Dewitt Antique, Jewelry and Coin Co.

Coin collecting is also known as numismatics. This term comes from the Latin word for coin, numisma, which in turn comes from the ancient Greek word meaning, I dispense, divide, assign, keep, or hold.

There is no metal heavier than gold, according to scientists. Gold weighs 19.3 times more than an equal amount of water. One cubic foot of gold would weigh 1,206 pounds.

Did you know that the first international convention for coin collectors was held August 15-18, 1962 in Detroit, Michigan? About 40,000 people attended this convention.

The purity of gold is measured by the karat, which was first used to measure weight. The karat was named after the fruit of the carob tree. Each pod of a carob tree weighs approximately one-fifth of a gram.

Before you sell gold coins based purely on their gold value, have them appraised to find out their worth to a coin collector. Coins may be worth more than you think!

Did you know that South Africa is the source of more gold than any other country in the world? In the past few decades, about 40 percent of all gold found in the world came from South Africa.

"Gold filled" jewelry contains an actual layer of gold that's been pressure bonded to another metal. While this type of jewelry has more gold than a gold plated piece, it's not a good option to sell purely for its gold content.

During the 17th and 18th centuries, coin collecting transformed from just a hobby into an academic pursuit known as numismatics, which includes the broader study of money and other payment media to resolve debts and purchase goods.

If you're looking to sell items like gold bullion coins, your best bet is to have the coins appraised first. Like gold jewelry, sometime rare coins are more valuable when sold as is then melted down into gold.

While gold relics are common from ancient Egyptian times, historians say gold was used for decoration and not for currency. Instead, barley was used as trading currency in ancient Egypt.

Did you know that it is common for coin graders to seal coins in a labeled, airtight plastic holder to protect the coins from deterioration? This process is commonly known as coin slabbing and is most prevalent in the United States.

Between gold production, jewelry sales and gold recycling, it is estimated that about 100 million people in the world rely on gold for the livelihood, according to the World Gold Council.

Rare and collectible coins can appreciate in value over the years. If you haven't had your collection evaluated, bring it in today for an appraisal.