Flowing hair silver dollars seem to have little collector interest compared to the later varieties. There are very few experts in this area of coin collecting.

Flowing hair dollars are very scarce compared to Morgan & Peace dollars, and yet they are reasonable priced for their scarcity. They have an attractive design and are far less standardized than Morgan or Peace dollars. They also have the advantage of far less price volatility than Morgan or Peace dollars.

The Mint Act of 1792 provided for the coinage of silver dollars to be a par with Mexican and Spanish dollars. They were to weigh 416 grains. Eventually the weight was adjusted to 412.5 grains of 90% silver before silver dollars were actually produced in 1794.

A total of 1758, 1794 silver dollars were struck and sent to New England. They appeared to be weakly struck. But the strike wasn't the biggest problem. After only a few coins were struck, the dies became misaligned. So the dies were no longer parallel to each other.

That means the left side of 1794 dollars is almost always weak. Typical of first year of issue coinage, an abnormally high percentage were saved as keepsakes. Even at that, there are only 180 or so pieces known to exist. The majority of them grade only fair to very good, with only a dozen known MS examples.

1794 dollars are difficult to properly grade. In addition to striking problems, many of the coins show heavy, or more-than-usual adjustment marks. Many existing 1794 pieces have been repaired, by drilling and plugging, or damaged when someone's initials were engraved in the coin sometime early in its life.

These problem coins won't be graded by grading services and should be avoided altogether by collectors. Another common negative feature exists with these coins. It is the attempted strengthening of hair detail.

Hair strengthening can be detected by looking at the overall quality of the coin. If the coin has generally poor detail, but the hair detail looks strong, it's a sign of tampering. Hair detail wasn't strong to begin with, and was the first area to wear in circulation.

The much more obtainable Flowing Hair Liberty Dollar is the 1975 with its mintage of 160,295. They are often weakly struck at the centers and will likely lack detail on the eagle's breast feathers and wing tops.

Adjustment file marks are common on these coins as well. By October of 1795, the Draped Bust design had been adopted, with 42,738 examples produced. Like the 1921 silver dollar series, this year is fun to have an example of each of the dollars minted that year.

I must apologize for using a politically incorrect term in this article. I mentioned "problem coins" a couple of times. I really meant to say "challenged coins". Please forgive my oversight.

To discover more about coins: collecting issues, money management, investing in the rare and bullion coin market, and much more, I invite you to visit http://www.heritagecoingallery.com for videos and free tips on buying coins at the best prices.

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As late as the early 1970's, the coin market was dominated by dealers and collectors. Even though the collectors often made money on their coins, they didn't consider themselves to be investors.

As late as the early 1970's, the coin market was dominated by dealers and collectors. Even though the collectors often made money on their coins, they didn't consider themselves to be investors.

A couple of things combined to get the interest of non-collectors in the rare coin market by the mid 1970's:

1. Sale of surplus silver dollars by the U.S. Treasury

2. Lifting ban on gold ownership in place since the 1930's.

Both of these actions helped draw public attention to the coin market and many new people started buying them. This helped propel the coin market for the next decade.

Ultra-rare coins were commanding unprecedented prices. There are famous collections that earned phenomenal profits for the owners or their heirs. The Garrett, Norweb and Eliasberg Collections are examples of coin collectors who would accept only the finest, and as a result made huge dividends with their later sale.

The Redfield hoard added some 407,000 Morgan Silver Dollars to the thin rare coin market. Many analysts were concerned that this would create an oversupply, and send the coin market into a depression. After all, the rare silver dollar market was still trying to absorb the Federal Government silver sell-off of the 1960's.

The exact opposite effect took place. The Redfield hoard led to a dramatic increase in prices by attracting many new collectors into the market. The Redfield coins created a new demand that exceeded the new supply. Marketing and media exposure were the primary driver for this new interest.

Investors arrived into the rare coin market and demanded exceptional quality. Collectors normally place more emphasis on rarity, while investors place a premium on quality.

Third party grading accelerated the preoccupation with high mint state quality coins. Slight differences in MS grades, for example MS-64 and MS-65 will result in great price disparities. As a consequence, accurate grading became imperative.

The grading revolution of the mid to late 1980's put coins back on track as investment vehicles. Investors could now have more confidence in their coin purchases. Common date Morgans are the single most traded coins. They exist in large numbers in MS grades and trade within a narrow range, similar to commodities.

