Confederate currency, also known as "Confederate dollars" or "graybacks," was issued by the Confederate States of America during the Civil War. 

It was a form of fiat currency, meaning it wasn't backed by gold or silver, and its value was tied to the Confederacy's ability to win the war.

 After the Confederacy's defeat, the currency became worthless as a medium of exchange, but it now holds value as a collectible item, particularly for those interested in Civil War history and obsolete currencies

Junk silver, specifically 90% silver US coins, is often purchased for its silver content rather than its numismatic value.

These coins, like dimes, quarters, and half dollars minted before 1965, contain a significant amount of silver, making them attractive to investors and stackers. 

The term "junk" is used because these coins are not considered highly collectable, but their silver content provides a valuable investment

Gold is a precious metal known for its durability, luster, and resistance to corrosion.

 It is highly sought after for its use in jewelry, investments, and various industrial applications. 

Gold is also relatively rare, with only about 0.003 parts per million found in the Earth's crust

War medals are awarded by various countries to recognize military achievements, bravery, and service, typically in the form of medals, ribbons, and other decorations. 

The most prestigious U.S. military award is the Medal of Honor, awarded for extraordinary heroism in combat, followed by service crosses and other medals for various acts of valor and service. 

Though the first coins are actually attributed to Lydia in Asia Minor around 600-700 B.C., it is now believed that bronze coins were used in China several hundred years earlier.

However, the Lydians were probably not aware of China’s existence, so their coins – called “Staters” (a unit of weight) – were invented separately. These first Staters were made of electrum, a natural alloy of gold and silver.

Paper money is an exciting collector hobby because notes are colorful, informative, and attractive. You can learn about art, economics, and even technology by studying paper money and the stories behind it.

Plus, it's also a genuine artifact of the past, capturing exciting areas in American and world history. As far as the hobby itself, the serious, organized collecting of paper money dates back to the early to mid-20th century. Today, it's one of the fastest growing areas of numismatics.

The earliest Roman coins and some Biblical issues were cast (molten metal poured into molds and allowed to harden). Ancient Roman coins were cast until about 211 B.C., then all issues were struck using hand-held dies and hammers.

The design of one side was carved into a metal disk or die which fit into an anvil, and the design of the other side was carved into the base of a metal punch.

A coin blank was placed on the die in the anvil, and the punch was placed over it. With one or more sharp blows of a hammer, a coin was made (as a result, ancients are sometimes weakly struck, off center or double struck).