There have been hundreds of different coins concepted and struck by the U.S. Mint over the centuries, whether to serve as a means of legal tender or simply as items of commemoration. From the American Eagle Proof coins to the Eisenhower silver dollar and beyond, U.S. history is rich with rare and unique coins – many of which are still highly sought after as collectible items today.

As extensive as the history of American coinage is, perhaps the most mysterious and legendary piece is the now often forgotten half union 50-dollar gold coin. The half union – while never having been released into circulation – is still often thought of as one of the most significant and well-known pattern coins in the history of the U.S. Mint.

Here is a closer look at the story behind the half union that makes it one of the more iconic coins in our nation’s history.

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If you have one or numerous gold quarters in your possession, you may be wondering how much they’re worth and if you should sell them now or hold onto them as longer-term investments.

If this is the case, there’s an important distinction you should make between gold-plated quarters and gold quarters, as one is much more valuable than the other.

Here is a closer look at the differences between gold-plated quarters and gold quarters and how to go about getting value out of either.

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