Q: My mother recently passed away and when I was going through I came across some unique coins. One in particular was dated 1845 and I'm wondering if that would be worth anything.

There's some good advice over at coin talk in response to a post asking how a non collector should go about selling a collection they've acquired. There are many ways to sell a collection, and which one you choose depends on your motives. Do you want to sell it quickly, make the most money, or do you have other goals in mind when you sell it? Once you answer these questions for yourself you'll have a better idea of what advice from the thread you should follow.

There's a new coin search engine out there called Coins 2.0. It's not a Google killer by any means, because they're using Google's Custom Search Engine service for the site. The question is of course, why would you ever use this site instead of Google? One reason is that you won't have to filter out all the results that aren't related to coin collecting, since the creators hand picked 4,200 coin collecting sites.

I tried it out and the search results are decent, not mind blowingly accurate, but good. The image and prices search was a little less reliable, but still good on more common coins.

Overall, the site's a good resource to add to your arsenal of search tools, and it's likely to improve over time.

Free source for precious metals information and financial truth. Offering a range of information such as latest news from around the world, commentary, market updates, stock reports, coin information, quotes, forums plus much more!

NEW YORK----Escala Group , a global collectibles company in stamps, coins, and art and antiques, today announced the aggregate sales results for its most recent auction conducted by Bowers and Merena Auctions of Irvine, California, part of Escala's Spectrum Numismatics division.

During the heyday of the Comstock Lode, the Carson City Mint banged out silver and gold coins that today have become valuable collectibles. While the coins have gained in value -- in 2004, an 1873 silver dime bearing the "CC" mintmark sold for $1 million -- the men who made them have largely passed into obscurity.

I really love these error and variety guys! Every time I turn around, one or another of them seems to be publishing a free magazine, or announcing a free informational source on a Web site or in a forum ... via About.com

1. When was the business strike Bicentennial Quarter struck?

2. What is the monetary unit of the Bahamas?

3. What man appearing on a modern Federal Reserve note had his memoirs published by Mark Twain?

4. What were the red and blue OPA World War II tokens used for specifically?

5. What US coins were not legal tender under Section 16 of the Mint act of April 2, 1792?

Today, for various reasons most persons are reluctant to accept coins, with the exception of beggars, that is. But the proposed redenomination of the naira may mean that coins will soon rise again

Vincent Tchenguiz has added a coin dealer and auction house to his vast array of business interests.