The changes in the coin market during the 70's and 80's have led to a new breed of buyer, part investor and part collector. These people enjoy the best of both worlds.

They admire the coin's heritage, at the same time look for coins that will appreciate in value over time. Profit potential and sound business decisions are driving factors in the purchase of their collectible silver coins.

The super grade coins, MS-66 and above have the combination of rarity and quality that make them irresistible to the modern investor/collector. These specimens have increased in value faster than their more common siblings.

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When looked at critically, the only thing that is backing money is the credit of the government. Therefore, increasing money supply effectively leads to lowered purchasing power of the dollar, which is comparable to what happens when companies issue extra shares of stock, hence diluting ownership of existing owners. On the other hand, gold remains consistent, while maintaining its inherent value, which makes it a reliable investment.

In order to truly appreciate how valuable gold is and to get a better understanding of gold-related investment, you first need to understand a bit of the history of the worldwide transition from gold-backed to fiat currency.

The Transition From Gold-Backed To Fiat Currency

For thousands of years, gold was either used as a currency or as a backing for currency, but this changed in the recent past. It has also been used as an investment product for a long time, which still continues to this day. Currency that is backed by the precious metal is simply called 'gold-backed currency'.

On the other hand, 'fiat currency' isn't backed by gold, silver or even real estate. Moreover, such a currency isn't created by the free market, but it's instead created by fiat (a decree or arbitrary order) of the government. Virtually all currency in the entire world is a fiat currency. This includes the Australian dollar, US dollar, Great Britain pound, euro, Japanese Yen and many others.

If you're wondering when all currencies shifted from gold-backed to fiat, it all started in 1944. The World Bank archives reveal that representatives from 44 major countries of the world met at the Bretton Woods Conference (officially called the United Nations Monetary and Financial Conference) where the International Monetary Fund (IMF) was created. The IMF served the purpose of maintaining a fixed exchange rates system, based on the US dollar and gold (this was the first deviation from purely gold-backed currency).

The US Department of State goes further to reveal that the move from purely gold-backed currency was further advanced in 1971, when the US dollar's convertibility into gold was suspended by President Richard Nixon. Finally, in 1973, the major industrialized nations all adopted floating exchange rates (an exchange-rate regime whereby the currency fluctuates based on the foreign-exchange market) as the norm for their currencies.

How Gold Buyers Benefit From The Fiat Currency/Floating Exchange Rates

Although a currency's value under floating exchange rates primarily depends on the strength of the economy, many variables can affect this value in the short term. These include such aspects as: new home sales, retail sales, sentiment of traders and non-farm payroll. This has the effect of making gold an excellent product to hedge against inflation, since it isn't attached to currency. Such a beneficial aspect has made this precious metal quite popular as part of the portfolio for experienced investors.

When looked at critically, the only thing that is backing money is the credit of the government. Therefore, increasing money supply effectively leads to lowered purchasing power of the dollar, which is comparable to what happens when companies issue extra shares of stock, hence diluting ownership of existing owners. On the other hand, gold remains consistent, while maintaining its inherent value, which makes it a reliable investment. Moreover, this precious metal has been consistently increasing in price, even during currency inflation (by February 2014 the gold price per ounce had reached a high of US$1,323.25, based on data from the Queensland Parliamentary Library and Research Service).

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Super visa is a very beneficial way of traveling to Canada on a very short notice period; this visa is given only to parents and grandparents of a Canadian citizen or a permanent resident. The super visa has helped many families to reunite with their elders. The super visa is valid for a period of ten years and this is a multi entry visa and rules out the renewing of visits to Canada every time.

Super visa is a very beneficial way of traveling to Canada on a very short notice period; this visa is given only to parents and grandparents of a Canadian citizen or a permanent resident. It has helped many families to reunite with their elders. It is valid for a period of ten years and this is a multi entry visa and rules out the renewing of visits to Canada every time. The super visa allows staying in Canada for a period of two years at once, unlike the visitor's visa which allows only a stay of six months.

The main criteria for applying for super visa is medical insurance, which should be bought from a private Canadian insurance company only. Canadian medical care and hospitalization are very expensive for non residents so it is better to buy insurance instead of spending your money on your unexpected health issues. The medical insurance should be valid for a period of one year and should give coverage of $100,000 minimum.

