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Heidi Wallman at heidi_wallman@singletrac.com writes: Who is on the U.S. dime? Who (or what) was on it before him?

The democratic tradition that began in the United States shunned idolization of people on its coinage. The aim was to break with the royalist tradition in European culture. It wasn't until 1893 that the "rule" was broken by the establishment of the commemorative coinage for the Columbian Exposition, the Isabella Quarter Dollar and the 1892 and 1893 Columbian Half Dollar. At least you had to be dead to get on a commemorative coin. That rule, at least, agreed with the founding fathers wish not to deify a living person.
Only allegorical symbols existed on U.S. coinage beginning with the fugio cent in 1787. In 1932, the Standing Liberty Quarter was replaced by a tribute to Washington's 200th birthday. The public was very enthusiastic, enough so, that the quarter that was suppose to be a one year commemorative, became the standard quarter design that we still use today. With the tradition broken, it wasn't hard to create a similar coin dedicated to the much beloved Franklin Delano Roosevelt that appears on the dime from 1946 to the present. It replaced the Winged Liberty design (affectionately called the "Mercury" dime) that was part of American life from 1916 to 1945.

Steve at santore@iglobal.net writes: Help! I have an Italian coin in F condition that I'm having trouble identifying. It's a silver coin from 1668 about the size of a nickel. On one side it has a crown with three coats of arms and the legend "HESPERIDVM.DECVS" On the other side is a portrait and the legends ".ARETH.PROLE.ATLANTI." (there may be a letter before the A.) I think it's a Luigino, but could you identify where it was minted? Thanks! Steve

Though Italian coinage is not the Coin Doctor's strongest area, a little detective work may help us to guess where this coin was minted. I glad that you included the legends, they often give you clues to what you're looking for. Fortunately, Latin was the international language for many hundreds of years, so it was the idiom of choice for coin legends.
The first legend says: HESPERIDUM. DECVS or roughly, "To the honor (glory?) of Italy". So at least we know the approximate geographical area. The other legend is abbreviated for space and design reasons making our job a little harder. The first word, ARETH most likely refers to Arethusa, a fountain in the island of Ortygia at Syracuse. Syracuse is modern day Sicily. PROLE most likely refers to proletarius or roughly "people", though in ancient times it referred to citizens of the lowest classes who served the state by being the father of children. ATLANTI-by the ocean. -Good chance your coin was minted in Sicily.

David M. at Specopt@aol.com writes: What is the consensus on dipping silver coins. My coin dealer says that it is OK if done properly? What do you think?

The coin dip that is used most often contains a mild acid that removes the top layer of silver from the coin; that's how it removes "tarnish". A small amount of the mint luster is also removed each time the coin is dipped. Mint luster is an optical effect caused by flow lines that are established by the striking pressure of the coin press. Since the flow lines are on the very top surface of the coin, dipping gradually sends your uncirculated coin toward AU or lower status
There is another reason that dipping coins is destructive to them. Natural patina, the kind that takes many years to establish, is an oxide coating that can protect the coin from damage to pollutants in modern air. If the coin has been lucky enough to have achieved its patina originally and it's surface has remained unaltered from the time of minting, the oxide coating actually contains oxygen from the air of that period. Dipping removes that protection and actually makes the coin more likely to oxidize quickly and unattractively. The "fix" only lasts a short while, forcing one to dip the coin anew, each time damaging the coin further.
My suggestion is to only purchase coins that please you. If you don't like patinated pieces, stick to ones that have achieved a clearer oxide coating (they do exist and pros can tell the difference). If the coin needs surgery, don't get involved.

Rebecca at rball@bellatlantic.net writes: My dad has a coin dated 1863. On the front is "For public accommodation" and on the back is "Kickerbocker currency". Do you have any idea what this coin is and where it was used?

This is another example of tokens that were created as a result of the coin shortage during the Civil War. Food Stores, restaurants, hardware stores and public houses (hotels) created these to use as small change during the coin shortage of the Civil War period. The tokens included advertising to dissuade the government from accusing the makers of counterfeiting.
Civil War tokens are fun to collect. There is large number to choose from. You can collect by type such as kind of establishment and locale. They come from an important era in American History.

