Research your U.S. coins with a clearer starting point.

Built for curious coin collectors

The Diggin Dave began as an educational coin-collecting brand focused on helping everyday collectors recognize real U.S. coins, understand mint marks and varieties, and research condition responsibly. This research center extends that mission with accessible tools, reference profiles, and practical inspection guidance.

Our educational mission

We explain numismatic concepts in plain language without promising outcomes. Our goal is to give readers a disciplined starting point for independent research and better questions for professional graders, dealers, and experienced collectors.

Editorial standards

Entries are limited to real U.S. issues and recognized varieties. Dates, mint marks, recorded mintages, historical context, and grade terminology are reviewed against established numismatic references; estimates are labeled, dated snapshots and are corrected when better evidence becomes available. Promotional relationships do not determine editorial conclusions.

Source-first rule

A mintage or estimated value is published only when an identifiable reference supports that exact issue and grade tier. Every displayed range names the source and the date this catalog entry was last reviewed. If the reference does not support a requested tier or mintage, the site shows “Data pending” rather than extrapolating a figure.

Why values are ranges

Coins in the same numerical grade can differ because of strike, color, luster, eye appeal, surface problems, designation, and exact variety. Source figures are therefore presented as broad $+ ranges rather than false single-point precision. A range derived from a point guide is disclosed as a bounded estimate around that source figure.

Review and update process

1. Confirm the date, mint mark, denomination, variety, and grade basis.
2. Record the exact reference label and source link.
3. Use the source’s dated guide or completed-auction evidence; active listings are not treated as completed results.
4. Publish a range only for supported grade tiers and stamp the catalog review date.
5. Recheck entries when a reliable guide changes, a new completed-auction record appears, or a reader submits a correction.

Graphs and auction records

No market graph is displayed unless every plotted point has a named source, grade, transaction or guide date, and review date. The current static release does not display market graphs or claim live updates. Auction records are included only when the auction house, event date, grade, and realized amount can be verified.

Corrections

Every coin profile includes a “Report an error” link. A correction request should name the issue, disputed field, and supporting reference; submitted evidence is reviewed before an entry changes.

Information you provide

We may receive the name, email address, message, and collection summary you choose to send through a configured contact or checklist form. The coin checker, database browser, collection list, and grading questionnaire operate in the current page session and do not create a persistent account on this static site.

Technical data, cookies, and advertising

Hosting, security, and analytics providers may process standard technical information such as IP address, browser type, device information, referring page, and request time. If Google advertising is activated, Google and its partners may use cookies or similar technologies to deliver, measure, and personalize ads subject to your consent and Google’s own policies. Declining the banner keeps this page’s optional-advertising consent state declined for the current page session.

How information is used

• Respond to requests and correct reference data.
• Deliver requested educational material where a form destination is configured.
• Protect the site, understand aggregate use, and comply with legal obligations.
• Support advertising only when enabled and permitted by applicable consent rules.

Sharing and retention

We do not trade personal information. Information may be handled by service providers needed for hosting, email delivery, analytics, or advertising, and may be disclosed when required by law. Retention depends on the configured provider and the purpose of the request; data no longer needed should be deleted or anonymized.

Your choices and rights

Depending on where you live, you may ask to access, correct, delete, restrict, or obtain a copy of personal information, or object to certain processing. You can decline optional advertising consent and adjust browser cookie controls. Submit a privacy request through the Contact page; identity verification may be required before fulfilling a request.

Children and policy changes

This site is directed to a general collecting audience and is not intended to collect personal information from children under 13. Material changes will be reflected by an updated effective date on this page.

Using this site

You may use the research tools and educational content for lawful personal research. Do not interfere with the site, attempt unauthorized access, misrepresent results as certified grades, or reproduce substantial portions of the database as a competing service.

Educational content and user responsibility

Coin identification, condition ranges, mintages, and estimated values may contain errors or become outdated. You remain responsible for verifying authenticity, attribution, grade, legal ownership, tax treatment, and any decision made using the site.

Intellectual property

The Diggin Dave name, original writing, interface, and compilation are protected by applicable intellectual-property laws. Third-party names and marks belong to their respective owners. Limited quotations and links for commentary or education remain subject to applicable law.

Grade-or-Not access payment

The PayPal button shown with Grade-or-Not opens the payment recipient’s PayPal.Me page. It is not an automatic recurring charge: access is offered at $7.99 for 30 days and must be renewed manually each month. Review the recipient name and amount in PayPal before completing payment. To stop, simply do not make another manual payment. For an incorrect or duplicate payment, contact The Diggin Dave through the official Facebook page.

Availability and liability limits

The site is provided on an “as available” basis without a guarantee of uninterrupted access, accuracy, or fitness for a particular purpose. To the maximum extent permitted by law, The Diggin Dave is not liable for indirect, incidental, or consequential losses arising from reliance on the site. Some jurisdictions do not permit every limitation, so applicable rights may vary.

Changes

These terms may be updated as features change. Continued use after a posted update means the revised terms govern future use, subject to rights that cannot legally be waived.

Educational estimates, not financial or grading advice

All grade ranges, estimated values, historical notes, mintage figures, break-even calculations, and collection totals are provided for education and general research. They are not an appraisal, certification, guarantee, investment recommendation, tax guidance, or professional financial or grading advice. In-hand examination by a qualified numismatist or grading service may produce a different conclusion.

No institutional affiliation

The Diggin Dave is independent and is not affiliated with, endorsed by, or sponsored by Professional Coin Grading Service (PCGS), Numismatic Guaranty Company (NGC), the United States Mint, or the United States government. Third-party names are used only to identify reference standards or services.

Affiliate disclosure

Some equipment or resource links may be affiliate links. If a reader completes a qualifying transaction through one of those links, The Diggin Dave may earn a commission without changing the reader’s cost. Affiliate relationships do not determine database entries, condition estimates, or verdicts.