Here’s your cheat sheet, because I’m a nice person. First: rarity. If only 10,000 were minted, it’s a unicorn. If 50 million were made, it’s a workhorse.
Second: condition. A coin that looks like it was just born is worth ten times more than one that’s been dragged through a subway grate. Look for “uncirculated” or “proof” condition. (Translation: no scratches, no tarnish, no greasy fingerprints.)
Third: the error. Oh, this is the juicy one. Sometimes the mint messes up. Like a 2 Euro coin from Germany where the eagle’s left wing is missing (a “die error”). That bad boy can sell for $1,000+ at auction. Mistakes are money.
