Lessons I've paid thousands of dollars to learn: 1) Be sure your variety is a variety before attribution/grading. 2) Cleaned = melt in modern coins. 3) Fingerprints are forever. 4) In most cases, grading modern coins can only hurt their value. 5) You'll never get the premium back so consider it a loss, just like taking a new car off the lot. 6) Buy used. USMint is the governments 'gambling' website. The house wins and you lose over time. 7) The coin community really is here to help.