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From: glenn sivila
Subject: old coin...????
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hello coin doc,
attached are pictures of an old coin... i would like to know how much it's worth..
thank you, glenn

Dear Glenn,
Your image shows a Syracuse, silver Decadrachm by Euainetos, circa 400 BC. Head of Arethusa facing left, hair wreathed with barley, wearing triple-drop earring (not visible on your coin) and beaded necklace; four dolphins around. Euainetos signature at edge by hair /Fast quadriga (4 horse chariot) driven left by female charioteer; Nike flying above to right to crown charioteer's head with wreath; in exergual area (below line) on two steps, shield, cuirass between two greaves and helmet. The weight should be: 42.18 grams Diameter: 35 mm

Authentic examples are extremely rare as is the large denomination of a Decadrachm (10 Drachms). Auction records: US $18,000 - $55,000+ for pieces VF-EF.

Note that your image appears to show a base metal museum copy. Copies and replicas have no specific value. Authentication requires examining the actual coin.

From: Leonard Sakal
Subject: Copper Nickel
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Hello, I happened on a copper colored nickel at my local supermarket. I was just wondering if I should just throw it in my kids piggy-bank or hire 24 hour guard inside and outside the dwelling, ha ha!! It 's a 1995 Jefferson Liberty. Your web site is outstanding. It stirs me to look into some other coins I have stashed away. Thank You, Len S.

United States 5 cents pieces are struck on planchets consisting of 75% copper and 25% nickel (see the CoinSite FAQ for articles on U.S. coinage standards). Most of the time the nickel has a silvery appearance as the coin's color is dominated by the nickel metal. In the presence of a strong oxidizer (acid, base etc) the nickel will take on a copper color. These coppery "nickels" are fairly common.

There are errors where a cent blank was struck with nickel dies (possibly a lone cent blank mixed up with nickel blanks).This error will have part of the outer design missing (since the planchet is too small), will be thinner than a standard nickel and will weigh less. Five cent coins weigh 5 grams, copper cents (pre 1982)weigh 3.11 grams.

Comments: your information is very helpful for i am also a curious person and cant rest untill i find the answer
From: emma
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Question: i have a coin but i dont know what its worth, please help. It's a 1913 half penny from Australia

The Australian bronze 1/2 penny was part of a monetary system that was adopted from the British and was in use in Australia from the early 19th century to 1966. The system worked like this:

12 pence = 1 shilling
2 shillings = Florin
5 shillings = 1 Crown
20 shillings= 1 pound
In 1966 Australia adopted a decimal system (100 cents = 1 dollar)

The 1913 Australia 1/2 penny features the bust of King George V of Great Britain and was minted in London for Australia. There are two varieties, a narrow date and a wide date. Both varieties are roughly worth the same. Mintage: 2,160,000 pieces. Values depend on grade (condition of the coin described by the standard grading system. See the CoinSite FAQ for information about grading). Approximate value range depending on grade: US 5 cents - $150.

Name: Chris Kiner
Email Address: capt.blood@juno.com
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Question: I have an american eagle bullion gold coin with a mint mark of CA on top of each other date of 1986. What does the CA stand for?

Not the mint mark but the designers monogram, Augustus St. Guadens (AG) who designed the original 1907 $20 gold piece. Since his design was adopted for the modern eagle, he is also honored on that coin as well.

From: "Chris."
CHARROP1@KELCOM.IGS.NET
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Question: I am hoping that you can solve a 19 year mystery. I bought a coin at a show when I was 12 now at 31 I still have never seen another like it, nor have I been able to uncover any information about what it may be worth. It is an Italian coin from 1943. It is marked Mussolini MCMXLIII on the face and hac a message printed on the back that is way too small to make out. The coin is only 10mm accross and is made from 8k gold. There is no denomination or amount marked on the coin to say what it was worth to begin with. Help!!! Any information would be very helpful.

The Benito Mussolini coins are fantasy pieces dated 1918 (MCMXLVIII) and were privately produced in 1943 in silver and gold. The smallest gold piece that I know of is 17 mm in diameter and struck in .500 gold (about 13 karat).

If your coin is only 10 mm across and in 8K gold then you have a modern "miniature". Value for the 17 mm gold fantasy, about $50. The miniature brings about $3. Please see the CoinSite Search Tool and search for Mussolini to get more information (and images) of this interesting series of fantasy coins.

From: DON & FRAN PILLON
Subject: nickels
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Dear Sir or Madam.
i have a 1928 Canadian V Nickel. Can you please provide me with some information about this coin? Such as history and value.
Thank you,
Rose Murry

Canada 5 cent pieces were first struck in nickel in 1922 and replaced the silver 5 cent pieces struck 1921 and before. The 1928 Canada 5c ranks as one of the highest mintage runs of this era with a mintage of 4,577,712. The coin often comes in average circulated condition (VG - Ch VF) but is seldom seen in uncirculated grades (no trace of wear and original mint luster). For a discussion on grading see the CoinSite FAQ

Approximate value range in US dollars: (VG - MS63) 10 cents - $70.