The super visa medical insurance covers hospitalization, cost of treatment by physician or surgeon, cost of x-rays and other diagnostic tests, covers emergency room charges and covers the cost of prescription drugs and return of the person to the place of origin and even the remains of the person in case of death.

Super visa medical insurance is easy to buy and can be bought online by filling a simple form with the correct details. The medical questionnaire should be filled in very correctly, here do not lie about your medical conditions in case to buy a cheaper policy because all the policies offered do not cover the pre-existing medical conditions if you have any, so it is better you do not lie and truthfully answer all the questions and get a policy which suits you the most. Most policies do not cover the pre-existing medical conditions such as diabetes, high blood pressure, cancer etc. each company has a different policy for pre-existing conditions.

There are many companies selling the medical insurance you can choose from anyone but keep in mind that before buying compare the policy that the company has to offer you, get an online quote and compare it and only then buy. The cost of medical insurance depends upon your medical conditions like the pre-existing conditions for which you will have to pay more and it also depends upon the age of the person. Trust your advisor when buying a policy as he/she will help you in getting the premium at the time of claim.

The full premium is to be paid at once and if yourapplication for visa is rejected then the refund is given and also if you wantto return back without completing the one year of stay the refund is given onthe unused balance. There is also an option of extending your stay in Canada,but you will have to buy another policy before the first one expires.

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Bike Insurance: Is it really worth it? And what do you do should the worst happen?

You will fall. Hopefully when you do it won't be too bad. When I think about falling I do worry about getting injured as any time off the bike will affect my season or possibly even cycling career. But what worries me more is the damage that could happen to my bike. My two prized possessions are my road bike and my time trial bike, I'm not going to brag about how much I paid but if you know what you're talking about they aren't cheap by most peoples standards. So if I break or damage an essential component, let's say the frame, what can I do to fix it. Well in some scenarios and to those who have no insurance the answer is nothing. You've lost it all unless you can prove someone else is at fault and even then you may have a legal challenge on your hands.

If the worst does happen what's the best course of action. First you need to assess the situation, do you or anyone need medical attention and are you in any further immediate danger, say from oncoming traffic. If the answer to those is no then you can move onto worrying about your bike. If someone else is at fault you're going to want to start compiling a list of evidence even if the other party seem co-operative that may change once you part ways. Of course this can be difficult if you're a little shaken up, hopefully you won't be alone if you are (or even if you aren't) you may want to call for police assistance. Whatever happens you will need as many pictures and witness names and contact details as possible. Should a dispute arise you will need this. Hopefully it won't come to it but better prepared than not.

If you are going to insure your bike you've got lots of options. Sadly it seems to come down to the price of the bike, the cheapest quote I got my road bike was well over £300.00. What gripes me the most is that when I went to add my winter bike to the policy they wanted more money, my point was how they can charge more when I'm only riding one at a time. I guess they could be stolen together, but as you'll find out on your search for a good deal (and with all insurances) it seems to be a massive con. My first bit of advice is compare the comparison sites. They do have differences sometimes, some sites have affiliations with different brokers and you may find a better deal on another site. If you're a British Cycling member you can get a discount through their provider, but even then it wasn't the cheapest quote I got.

Possibly my best bit of advice, and I fell into this completely accidentally. Think outside the box. Do you have another insurance policy you can add your bike too. My house insurance actually covered my bikes as an additional to my policy, gutted as I did pay for insurance on one of my bikes once! The cost was much less than getting a policy for my bikes and what's even better is they cover accidental damage to wheels, and option not always available with bike insurers. When I cracked my carbon wheel in a pothole my house insurance forked out for a replacement. Top stuff from mine, hopefully you're covered too!

It may be the last thing on your mind but it won't be should the worse happen. As if being without a bike wouldn't be bad enough the thought of having to replace it out of your hard earned cash is devastating. A little preparation now could save you a lot in the future. And should be involved in an accident that's not your fault just remember to remain calm and take account of the situation. The emergency services are there for these exact situations.

Pav Bryan - Owner & Coach

Pav Bryan Cycling Coach

Advanced Wattbike Cycling Performance & Fitness Testing,& Coaching

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U.S. Trade Dollars were never intended to be the same as silver dollars for domestic circulation, even though they have the same one dollar face value. The two coins were produced to serve very different purposes.

