Lost It All! What Happened To The Ancient Aztecs’ Gold and Silver?
(Click above to listen to this article read aloud.) The Aztecs were an incredibly wealthy people, amassing a huge fortune in gold and other valuables. So what happened to all their wealth? It’s pretty simple, really – they spent it all. The Aztecs were always generous with their gifts and tributes, giving away gold and... Read More
All About Rhodium, The Most Valuable Metal in the World
(Click above to listen to this article read aloud.) Rhodium is a rare metal used in jewelry, It’s also the most expensive metal in the world. It’s part of the platinum group of metals, alongside palladium, osmium, platinum, iridium, and ruthenium. Fast Facts Atomic Number: 45 Melting Point: 3567 degrees Fahrenheit (1964 degrees Celsius) Boiling... Read More
Five Most Incredible Shipwreck Treasure Hauls Ever Discovered
(Click above to listen to this article read aloud.) If you’re a regular reader at Historic Metals (and why wouldn’t you be?) you probably already know that we love talking about shipwreck hauls. We also recently wrote an article about lost treasures that have never been found, and it got us thinking. What about the... Read More
You love this coin, but you may not even know it’s real name!
In this weeks video we introduce you to the Winged Liberty dime. Almost 3 billion were minted, and everyone knows and loves them, but not many people know their real name or even the gender of the model on the obverse! So join me and let’s find out together what makes the Winged Liberty dime,... Read More
The 1809 Shipwreck of the Admiral Gardner – Historic Metals: Treasures from Wrecks & Ruins
In this video we are going to get wrecked. Shipwrecked, that is! We will dive in to the fascinating tale of the 1809 shipwreck of the East India Company’s Admiral Gardner “Eastindianman” merchant ship, and discover how you can own one of the million coins recovered from the 40-60 tons of copper coins and treasure... Read More
Top Five Most Famous Gem Heists of All Time
(Click above to listen to this article read aloud.)Gems and jewels have drawn robberies and thefts since the beginning of time. Anywhere there is a large stash of treasure, you can be sure someone has tried to steal it. Museums are filled with precious stones, some containing millions of dollars worth. It’s easy to understand... Read More
The Most Expensive Coin That Never Happened! Time Travel with Historic Metals
In this video we will explore the fascinating tale of that time when US President Theodore Roosevelt canceled a coin designed by the US Mint Chief of Design, Charles Barber, so he could mint the one designed by his best bully buddy, Augustus Saint-Gaudens instead. Let’s go back in time for this week’s story, all... Read More
The Historic Coin That Lived 2 Lives! Time Travelling With Historic Metals: Ancient Greek Drachmas
In this video we will explore the fascinating, ancient coins of the Ancient Greek Empire, which are more than 2500 years old! We’re calling this “Greek Week” for this week’s video, all about ancient Greek drachmas. Special thanks to YouTube viewer and subscriber and community friend, “@VoteForPedro” who gifted me by surprise, with the incredible... Read More
That Time When These Coins Ruled The World! Time Travel with Historic Metals
In this video we will explore the fascinating ancient coins of the Byzantine Empire, which were in circulation for around 900 years between the years 300 and 1200. Discover the interesting similarities between this long lasting currency and the modern dollar. Thanks for watching!
What Are the Seven Cities of Gold?
(Click above to listen to this article read aloud.) In the 16th century, as Spanish colonizers roamed Mexico and the Southern United States, there were persistent rumors floating around of these mythical Seven Cities of Cibola (Gold). These stories were like the more well-known myth of El Dorado, a city rumored to be filled with... Read More