Faith at you@hey-you.com writes: I recently was given what I've now identified -- through the help of your very useful site -- a Morgan Dollar dated 1890. I was trying to figure out its worth, but can't seem to locate the mint marking on the coin. It is in very good condition, so I'm sure its not smudged off or anything. Can you tell me where to look on the coin? Thanks so much.

First, I'd like to compliment you on your e-mail address. Where can I get one like that? As to the Morgan Dollar, Philadelphia minted dollars have no mint mark. Only the branch mints had mint marks located under the wreath on the reverse (eagle side). The 1890 Philadelphia issue is considered a "common" date and in average circulated grades brings a little more than silver value. Uncirculated, gem condition pieces are hard to find and bring a significant price in the market.

Joy at joshjp@aloha.net writes: Aloha! I live in Hawaii now but I used to live in Mammoth Lakes, CA. in the Sierra Nevada Mtns. While arrowhead hunting there, I found a coin I hope you can help me to identify, and it's value. It is gold with ridges (like a Dime), it is smaller than a half inch across, there's a standing Liberty in front of a sun, with the word "Liberty" at the top, and a date at her left foot (1914?)and a wreath around the edge. On the other side is a flying eagle over a rising sun, with "United States of America" at the top. I will be awaiting your reply. Mahalo, Joy

I believe you are talking about the small gold Bicentennial medal minted in 1976 minted at the Philadelphia Mint. It contains about 1/3rd of a troy ounce of gold. The only coin similar to your description is the 1915-S Panama-Pacific Exposition commemorative half dollar. That one is in silver, shows the denomination, half dollar, and is more than 30mm in diameter, bigger than the medal you described in your note.

Paul Hatch at hatch@webzone.net writes: Hi, I have recently come across two old coins. The first is a german coin with the face of Paul von Lindenburg dated 1847-1934. The back has a nazi swatzica and Dutfenes Reich 1938 written on it. The second is a U.S. silver dollar eagle and lady liberty face. It is dated 1891 and has e pluribus unum written on the back. Are these collectors? If so, what is their value? Found in an old coin purse. Thank you for your time and cooperation.

The first coin is the 5 Reich Mark, Paul Von Hindenburg commemorative. The one you have was minted between 1936-1939 since it features the swastika in a wreath below an eagle. There is also a 1935 issue with an eagle with outstretched wings on the reverse. These issues are readily available and average pieces bring between $6-$8 in average circulated condition. They were minted at various German mints. The most scarce probably is the "G" (Karlsruhe) mint issue of 1939.
Your second coin is a Morgan dollar of 1891 and is common in average circulated condition. Check to see if there is a "CC" mint mark underneath the wreath on the reverse. That issue is scarce.

James Moore at lmoore@blyonline.com writes: Hey,Doc I'm new at coin collecting and Unnoticed in looking at some coin books there is no coins minted for the year 1930, could you clear this up for me?

There are certainly coins minted in 1930 but there are less issues. It was the beginning of a world wide depression and less commerce meant less need for coins. In the U.S., every denomination except for the half dollar and the dollar were issued. In Europe, few precious metal issues were minted in 1930, though in Britain there were silver Crowns and lower denomination coins minted that year.

rick porter at rbporte@megavision.com writes: Hi, Doc: going through family coins I came across a silver coin The head side shows a man with a cross and the letters going around the outside are "WOLFFGDGSREPRBSBCARDDSCHRATTENBACHEPOLODUX" cant tell where one word ends and another begins. On the back is an ornate crest and the letters on that side are RIPSRCBCPROTGERSCR MCONINETACTVAL*1730" What is the origin of this coin? And is it rare or not?

Dear Rick,
The coin you have is a German Taler and it does puzzle those who haven't seen these before (and often many of us who have). The German rulers, Kings, Dukes, Cardinals often had long titles and out of respect these titles HAD to be on the coin somehow so an abbreviation system was developed. The legends were usually in Latin but sometimes German was used also. The formula generally was:
The Name of the Ruler DG (Deus Gratia-By The Grace of G-d) Ruler, Cardinal etc., Duke of etc. This would normally surround the portrait of the person described by the legend. In your case, I can't identify the ruler, WO is unknown to me but you can find the word CARD (cardinal) POL(Poland), DUX (Duke). It would help to know a detailed description of the shield and if there were monograms, as that would help identify the specific State. The reverse legend is more standard. The SRIP stands for Sacri Romani Imperii Princeps or for those a little rusty in their Latin, Prince of the Holy Roman Empire. The rest of the code SR (could mean Arch Chamberlain) PROTGER (Protector of the Germans).
I would need more information from Rick and a little help from our readers to give any further effort to identify this coin.
Are these interesting coins valuable? Many are but condition, type, origin, Mint and rarity all come into play to reflect market value. In any case, these coins are fascinating, historic and were the ancestors of our Silver dollar.

