The Coin Doc's Answers

I think what you have is a jeton . This is the French word for "token" and jetons saw duty as emergency money, store cards or "good fors" and counters. The last use is probably the most important. As late as the 19th century many parts of Europe still were counting in Roman Numerals. ( Try multiplying XVII x XVI ). The jetons made math easier by allowing counting similar to that of an abacus but laid on cloth or paper. Moving the jetons around allowed a merchant or trader to determine how much was owed or how much to give in change.

Jetons were often modeled on official coin designs but at least one side was completely different and might include an advertising or political message. The tokens are almost always minted in base metal.

The State Quarters are now the normal circulating quarters. There will be five new quarters each year until all 50 States are represented. The coins are not rare. For example, more than 2.5 billion quarters were minted in 1999 at the Philadelphia and Denver Mints. You haven't seen a lot of these coins in circulation yet because:

1. The government doesn't release its entire inventory at once, but over a period of years. There are enough older quarters in circulation for the stream of commerce so the new quarters will enter circulation slowly.
2. The first coins of a new series tend to be hoarded, at least for a while, and until the novelty wears off.

You can get current examples of all the current quarters in gem condition direct from the U.S. Mint in Philadelphia. You can even purchase bags of 25 coins of each design, proof examples in copper-nickel and silver and Mint sets that include regular issues of all the current coins. See the U.S. Mint on the CoinSite Links page.

See more information about the new quarters, including a schedule of the release dates, see the CoinSite FAQ. Also, you can get other information by searching for "State Quarters" on the CoinSite Search Tool. Only a few of the designs have been selected and you might be able to participate in your States' quarter design. See if there are contests in your area.

I had put this question aside for research but I can't find any reference to such a piece either. You might want to ask the dealer where he discovered this information. I would be genuinely interested in learning about this piece. I will publish it in the Coin Doc's Answer page. Let's see if any of our readers can shed light on this mystery coin.

Fractional currency of the Dominion of Canada was issued only in the denomination of 25 cents and were issued from 1870 to 1923. The colloquial name for these notes are "Shinplasters".

The name probably originated during the U.S. Revolutionary war in which soldiers used Continental Currency as lining for their shoes ("not worth a shinplaster").  The term was also used in the United States during the Civil War (1861-65) and referred to the "Legal Tender" notes issued by the North but not redeemable for gold or silver (specie). Legal Tender notes were essentially fiat money but they helped the North finance the war. Soldiers considered the Legal Tender notes equal to the paper soldiers stuffed in their socks to keep their feet warm in the winter.

The Canadian experience with 25c emergency paper money is similar and so the term was borrowed. The fractional notes were only suppose to be used temporarily in 1870 but the public found the notes useful and they continued as a series until 1923.  They were recalled in 1935. They were often given to children as souvenirs.

This is a United States Mint Medal commemorating the completion of the transcontinental railroad in 1869. William Barber was the Mint Engraver that created the design.

The obverse shows a Bust of President Ulysses S. Grant with the legend PRESIDENCY OF U.S. GRANT, in exergue, THE OCEANS UNITED BY RAILWAY MAY 10, 1869. BARBER is on the truncation.

The Reverse shows a mountainous landscape in the West with train running to right. A scroll above reads EVERY MOUNTAIN SHALL BE MADE LOW and in exergue there is inscribed MEDAL SERIES OF THE U.S. MINT J. POLLACK DIRECTOR AND W. BARBER F.

The medal is 45 mm in diameter. It was first struck in mid-November of 1869 and reproductions in goldine have been available from the United States Mint since then. The originals were struck in Gold, Silver and Copper. Only one medal was struck in gold and that was presented to President Grant in 1869. The original copper pieces have a deep chocolate finish. The modern reproduction have a golden looking finish.

The origin of the dollar symbol originates with the 16th century Portuguese "Cifrao" that was used like we use a comma in thousands. This symbol used two perpendicular strokes over an "S". The Spanish version of this symbol was called the "calderon". There was also a stylized "P" and"s" that represented pesos, pesetas or Spanish 8 reales.

By the late 18th century, correspondence expressing accounts in pesos or Spanish 8 Reales show that the peso symbol had melded with the calderon. When there is a conversion to dollars both the single line and double line "S" appear to be interchangeable (the U.S. dollar = 1 Spanish 8 Reales). The U.S. dollar is currently usually expressed as an "S" with one perpendicular line but note that Mexican Pesos are still expressed with the old peso symbol with two perpendicular lines.

Also note that U.S. and Mexico currency never use the "$" symbol on their respective currencies, probably because the symbol is ambiguous.

This is a Hungarian 10 Korona. The coin was and still is a gold trade unit and was a method by which countries paid their debts to each other. This coins are essentially bullion items.

