Karat Stamps Decoded: 10K Through 24K
What the karat number actually measures, the math behind purity, and why every Tampa buyer asks for it first.
Short reads on how gold and coins get valued in Tampa Bay, what to inspect before you call a buyer, and what changes the number. Nothing exhaustive, just a head start.
What the karat number actually measures, the math behind purity, and why every Tampa buyer asks for it first.
Where to look on the coin, what P, D, S, CC, and O each stand for, and why one letter can swing a quote by hundreds.
Saint-Gaudens, Liberty Heads, Indian Heads. The big US gold series minted before FDR's 1933 recall, and why Tampa collectors still chase them.
How solid sterling differs from plated, where the .925 stamp hides, and why one is worth real money and the other is mostly scrap.
A short primer on how spot is set, why it bounces every market day, and how it sets the floor on every Tampa Coin Dealer quote.
Why one Morgan trades for $30 and another goes for $4,000. The dates and mint marks that make the difference.
How grades run from P-1 up to MS-70, what each tier looks like under a loupe, and when paying for PCGS or NGC slabbing pays off.
A practical first-steps guide for Tampa Bay heirs: what to flag, what not to clean, and what to ask any buyer before you sell.