Mark Hutto at gahutto@aol.com writes: A friend of mine showed me a coin that I have never seen before. He asked me If I wanted to buy it for five hundred dollars, The coin is a 1951 silver dollar with an Indian Head on the front wearing a liberty band, on the back there is a wreath in side the wreath it is written: 1 dollar 1951. Around the edge of the coin it is written Unite States of America. The coin appears to be the normal size of a silver dollar, but I have never hear or seen anything like this before. What is it? Thank You Mark

There is no U.S. coin, pattern or otherwise, that I know of that fits your description. However, there is a Peso from the Dominican Republic that sounds mighty close! Your friend may have a reengraved coin. The elements of the DR Peso show an Indian head facing left wearing a head band, Libertad, and a headdress. The reverse has a wreath enclosing the shield of the Dominican Republic. It's possible that the coin was "made" by polishing off the defining elements and then adding the "U.S." identifications. My theory may be bust though, there is no DR Pesos of this design dated 1951. They're either dated 1939 or 1952. Look for a "HP" below the bust. Though the initials could have been removed also, it's close enough to the bust to possibly still be identified.

Sandy Davis at ssd1@ra.msstate.edu writes: How many U.S. cents equal to 1 bit?

12 1/2. The bit was 1 eighth of an 8 Real which was the weight of the United States' decimalized dollar. These coins circulated freely as legal tender until just before the Civil War. The term "2 bits" is still recognized as meaning a quarter dollar.

Billy Joe Peterson at bpeterson@enscous.com writes: I have a silver coin in relatively good shape that I obtained in Oman. I believe it is European in origin. The date on the coin is 1780. The only words that I can make out include the following: ARCHID AVST DUX BURG COTYR 1780 R IMP HU BO REG M THERESIA D G The image on the coin is of a woman, possibly Maria Theresa, Empress of Austria. I would truly appreciate any information that you might have on this coin. I am particularly interested in discovering the value of the coin. Thank you, Barbara Peterson

The coin you have is the longest running trade unit in the world. The Maria Theresa Thalers were very successful and are still used today, mostly in the middle east. They're not made in Austria anymore, but they still make them in Turkey. All have the date 1780, with an "X" by the date.
The coin is considered a bullion item and contains .75 troy ounces of pure silver.

Bonnie at bmurdoch@infi.net writes: I recently began putting my coins in books. I have a problem with my 1982 pennies. I am not sure how to tell which is which...the larger, the smaller, the zinc... Any suggestions??

Some 1982 Cent factoids:

• There are no "small date" Denver 1982 cents in copper.
• The small date variety only exists on the copper plated zinc Denver cents.
• The small date has a straight base on "2", the large date the "2" curls at the end of the base.
• The copper plated zinc cents have bubbles on the surface, the copper coins don't. (They had a devil of a time getting the copper to adhere correctly to the zinc)
• The "S" mint proof is minted in copper
• The scarcest of the seven 1982 regular issue cents is the Philadelphia, copper plated zinc, small date.

Jonathan Valdez at 102057.1047@compuserve.com writes: Hi. I have begun to collect Byzantine coins, and have two questions. First, I realize that one never cleans modern coins, but what about ancient coins? Some of the coins I have come across are dirt-encrusted; one dealer suggested using a toothbrush, "but nothing chemical or abrasive." Would that include water to loosen the dirt? Second, is there any price guide more recent than the Sear guide from 1987? Many thanks for your help!