The coin's value lies exclusively in its pure gold content which is 3.3875 grams or .0980 of a troy ounce of gold. If you multiply this decimal against the world gold price, you will get the approximate current value. (example: If gold is $290 per troy ounce. 290 x .0980 = $28.42.). By the way, these coins are available in quantity for purchase by gold investors. They are usually sold in tubes of 50 or 100.

There are scarce dates of this coin. For example, those dated 1912-14 bring about a 100% premium. The key date for the Hungarian 10 Korona is 1915. That one brings between $3,000 and $4,000 in high grade.

There are no quarters that are being recalled. They are identical in weight to the previous Washington quarter, 5.67 grams.

It's value is just one cent. All 217,660,000 cent coins minted at the Denver Mint in 1943, except for a few copper pieces struck in error, were made on steel flans.

You have an 1772 Ecu of Louis XV of France. This is a "silver dollar" sized coin. The Latin Legends tell us that LUD XV (Louis XV) D. G. (By the Grace of G-d) FR ET NA RE B.D. (is King of France and Navarre, Lord of Bearn [in France]).

The reverse legends remind every one in France that SIT NOMEN(i) BENEDICTUM (Blessed be the name of the Lord) and don't mess with the King . Values depend on grade and mint mark, a symbol or letter that is the trademark of the particular mint that struck the coin. Range: $20-$800.

You have a Connecticut copper (1785-1789), the emergency money created by the State of Connecticut to alleviate the shortage of small change. The coin was modeled on the English halfpence (9.72 grams). The legends are ACCTORI:CONNEC, (by authority of Connecticut) and INDE. ET LIB. (Independence and Liberty).

The obverse shows a bust dressed in mail, sometimes facing left or right (after the portrait of George III) and the reverse, a crude depiction of Liberty seating on a rock, a shield facing front, and her holding a staff with a Liberty Cap on its top (after Britannia seated on a Rock).

There are many varieties of this coin, including pieces made outside of "official channels". Values range from $25 -$2000 depending on type, variety and grade.

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From: Larry <lawrence.roche@worldnet.attt.net
Question: What is a "dump"
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 In 18th Century Australia, the money of choice in gold were  the British guinea,  the Portuguese moidore and the Indian mohur. The silver money of choice was the English shilling,  the Dutch guilder and the Spanish dollar or 8 Reales.One of the first attempts at setting up a regular local coinage was made in New South Wales in 1813. A Spanish Dollar was taken and a circular piece was removed from the center and stamped with the state name and a crown ; the value of 15 pence was stamped on the reverse.  Similarly, the 8 Reales , now missing the center, was stamped "Five Shillings". The holed dollars were known as "Ring Dollars" and the center piece was called a bit or dump .

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Name: Chris
Email Address: toosmart@goplay.com
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Question: Which is worth more, A pound of quarters or a pound of dimes?

Actually, they would have the same value. Even using the current copper-nickel, tokenized coinage the amount comes out the same. This preserves the tradition of when coins were THE money and there had to an equivalent of weights that would not make one denomination coin more valuable by weight than another (i.e. two dimes and a half dime = the same amount of silver as a quarter). If the relationship was random the less valuable coins would be spent and the more valuable coins hoarded (Gresham's Law). See the calculations below.

Current copper-nickel clad dimes weigh 2.27 grams making 13.7 dimes to the troy ounce x 12 (the number of ounces in a troy pound) or 164.45 dimes to the troy pound. Face Value: $16.45.

Current copper-nickel clad quarters weigh 5.67 grams or 5.485 to a troy ounce x 12 = 65.82 quarters to the troy pound. Face Value: $16.45

You have a Maria Theresa Thaler, an Austrian Trade coin that is still in production, though in Turkey, not Austria. You have the legend a bit backward. It begins with: M. THERESA (Maria Theresa) D. G. (Deus Gratia or by the grace of G-d) R. IMP.HU.BO. REG (Empress of the Holy Roman Empire, Hungary and Bohemia) (on edge) CLEMENTIA IUSTITIA (with mercy and justice).

On the other side the legend continues with additional titles ARCHID. AVG. DUX (Most August Arch-Duchess) BURG. CO. TYR (of Burgundy, Countess of Tyrol).

Latin was the International language up until the late 19th century and most coins used Latin, albeit abbreviated, to list the titles of monarchs and the countries that they ruled. As you can see they were very clever in getting all that on one coin.

This is an altered coin. That is, a coin that has been changed to look like something else. The coin is really a 1952 Dominican Republic Peso that has been altered by grounding off the appropriate areas of the coin and re-engraving it to appear as if it is a United States Coin.

The genuine U.S. 1851 Dollar was designed by Christian Gobrecht and features Liberty seated on rock, a shield in front of her with the words LIBERTY. In her left hand is a pole with a Liberty Cap on top. The reverse shows an eagle with outstretched wings, the words UNITED STATES OF AMERICA around and ONE DOL. below.

