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From: Wayne
Subject: INS
I have several 1889 CC dollars that have staple through a plastic holder and a paper attached that says simply INS with numbers written on the back. Are these of any significance? If so where do I find out what they mean? Thank you. Wayne

INS was an early grading service, now defunct. INS graded coins are still listed in the Coin Dealer Newsletter. The graded coins were housed in a hard plastic holder with the date, coin denomination and grade printed on a label inside. Coins in flexible plastic envelopes with an INS label and a ID number are rejected coins. Coins can be rejected, that is, not acceptable for grading, because the coin has been cleaned, damaged or is counterfeit.

1889CC Morgan dollars are scarce to rare even in low grades. Uncirculated coins are quiet valuable. A gem piece will get you a nice size house and a Lexus or two. Generally, 1889CC dollars should be professionally graded by services such as NGC or PCGS. Since there may be some problem with these coins, you should show the coins to a professional numismatist in your area before you go through the time and expense of having them graded.

There are many varieties of this coin due to the crude die making methods employed during this era. This design is called the Draped Bust Type (1796-1807). Values depend on grade (condition) and variety. There is no mint mark since only the Philadelphia Mint existed at that time. The value range is wide since variety in this coin is so important. Range: $10 - $25,000 with the most seen coins falling in the under $100 range.

Yes, from paper money and coin dealers. Expect to pay anywhere from $150 to $350 over face value for circulated notes. They haven't been issued since 1934. They are not available from banks unless you find someone depositing one and the bank lets you have it for face value. The banks are currently instructed to return them to the Treasury for destruction. They are still legal tender and probably will keep that status indefinitely.

The 1916 Liberty Head dime is often counterfeited since it is a key date.  Other counterfeits exist for the 1921 issues and the 1942/1 dime. Buy these coins only if they are certified by ANA or by one of the third party grading services.

The values depends on the condition of the coins, their dates and mint marks. Common date and average circulated silver half dollars are sold in bags of $1000 face value at a nominal premium over their metal content, currently about $1.50 each. You can offer these coins for sale at any coin shop

Nickels are, well, made out of nickel and copper, hence the name. During WWII, from 1942-45, nickels broke their long tradition and were minted in an alloy of 35% silver, 56% copper and 9% manganese. They can be identified by the large mint mark placed over Monticello. Nickel metal was needed for armaments. They were returned to their traditional alloy after the war. This was the only time in U.S. history that the nickel coin had a silver content.

'Tis a little bit of Ireland, 10 pence to be exact.

The Philippines was part of the United States from the end of the Spanish-American War, in 1899, to just after the end of World War II. The Philippines gained their independence in 1946.

There is an interesting story about one peso coins from the Philippines:

As the Japanese were preparing to invade the Philippine Islands in 1942, all the remaining silver bullion in the form of one peso pieces of 1907-1912 were packed into crates and dumped into Manila's Caballo Bay to prevent their capture by the invaders. More than 15 million one peso coins languished under water until 1945. When they were recovered most of the pieces were badly corroded. Most surviving, pre-war examples are scarce in nice condition. Values for 1909-S examples range from $8 to $100 depending on condition.

Box coins have been around as an art form for hundreds of years. Though many collectors like to fantasize about smuggling microfilm, or in the case of the 19th century Trade Dollars, opium. The art form stands on its own. See some great coin boxes on (Collectors' Showcase). Search the Exonumia section for box coins.

This coin is part of the commemorative half dollar series that began with the Columbian Exposition half dollar in 1892-93. The subject of the commemoratives were the result of lobbying efforts in the United States Congress. The Alabama Centennial half commemorates the 100th anniversary of Alabama's State Hood in 1919. The coin wasn't authorized until 1920 and were first struck in 1921. It was designed by Laura Gardin Fraser, the wife of James E. Fraser of Buffalo nickel fame.

The issue of the coin coincided with a visit by President Warren Harding to Birmingham on October 26,1921. William Wyatt Bibb, the first governor of Alabama and T. E. Kelly, governor at the time, are conjoined on the coin. This coin had the honor of being the first United States coin to show a living person.

There are two varieties, the first, with the symbol "2x2" in the right field on the obverse and another without this symbol. The "2x2" was suppose to signify that Alabama was the 22nd State but it forced collectors to buy two examples which might have been the idea all along.

The 1921 Alabama half dollar is hardly ever seen below the grade About Uncirculated (AU) and often is found in Mint State grades. Value range: $50 - $3,000 depending on grade (and whether its a 2x2).

You have a Sicily (Syracuse) Tetradrachm, minted between 340-320 BC. The obverse shows a four horse chariot (quadriga) being driven by a charioteer who is crowned by Nike (winged goddess of victory) flying to right and above. The legend below in Greek Characters says Syracuse. The reverse shows a female head facing left with three dolphins around. Value range, depending on type, style and grade $500 -$1,500 + .

Just wondering about it's story being the date and beheading around that time, and if there is any worth to to coin it is not in the best shape but easily read and alot of detail Can be seen mostly worn edges.

You have a 1792 France, Bronze 2 Sols. On the Obverse: The legends are: LOUIS XVI ROI DES FRANCOIS (Louis the sixteenth king of the French). A portrait of Louis XVI facing left. Reverse: LA NATION LA LOI LE ROI. L'AN 4 DE LA LIBERTE ( The Nation, The Law, The King, The 4th Year of Liberty). The center device is the Roman Faces in a wreath with a Liberty cap atop a center pole.

Fasces represented the Roman death, as in execution. The symbolism represents something like "Liberty or death". The counterstamps are most likely validation that the coin was genuine and official. Lots of counterfeiting and other problems existed in this turbulent era. Value depends on Mint mark and grade. Range: $2 -$150

It might be a brass "Ch'ien" or "cash" coin from either China or Korea. They were first made in about 618 AD under the Emperor Kao Tsu, the first emperor of the Tang dynasty, and continued to be made, usually by casting, until the end of the 19th century.

The coins were often strung together through the central hole. Theoretically one string of cash contained 100 ch'ien but sometimes only contained 95 cash. Strings with only 95 cash were known as a "titsz". Ten strings of cash were called a "tiao" but couldn't include more than two titsz for the tiao to be considered complete. Ch'ien were minted in denominations of 1, 2, 5 and 10 Cash with the latter two denomination similar in size to a U.S. half dollar and dollar.

Though cash was used for a great deal of commerce, just like in the western world, silver and gold were considered the "real" money. An ounce of silver or tael was worth anywhere from 700 to 2,000 cash depending on the local market price of silver

Outside of a decorative disk sewn on clothing, a sequin could also be a gold coin of the Venetian Republic, also called a zecchino.

You might also be thinking of the word "Sesquicentennial". It means the 150th anniversary. Just for fun, here are some more "centennial" words:

• Centennial -100th anniversary
• Bicentennial -200th anniversary
• Tercentenary - 300th anniversary

For example, in 1926, to celebrate the 150th year anniversary of the signing of the Declaration of Independence a commemorative half dollar was issued. The coin features a conjoined bust of George Washington and President Calvin Coolidge. The coin is called the 1926 Sesquicentennial of American Independence

You have an Off-Center strike error. This is caused by the planchet (blank) not entering the coinage press normally. There is a good collector market for these. Errors with readable dates are worth more than those without dates. Estimate: $50+