There is an art to caring for ancient coins. The metal can crystallize over long periods of time and the coin can shatter like glass if hit hard enough. Copper coins are especially vunerable to damage from metal "diseases". Soft brushes can be beneficial to copper coins such as sestertii, dupondi and asses. An occasional soak in olive oil to lubricate the metal is often done also. Unfortunately, there are few ancient coins that haven't been cleaned at one time or another. Our aim is to preserve what we have remaining for posterity.
If you are interested, seek out professional numismatists who specialize in these coins to gain some knowledge about the techniques for preserving ancient coins. You might want to subscribe to some of the auction houses that specialize in ancient coin sales. That is the best source of current pricing.

TOM DANIELIDIS at lyndagod@microtec.com writes: I HAVE A CANADIAN $20 BILL (1991) WITH A MISSING SECURITY SEAL.THE CHARLTON CATALOG OF PAPER MONEY MENTIONS THE $50 BILL (1988),BUT DOES NOT MENTION THE$20 BILL AT ALL. THE BILL IS GENUINE,AND IS IN AU-UNC CONDITION. CAN YOU PLEASE SHED SOME LIGHT AS TO HOW COMMON OR NOT THIS BILL IS.

I would think that all errors of this type are scarce to rare. I haven't seen one like you describe, possibly our readers have run in to this error.

sledford@suite224.net writes: I have a Cuban 25 cent piece which seems to be commemorative of the 100th anniversary of the birth of Sarti. What can you tell me about this coin?

I think you are talking about the birth of José Marti Centennial commemorative minted in 1953. Marti was the Cuban equivalent of George Washington. The coin was minted in half dollar and dollar denominations as well.

Tom Williams at tomwms@internet1.net writes:Recently inherited some coins, mostly indian head and wheat pennies. What's the best way to clean them without causing any damage? Thanks for your help.

Dont!!!!

Steven M. Kanna-Eminger at Pjax@aloha.net writes: recently i found a penny that i don't have an explanation for. It is a "shell", the reverse is clearly stamped (lincoln memorial) complete with rims but the obverse face and interior is completely missing. It is almost like the entire interior has been drilled out, however there is no evidence of drill or cut marks. The marks inside the "shell" are all oriented in one direction, not circular. i am at a loss to explain this item, any help that you may be able to offer would be very much appreciated! Thanks!

There are lots of examples of cents and other coins being hollowed out at a machine shop for various purposes (see coin doctor answers re: magic coins). Though the inside of the "shell" usually has circular marks, I've seen pieces that were etched on the inside to accommodate a filling such as a jewelry mount. Coins are used in more ways than for money.
The most interesting use of "shells" that I've seen was the economical use of a gold Liberty Quarter Eagle hollowed out to make cuff links. One would normally see cuff links made with two coins but these were no doubt made from the same coin. On close inspection, you could see that the coin was cut in two, the gold scraped out and a torpedo inserted into the back of the empty space. I guess if you disassembled these cuff links you would probably see the marks that you described in your note.

JTurnerbea at JTurnerbea@aol.com writes: My Mother-in-law has recently obtained several old British Penny coins....whilst we realise that there have been many penny coins in circulation and generally they are of little value...we wondered if you knew of any particular specials to look out for that might be worth collecting or indeed if you know of other sources of information on this particular subject, regards

Great Britain Pennys are fun to collect. They 're large, have been made for centuries, have a nice portrait of the monarch and are inexpensive. There are rare dates even in the 20th century issues. Here are some highlights to look out for. The prices reflect from Fine to Extra Fine grades:

• 1895 P - value $10 to $80
• 1918H $1-$60 (high grade pieces are rare)
• 1919H $1-$35
• 1926 $8-$75

Buy a copy of Seaby, The Standard Catalogue of British Coins. This book is published every year, you might even find a copy a few years old at your local public library. It will give you a great deal of pertinent information about pennys as well as every other British coin.

John Lombardo at jal@ibm.net writes: Hi, I was wondering if you can tell me the value of these coins I found. There are the Coins of Israel Official Mint St 1971, Coins Of Israel Jerusalem Specimen Set 1969, Coins Of Israel Jerusalem Specimen Set 1968, and Coins Of Israel Jerusalem Specimen Set 1971. Thank you.

Israel went a bit overboard when they made these sets and they only wholesale for about 25 cents per set. The coins have long since been obsolete.