United States coins dated prior to 1980 have no mint mark if they were minted in Philadelphia. From 1980 all U.S. denominations, except the cent, show a "P" mint mark if they were minted at the Philadelphia Mint.

Gold was $20 per troy ounce. A one dollar gold coin (1849-1889) contains .04837 troy ounce of gold. The coins intrinsic value was slightly lower than the face value. The difference was seignorage, or the Mint's cost of manufacturing the coin.

Victor David Brenner (1871-1924) was a turn of the 20th century Lithuanian immigrant sculptor who had a near obsession with Abraham Lincoln of which he modeled medals and plaques. By chance, he was contracted to create the portrait of President Theodore Roosevelt for the Panama Canal service medal.

During the long sittings, the two men talked about all kinds of subjects and eventually became close friends. Roosevelt told Brenner about his desire to see a renaissance of artistic designs for United States coinage and his unhappiness with the current mint engraver's lack of artistic spark (Barber).

Roosevelt invited Brenner to submit designs for consideration for the new cent that was to commemorate the centenary of the Birth of Abraham Lincoln in 1909. His first reverse design was rejected by the Mint Director (Leach) but the second, featuring two ears of durum wheat was accepted along with the portrait of Lincoln that had graced Brenner's 1907 medal.

When the cent was released in 1909 a controversy arose, mostly instigated by the press, about Brenner's initials on the lower edge of the cent's reverse. The initials "V.D.B." were removed from the coin completely in the following year. They were restored in 1918 but to the less prominent lower edge of the truncation of Lincoln's Bust. The initials are still there on current Lincoln cents.

This is a coin of Lucius Verus, Emperor of Rome and therefore is a Roman coin. The coin was minted between the years 161-166 AD. You can tell this by the Consulship year (Cos II).

These coins exist in various denomination in bronze, silver and gold. They are not carvings but minted coins struck with dies on an anvil. Your description doesn't mention metal or size so it is difficult to tell you which denomination you have or the condition (grade of the coin). Values for coins from this emperor range from a few dollars to several thousand dollars depending on the above information.

It appears to be French, on one side there is a profile of who I can only presume to be Louis XVI, and a Latin inscription, too abbreviated for me to translate - FRANC.D.G.R.I.S.A.GER.IER.REX. On the other side there is a coat of arms and another Latin inscription which is somewhat easier to translate - TU DOMINE SPES MEA 1752 The coat of arms is hard to describe - it consists of what appears to be a griffin with two heads, holding two swords with a crown covering both heads and another smaller one below the heads. The coat of arms is in the centre of the bird and at the bottom on either side of the tail are printed the tiny letters: C and A.

I don't know if that made too much sense to you, but I am no expert on coats of arms! The coin itself appears to be in good condition, the markings clearly defined, which makes me wonder if it IS contemporary or not. It is a strange colour - it may have been a silver colour, but it is almost a dirty yellow now. (But still shiny).

Well, I don't know whether you can help me or not with my somewhat shady description, but I sincerely hope you can. I would love to hear your thoughts on my 'mysterious' coin. Thank you for your time and I looke forward to hearing from you soon. Michelle Harrison (New Zealand)

This is a German Coin. The Legend, FRANC.D.G.R.I.S.A.GER.IER.REX. says Francis, By the Grace of G-d (D. G.) Emperor of the Romans ever August (Romanorum Imperator Semper August or R.I.S.A.) and King of Germany and Jerusalem (GER. IER.REX). The reverse says, TU DOMINE SPES MEA 1752 or Thou Lord is my hope, 1752. Fortunately most of Europe used Latin in their coin legends irrespective of the national language. At least one only has to learn the Latin abbreviations.

I'm not sure which German City State this coin is from, though I will guess it is a silver Thaler (approximately the size of a English Crown) and could very well be from Nuremberg. The value depends on the which type, denomination and grade but the most common of these Thalers trade in decent condition between US$100 - $300.

After seeing the news yesterday I looked at my coins and saw when they were made. I have 11 pennies dated from 1960-1979, 8 quarters dated 1965-1977, 14 nickles dated 1957-1978, 12 dimes dated 1965-1979, 1 canadian penny that has a date of 1867-1992.

I started collecting these new quarters that I heard on CBS 2 news. I have 2 Pennsylvania, 2 Georgia, 1 New Jersey, 1 Deleware. These are dated 1999. The rest of the other coins that I didn't list are dated from 1980-1999. I want to know how much I could get out of these coins if I sell it to a coin collector? I had a coin with I think it was Queen Elizabeth but that was last year when I had that and I don't know how I got the Canadian coin. I hope you can answer these questions and its hard to think that a penny from the 70's can be worth some thing.

