Methodology & Data Sources

This page explains where LuckyCoin’s data comes from and how every number you see in the catalog — mintages, melt values, grade-based prices, metal spot prices — is derived. We update this page when our sources or formulas change.

Catalog & Mintage Data

Coin entries, mintage figures, and historical metadata (designer, composition, weight, diameter, thickness, edge, obverse and reverse descriptions) are sourced from public numismatic records and cross-verified against published Mint reports, including the US Mint Annual Report and the Royal Mint and Royal Canadian Mint equivalents. Where figures differ across sources, we lean toward the issuing mint’s own numbers and note discrepancies when we find them.

Mintage figures reflect the total number of coins struck, not the number that survive in circulation today. For series where only business-strike figures are published, proof and specimen mintages are listed separately. See any subcategory’s Mintage page for a full year-by-year breakdown.

Live Metal Spot Prices

The prices on the Live Metal Pricespage are sourced from public commodities market feeds and stored in a daily archive. During market hours, the “today” price refreshes multiple times per day. The 30-day sparkline on each card uses end-of-day close values, which are the figures most collectors reference when comparing historical premiums.

All prices are quoted in US dollars per troy ounce (31.1035 grams), which is the standard unit for precious metals. Copper and zinc are listed in the same unit for consistency even though industrial pricing is typically quoted per pound or per tonne.

Melt Value Calculation

Melt value is the intrinsic metal worth of a coin. LuckyCoin calculates it as:

melt value = Σ (fractioni × weight × spot pricei)

where each metal component of the coin’s composition is multiplied by its fraction, the coin’s total weight in grams, and the current spot price of that metal (converted from troy ounces to grams). The parts are summed to give the total melt value.

Example: a pre-1965 90% silver Washington Quarter weighs 6.25 g. At a silver spot of $30/oz (≈ $0.965/g), its silver content is 0.90 × 6.25 × 0.965 ≈ $5.43. The 10% copper component adds a fraction of a cent, which we include for completeness.

Melt value is only meaningful for coins whose composition we have on record. Coins without a known composition are skipped in melt calculations and flagged in collection stats.

Grade-Based Market Values

The value tables on each coin page show estimated market values at every grade on the Sheldon scale(1 to 70). These figures are derived from aggregated sales data and published price guides, updated periodically. They’re estimates of what a coin in that grade typically sells for — not appraisals, and not guaranteed prices.

Actual sale prices vary with grading-company certification (PCGS, NGC, ANACS, ICG), eye appeal within a grade, current collector demand, and auction vs retail venue. We always recommend cross-checking comparable recent sales on each coin’s detail page, which surfaces live eBay listings.

Completion Percentages

Your collection’s completion percentage for a subcategory is:

percent = unique coins owned / total varieties × 100

“Unique coins” means distinct year + mintmark + strike type combinations. Owning multiple instances of the same coin counts as one toward completion but two toward your total quantity. “Total varieties” comes from the subcategory’s catalog definition and matches the series-level count shown on each hub page.

Grading Scale Reference

LuckyCoin uses the Sheldon numerical grading scale, the industry standard for coin condition. Key ranges:

  • P-1 to G-6 — Heavy wear; major design features still visible.
  • VG-8 to F-15 — Clear design, moderate wear.
  • VF-20 to EF-45 — Most details sharp; light wear on high points.
  • AU-50 to AU-58 — Trace wear only; near-mint appearance.
  • MS-60 to MS-70 — No wear. MS-70 is a perfect, flawless strike.
  • PR-60 to PR-70 — Equivalent scale for proof strikes.

Corrections & Updates

Catalog data is refreshed continuously, and mintage tables are updated when mint reports are released. If you spot an error in a mintage figure, composition, or any other data point, email contact@getluckycoin.com with the source citation and we’ll review it.