Jeff Gallagher at c.gallagher@sk.sympatico.ca writes: Can you tell me about 1898 American silver dollar, with eagle on back upside down compared to the ladies head that is on the flip side.

The normal orientation of U.S. coins is so that if you flip the obverse over from the top the reverse appears right side up. Many European coins use medallic orientation, where the reverse appears right side up only if you turn the coin over from right to left. Most medals are struck this way, hence the name.

Tony Scarola at tscarola@tdstw.com writes: I have a 1943 Nickel (P)hilly Mint, in good condition. It appears to have a "crack" on both sides where the metal seems to "peel" away from the coin. It looks like it could have been damaged in production. Is this possible? Should I have it checked out by an expert?
also
I have what appears to be a "blank" penny. It has no markings on it whatsoever and it seems to have a slightly raised edge. If I were to compare it to a date of a true penny, I would say somewhere in the teens (looking at size and color).

When the coin metal strip is being rolled out to the proper thickness, dirt or gas or another foreign substance may become trapped in the surface of the metal. When the coin blanks are cut and the coin minted, the lamination often peels off the coin's surface leaving a depression or crack in the surface of the coin. This error may decrease or increase the numismatic value of the coin depending on the severity and the kind of lamination.
The cent you mentioned sounds like a blank flan that escaped the coin press. If it has a rim, it is known as a Type II blank and has been through the upsetting machine that creates the rim. Blanks before this process are called Type I and have no rim.

Bryan at bairhart@peterboro.net writes: Your_Question: I have stumbled across a coin while renovating my 180yr old house, It is a Canadian penny dated 1876, it is in mint condition. I am curious as to whether it has any value or not?

The 1876H large cent is an available date in mint state (mintage: 4 million) and is valued at anywhere from $20 for an MS60 to about $90 for a MS63. If the coin is in a higher mint state grade it is worth significantly more.

j goode at jjgoode@swbell.net writes: I have a coin about the size of a quarter bronze color. On the front side is a picture of a animal with a human head and the back side is a horse with a man in a robe standing behind the horse. Any information will help. THANK YOU.

The piece you have is a medal not a coin. Coins usually have some reference to a denomination, either by symbol or words. You haven't provided enough information to identify it, ( i.e. is there a legend?) but depictions of human and animal combinations on coins go back to the Ancient Greeks. For example, Sarapis, a bearded man-headed bull, appears on many coins of Neapolis (modern Naples, Italy). Sarapis was suppose to be a healer, miracle worker and a sun god. A nifty symbol for your up and coming city state.
Is your medal from Naples? Anybody that knows this medal, write us a note on the SoapBox.

Ben Valdes at bvaldes@filenet.com writes: What is the furthest distance from Earth that a coin, U.S. or otherwise, has been? Did any of the Apollo Astronauts take (or better yet, leave behind) any coins with them to the Moon? Are there any coins on board any of the unmanned space probes that are drifting about the Solar system? I think it would be really cool to know just how far our money really can go.

I think it was the Surveyor spacecraft that took lots of great photos of the outer planets and then left the solar system. I think it contained a medallic portrait of a man and a woman plus a recording of nature sounds, rock music and a few Nixon aides singing at the impeachment hearings. They should have included coins. In a few years, they might have been the only unslabbed coins in the universe.

John N. at jmnovak@mindspring.com writes: How does damage to a coin affect its grading? In particular, I stumbled across a U.S "shield" nickel that would probably grade as Fine or even Very Fine (lettering is clear, shield showing wear but the fine horizontal lines in the top of the shield are still partially visible) except for one small problem; it has a hole punched in it -- right through the center of the date! You can still make out that the initial digit is '1' (not surprisingly :-), and the final digit '9', making it an 1869 or 1879 vintage; but the center two digits are obliterated by a gaping hole. What value (if any) is this coin likely to have?

The grade at this point is academic as a damaged coin like you describe above is simply a cull and has minimal value. There is a market for damaged coins. They are inexpensive and allow anyone of any means to have a historic coin collection. I've seen cull collections that were interesting and even exciting. Often the damage is in one place like on your shield nickel leaving all the detail available to see. Enjoy!

