of the unique features built into a piece of furniture.

The value of antique furniture isn’t determined so much by its age, but rather by the appearance and condition of the piece. For… Continue reading Collecting Antique Furniture: The Basics

Undoubtedly, many amateur history buffs have viewed Confederate money. They’ve seen actual bills exhibited in a battlefield museum, possibly.  Perhaps as kids they played with reproduction Confederate dollars purchased from a toy store. Relatively few, though, have ever seen a Confederate bond, or even know what it is. Confederate war bonds raised money for desperately needed food and supplies for southern soldiers during the war. They were a primary method for the the government at Richmond to raise money by borrowing from its citizens.  A person would loan funds to the CSA and in return receive one of these bonds… Continue reading Surprising Confederate Collectible Can Bring You Money Today

Ring Markings Question: I purchased an antique and diamond ring recently.

GOLD METAL TESTING KIT WITH 5 NEEDLES

Price: $51.90 USD

The only markings inside the band are either “698″ or “693″. It actually looks like 698 on one side and 693 on the other.

I had it tested.  The jeweler said it does not test gold, silver or platinum, however, the opal and diamonds are real and appear to be of good quality.

Any ideas on what this number means?

Thank you.… Continue reading Decimal Formula For Gold Jewelry

Antique Platinum Ring Question: I recently purchased an antique platinum filigree diamond engagement ring.

Hallmarks of the Southwest (Schiffer Book for Collectors)

Price: $30.04 USD

It has hallmarks located on the inside of the band.

I’ve been unable to find any markings that look similar.

The marks include a triangle (delta shaped), an uppercase K, and what appears to be a crescent.

There are other marks, but I can’t readily see what they are. Could any of these help identify the origin of the ring?… Continue reading Antique Platinum Filgree Ring