Trade Dollars were designed and minted essentially as bullion coins for trade in the orient.

American Trade Dollars, as well as all post 1836 Silver Dollars were specified to be 90% silver and 10% copper, but the Trade unit weighs slightly more. The Trade Dollar weighs in at 420 grains, while the U.S. silver dollar weighs 412.5 grains.

American circulating Silver Dollars were just too light to interest Chinese businessmen, so a silver coin was developed with increased weight to compete with the slightly heavier Mexican and Spanish 8 Reales, or the British Crown.

Trade Dollars weren't intended to circulate in the U.S., although a few did. Americans strangely enough shunned them for domestic trade. This coin was created to be used for trade in the Orient, especially with businesses at the ports in Canton and in Hong Kong.

In the 19th century, the Chinese used silver as their primary medium of exchange. Before the U.S. Trade Dollar came into existence, Americans trading with the Chinese often resorted to Spanish or Mexican silver 8 Reales coins. The U.S. wanted a coin to compete directly with these coins.

The Chinese merchants would test the foreign silver coins and stamp their insignia on the coin. These stamps are now known as chop marks. You can find these chop marks on any of the coins used in trade with the orient.

During the 1860s, U.S. citizens with silver mining interests sought ways to market more silver. They persuaded Congress and other U.S. government officials that Trade Dollars should be minted for foreign use.

It was costly for U.S. businesses to exchange U.S. silver dollars for Spanish or Mexican 8 Reales coins before doing business with the Chinese. It made sense for U.S. businesses to get silver coins minted in the U.S., rather than use foreign silver coins for trade with China.

The Coinage Act of 1873 made Trade Dollars legal tender. Barber designs were used for this now rare American coin. Production stopped in 1878, except for a few proof coins.

France, Britain and Japan also developed their own dollar to the same standards as the other foreign countries for use in trade with the Orient. The newly opened oriental market was very lucrative for western merchants.

Nearly 36 million Trade Dollars were produced from 1873 to 1878, with the vast majority after 1875. It was more efficient for the San Francisco and Carson City Mints to use silver mined in the western U.S. for these coins. Therefore the majority of Trade Dollars came from San Francisco. They minted more than Philadelphia and Carson City combined.

As far as collecting goes, the chopped coins are generally considered problem coins and not worth as much as their unchopped counterparts. Uncirculated versions are relatively scarce, but are really beautiful specimens of U.S. silver coinage and one of Barber's better designs.

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If you are buying gold bullion for the first time, you should not be worried. This is because the following article will give you the tips that you need to consider for you to successfully buy the right product.

Understand the bullion that you want to buy

There are two main forms of gold bullion: gold coins and gold bars. A gold coin is a government-issued legal tender. Common coins are: Gold American Eagles, Gold South African Krugerrands, Gold Chinese Pandas, Australian Kangaroos and many others.

The legal tender of value of these coins represents just a minute fraction of the metallic value.

Gold bars on the other hand are non-government issued and they are sold solely for their metallic content. They come in different brands where the most common brands are: Pamp Suisse, Credit Suisse, and Perth Mint.

Both gold bars and coins come in different prices which are usually determined by the purity of the metal.

When making the purchase, it's recommended that you go for the most popular bullion. One of the most popular forms of gold bullion is the one-ounce gold coin which is very easy to buy and sell.

Look out for the weight and purity of the bullion

Precious metals are usually measured in troy ounces and they come in different purity levels. You should note that the purer the metal, the more expensive it is. While the purest gold is expensive, it's very valuable and its demand is high; therefore, you will have a very easy time selling it.

Be wary of where you buy from

Due to the demand of the metal, there are many online dealers: both fake and legitimate. To avoid being ripped off, you should be very wary of the dealer that you buy from.

Before you make your purchase, you should consider the dealer's better business bureau rating. If the dealer has a good rating you should buy from him; however, if the dealer has a poor rating, you should take to your heels.

Once you have identified a good dealer, you should ask for discounts and deals especially if you are planning of making large purchases.

Conclusion

These are the tips that you should consider for you to buy the right metal. If you are buying the metal online, the first thing that you should do once you receive it is to take it to the nearest coin shop.

Here the professionals will test it to confirm that it's real gold. They will also give it their "stamp of approval" which will give you peace of mind since you will know that the product you have is sellable.

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