Age is not an indicator of value, rarity; condition and collector interest is more important. The 1972 cent that you mention is "doubled die" error and is popular with collectors. If you have no idea what a "doubled die" is, try checking out the FAQ or other Coin Doc Answers on this site.

The coins you have are common coins that are currently in circulation in large numbers. Since people don't throw money away even if it is old and worn, many of these coins will be around in quantity for many years. To learn what makes a rare coin, please read some of the articles on CoinSite to get a better idea.

You can also see some nice images of famous rare coins in the Image Gallery on CoinSite or to see coins for sale, check out our sister site, CoinSite's Collectors' Showcase. There, you can scroll through thumbnails and by clicking on them see a full size image and description.

This is the first United States commemorative quarter. It was minted to commemorate the 1893 World's Columbian Exposition in Chicago and features Queen Isabella (Isabela la primera ) who sponsored Columbus' voyage to the New World. The design is by Charles E. Barber, the Chief Mint Engraver at the time. Only 40,023 coins were minted and the survivors are scarce and are usually found in grades from EF to MS65. The official sale price at the Exposition was $1.

Though the coin was never designed to circulate, many of the circulated specimens have wear due to use as pocket pieces. The coin is popular with United States commemorative collectors and even EF specimens will bring $150 or more. Uncirculated coins range from about $300-$3,000 depending on quality.

Dies are struck several times by the master hub to create a deep impression. If the hub rotates slightly, than subsequent strikes to the working die will be out of alignment with the previous impressions. All coins struck with this die will show the rotation. Minor doubling is common especially on earlier coins but the money goes to severe errors like the 1955 doubled die cent. Since all the coins struck from that die will show the identical doubling you would find other coins with the exact same characteristics.

What is more likely is that you have a coin that was a victim of "mechanical or shelf doubling". This is caused by a loose collar and each coin struck will be slightly different. Shelf doubling has a different "look" than coins struck from a doubled die. Mechanical doubling adds little or nothing to a coins value.

The financial uncertainties at the beginning of the Civil War saw coin hoarding on a massive scale resulting in a shortage of legal tender coins. Trade was severely hampered by the difficulty in making change and it many cases one had to have exact change to make a purchase. Various methods were tried to solve this acute problem.  Merchants offered credit slips, tokens and postage stamps in return for change but the public resisted all of these methods.

In 1862, the government stepped in to save the economy from disaster by issuing a series of small paper notes that were the equivalent of coins.  At first the paper notes borrowed their designs from postage stamps and so the name "postage currency".  These interesting notes are also called "Fractional currency" since their denominations were less than one dollar.

There are five separate issues of Fractional Currency, three during the
Civil War and two issues after.  The final issue was in 1874. The issues
consisted of the following:
1st Issue - 8/21/1862 -  in cents: 5, 10, 25 and 50.
2nd Issue - 10/10/1863 - in cents: 5,10,25 and 50.
3rd Issue - 12/5/1864 - in cents: 3, 5,10,15, 25 and 50
4th Issue  - 7/14/1869 - in cents:10,15, 25 and 50
5th Issue - 2/26/1864 - in cents: 10, 25,50

The "obligation"  shows how the fractional notes could be used.  They could buy postage, be traded for Legal Tender Notes (note they couldn't be traded for gold or silver certificates) and they were legal tender up to the amount of $5 worth at a time.

 I haven't heard of  1934 $20 Federal Reserve Notes changing hands at $5,000.  These notes were made from 1934 to 1950 (1934A). Only uncirculated notes really bring a premium (about $75 and $200 for uncirculated star notes).  The most valuable 1934 $20, is the Hawaii overprint, about $1,200 in new condition and $2,000 if it is a star note.

There are error notes that would bring high prices and I'm sure these exist and you might be thinking of those. Currently, average circulated $20 are just money but of course, this could change in the future.

Remember condition and rarity are paramount. Note that low grade 1934 $20's are listed on buy sheets at $18. Believe it or not transactions do occur below face value.

 There are lots of sites that price coins (see the Links page) but there can be vast differences in value depending on grade and mint mark.  You have to know this information in order to make sense from price lists.

See Collectors' Showcase (www.sellcoins.com) and search for MORGAN to see examples of high condition Morgan Dollars and their values. If you feel that you coins are in the same category, you might want to have them graded by any one of the commercial grading services such as NGC, PCGS, ANACS, SEGS or others.     

 Not likely.  Obverse and reverse dies are different and are not interchangeable.  If they were, there would be millions of two headed or two tailed coins in circulation.  The coin is made from two coins, both split into shells at a machine shop.  One is fitted inside the other so there is no seam on the edge.

See the FAQ and other Coin Doc answers about "Magic" Coins.