Coin Magazine
Coin is a monthly magazine that covers all aspects of the hobby and business of collecting coins. It is designed to serve as a refreshing review for the experienced collector, as well as an introduction to key concepts for those new to the field. The magazine offers practical tips for new and budget-minded collectors, current trends in the hobby, and engaging stories that haven’t been featured elsewhere. The magazine is a publication of the American Numismatic Association (ANA).
Throughout much of history, metal coins were the primary medium of exchange in both internal and external trade. They possessed intrinsic value and were a tangible link to the wealth of a nation. With the rise of paper money in medieval Europe and the development of credit cards, banks, and computerized systems, coins have largely ceased to be used as a medium of exchange. They remain, however, a familiar form of currency in many modern economies, especially those that use a fiat currency.
A coin is a flat piece of metal stamped and issued by a government for use as money. Its face shows an image of a monarch, other authority, or national emblem, while its reverse bears various types of information, including the year of minting. Coins are usually round in shape and have a raised edge that helps to distinguish them from paper money. The side carrying the image of a monarch or other authority is called the obverse (colloquially, heads); that on the other, the legend, or other information, is called the reverse (tails). Traditionally, coins have been made with precious metals. In some cases, this was done to add aesthetic appeal and prestige to a currency, as in the case of the gold dinars of the early caliphs, or to make the coins easier to carry. In other cases, it was simply to increase the number of coins that could be produced without exceeding the amount of a given precious metal in existence. This practice is known as debasement.
In recent times, the concept of coin has been extended to digital forms of currency, such as cryptocurrency. Unlike tokens, which operate on existing blockchain networks, coins have their own independent blockchain and function primarily as a form of digital money.
Tokens, on the other hand, aim to offer a wider range of functionalities than coins. For example, the Basic Attention Token (BAT) is used to enhance digital advertising; it’s acquired by advertisers and distributed between publishers and browser users as compensation for viewing ads.
Articles in Coin should be concise, well-organized, and clearly written. Ideally, the article should be no more than 3,200 words. The ANA reserves the right to edit submissions for style and length. Authors of accepted articles will receive 15 cents per word for their manuscript and $2.75 for each usable photograph, illustration, and numismatic material sent for reproduction. The ANA’s editorial staff can assist with phrasing and syntax, but the overall level of writing proficiency must be high.