Comments: This website has been a great tool to me!
Name: Tricia
Email Address: triciamacdonald@yahoo.com
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Question: I recently came across a 1964 U.S. quarter. I have tried to research it on the internet and have come to conclusion that it is a "Washington Quarter 1932-1964". It is in fairly good condition. It has the the letter D on the back just above the words quarter dollar. I think that is where it was minted, but am not sure. I am trying to determine the value of this coin, if any. I have looked at the coin value guides but cannot determine which value matches my coin. Any help would be of great assistance. I have a picture available as well. Thank you!

You have a 1964-D (Denver Mint) 90% silver quarter. 1964 was the last year of US 90% circulating silver coins. Though this is a "common" coin and often sold in rolls of 40 pieces, it is uncommon in gem condition (MS67 and above). You can get information on grading at the CoinSite FAQ (or see Coin Grading ).

Name: michael illobre
Email Address: stormbowling300@yahoo.com
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Question: my question is i have a coin that has a man with glasses on the front and on the back it looks like a dragon with something hanging from his mouth also on the back it has 5 trees and in the background of the trees it has some kind of bulidings that come to a point i count 3 points on the left and 4 on the right.. The only writing on the back of the coin i can read is a weird shaped #2 and uin5 so if i put them together this is how it looks.. 2uin5... The coin is as big as a u.s. quarter and the same color as a quarter please get back with me i would like to know where it came from... I found it in a roll of quarters at my work.

Sounds like a 5 Bhat from Thailand, probably from the 1970's. The bespectacled person on the obverse is King Rama IX (Phra Maha Bhumifhol Adulyadej). Approximate value in average circulated grades: US 15 cents.

Comments: This site is AWESOME. I haven't ever seen it before, but I will most definitely be back quite a bit to read up more and more about EVERYTHING the site has to offer.
Name: Brian D Reed
Email Address: Asa1600@aol.com
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Question: Is there a website where I can find out information about what the US Federal Reserve Banks/Mints do with the coins that are deemed as "Unfit" or "Mutilated"? I know that they are destroyed, but I am wondering if there is anywhere I can find out how the coin is destroyed and what is done with the coins once they are destroyed. I know that the Federal Reserve Notes are shredded, but I can't find any information on what happens to Unfit or Mutilated Coin.

The US Treasury has a service by which they redeem mutilated coins. Mutilated coins are coins that have been bent, clipped, defaced or just worn out where they are no longer acceptable in the normal stream of commerce.

Last time I checked the Treasury pays 80% of face value for the coins. The coins are then melted and the alloys extracted and recycled. Contact the U.S. Treasury in Washington D.C.

Name: Ian Dallow
Email Address: ian.dallow@ntlworld.com
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Question: I am trying to find out the face value in £ sterling of a 22 carat gold coin which is one of the highest denomination coins ever officially issued as legal tender for general circulation in England and Wales during the 20th century. It is inscribed with GEORGIVS VI D : G : BR : OMN : REX F : D : IND : IME on the front and is dated 1937 with an image of St. George on the reverse

You are referring to a British Sovereign which at one time was the equivalent of a pound. Sovereigns contain .2354 troy ounce of gold. Multiply the above decimal against the current price of gold in U.S. dollars to determine the Sovereign's intrinsic value. Divide the result by 1.55 to get the approximate value in Sterling.

Comments: It is an excellent site both for professionals as well as amateurs
Name: azim khan
Email Address: azim.khan@wfp.org
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Question: I have some ancient Islamic coins of copper. They are been attacked or has greenish subsatance attached to them,which is either copper sulphate or copper oxide. Do I clean them? If so how to clean them or let it be as it is.

The green substance is "verdigris". There are methods to remove verdigris but this is best left to a professional conservator. I suggest leaving the coins as they are.

Name: Mahra Peterson
Email Address: peterson@neworld.net
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Question: I am curious about the 1964 and 1965 silver half dollars. What was the price of silver in each coin at the time each coin was minted? What is the fine collector value for these two coins today?

Silver price in 1964 hovered around $1 per ounce making a U.S. half dollar worth approximately 33 cents. The silver content was reduced from 90% to 40% for half dollars (1965 - 1970). From 1971 to the present half dollars are struck on copper-nickel clad planchets.

The government realized that the price of silver would evenutally rise above the face value of U.S. silver coins and struck dimes and quarters in a copper-nickel composition from 1965. The mint continued to strike half dollars in a clad composition containing 40% silver but by 1970 the value of silver was in danger of exceeding even the debased half dollar. The 1970 half dollar was never issued for commerce since Congressional debate over continuing the 40% silver half prevented the mint from striking half dollars. Only mint and proof sets contain the 1970 half. Half dollars dating 1971 to the present are struck on the same copper-nickel clad material as the dimes and quarters. Average circulated 1964 halfs are currently worth about $1.50 (spring 2003) and 40% half dollars bring about 55 cents. Gem uncirculated examples bring considerably more. To see more about the composition of U.S. coins see the CoinSite FAQ.

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