There was a time when U.S. money was real money — backed by physical gold and silver. A dime had silver in it. A $20 bill was a gold certificate. You could feel the value in your hand. That’s long gone.
Now we have fiat currency: paper and digital digits created at will by central planners. But sound money hasn’t disappeared — it just lives in the margins, and it’s being restacked one coin at a time.
U.S. pennies minted before 1982 are 95% copper. Each contains about 2.5 grams of real metal — and they still trade at face value. Over time, copper has quietly gained value, and stacking it is as easy as sorting your pocket change.
90% silver coins (dimes, quarters, halves) were standard U.S. currency before 1965. They're divisible, trusted, and instantly recognizable. Whether you stack for barter, savings, or as a stand against inflation — junk silver is the people’s money.
Gold is wealth in its most concentrated and portable form. U.S. gold coins like the Liberty Head, Saint-Gaudens Double Eagle, or even modern American Gold Eagles offer both bullion value and historical significance.
Gold is for long-term preservation. It doesn’t rust, degrade, or default. It’s been trusted for 5,000 years — and it still is.
Most stackers start by weight — ounces, grams, face value. But over time, you start noticing mint marks, toning, key dates. The line blurs. That’s how stackers become collectors, and collections become generational assets.
| Coin | Condition | Year | Price (USD) | Notes |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1921 Morgan Dollar | XF | 1921 | $48 | High relief, Philadelphia mint |
| Roll of Pre-1982 Cents | Mixed | Varied | $5.00 | 50-count copper roll |
| 1964 Kennedy Half | AU | 1964 | $17 | 90% silver |
| 1943 Mercury Dime | Fine | 1943 | $4 | Denver mint |
| Silver War Nickel | VG | 1944 | $1.50 | 35% silver, large mint mark |
| 1/10 oz Gold Eagle | BU | 2024 | $285 | US Mint, fractional gold |