The first United States gold coins were minted in 1795 in the form of $5 and $10 coins called half eagles and eagles. Quarter eagles made their debut in 1796.

The first federal gold coins struck were $5 half eagles, made in July 1795, the subject of last week’s column. The $10 eagle coinage followed soon thereafter.

In Colonial and early Federal times gold coins were important in commerce.

By the time that the American Colonies had their beginning with the settlement of Jamestown in 1607, gold coins had been used in world commerce 2,000 years.

The word "gold" has meanings both positive ("good as gold") and negative ("gold digger").

This week I start a series on gold and gold coins.

The success of the rare coin hobby (or industry if you like to call it that) is marvelous. We can all be happy and proud that it is so strong.

For Whitman, I am putting the finishing touches on A Guide Book of Liberty Seated Coins.

Here’s a short quiz to test your numismatic knowledge.

“If you own coins and you wonder ‘How much are they worth?’ you need ... the Blue Book,” says Q. David Bowers. Wholesale (buy) prices for all U.S. coin series.