Allan Wolff at allanw@mapcoinc.com writes: How much does the value of a coin affect the grade it receives? I have several common date Morgan dollars graded MS66 and recently purchased an 1892CC dollar in MS64. The MS64 dollar has fewer marks and distracting features than any of the MS66 coins. Is it possible that this coin is simply undergraded or did it receive a lower grade because there is a big jump in price between an MS64 and an MS65? This question is raised after reading an editorial in Coin World about a 1944 copper cent that was graded AU55 after previously grading EF40 three times with the reason given by the grading service that the higher grade was justified based on what the value of the coin should be.

The Coin Doc's philosophy has always to buy coins that please you no matter what grade is stated on the holder. It is true that each date and mint mark of Morgan Dollars are different and it is difficult to compare grade between dates. For example, the best MS 65 1904-P will never look as good as its graded counterpart 1881-S. How well the dies where made, the skill level of the mint workers at that time, the state of repair of the machinery, the striking pressure ordered, all come in to play in the appearance of the finished coin. It is also probably true that the major grading services grade by price. I noticed that it's very difficult to get 1883-S and 1884-S Morgans graded mint state. Collectors and dealers joke that these two dates were simply struck in AU. However, similar condition common date pieces are very often graded MS60-62.
You can play the re-grade game if you wish but you may just be giving the grading services yet another donation .

John at Moose@internettport.net writes: Do you know what the value of german money dating back to 1910. It has on the top 1000 then it has Reichsbanknote. and then it has 1000 again. In the center it has some german writing and at the bottom it has a red stamp on the left and the right side.
also
John Mintz at Johnm@internettport.net writes: I also have some old german currency. It is a 1000 Marks. It has a date of 1910. I tried to get a price from a local coin dealer but I think he is trying to rip me off. it has a red stamp on the left side and a red stamp on the right side to. Could you give me a round and about price to give me a good idea of the value? Thank you for your time,

The note your talking about were the Imperial Bank Notes of Germany either Pick 44 (red serial number) or 45 (green serial number). In 1910 1000 Marks was a goodly sum but these were released in large numbers after WWI when they had lost much of their value. Today these notes are very common and are found in junk boxes at shows. The one to look out for are either type with a 6 digit serial numbers, made until 1916. Ones in new or almost new condition will bring between $20-$35. Most are the 7 digit type and where actually made after WWI.

John Mintz also asked about 1983 and 1984 double die cents- Get a copy of The Guide Book of United States Coins at your local coin shop. It has close up pictures of both coins.

Martino Mannella at dpais@netcom.ca writes: Hi, can you tell me where I can find info on buying and selling Canadian coins on the internet? Thanks.

Try our Numismatic Links Page to find all kinds of sources.

Susan Loubser at ya@mindspring.com writes: At a garage sale I recently purchased some coins. One of them is the size of a penny. On the one side it has a liberty head, with the word "liberty" across the headband. On the other side it has a lady sitting on a chair, next to a table. It has the words either "keep your temper" or "keep your teacher" on it. It has no value on it, which make me wonder if it was a monetary coin, or some kind of commemorative coin. I can't seem to find any information about it, and wondered it you could help.

There are many civil war era cent size tokens that were used by merchants to alleviate the coin shortage then. When the tokens first appeared they looked very much like the Indian cents that were in circulation beginning in 1859. They would have the words ONE CENT on the back. The U.S. government took a dim view of these tokens which bordered on counterfeiting. To avoid the wrath of Uncle Sam, the tokens evolved into advertising or political tokens that were passed as one cent. There are many to collect. Some have the names of the stores that issued them and others have nonsensical themes, at least to us, many years removed from the meaning of the humor or "joke" on the token. They range in value from about $5 on up depending on the type, message, store and condition.
A similar shortage existed in the 1830's and tokens from this era are called "Hard Times" tokens. They have a completely different character. My favorite political token from this era are the "Am I not a woman and a sister" and "Am I not a man and a brother" anti slavery pieces. You have a good find! Congratulations.

Mike Cook at mrc909@theonramp.net writes: I have a 1986 silver Lincoln penny. I have never seen a silver penny before and was wondering if you have? Is it rare or just a mistake?

There are no silver cents made in the United States and there haven't been silver flans of even dime size since 1964. There seems to be a plethora (I like that word) of plated coins used for promotion. You can tell if its just a regular cent by weighing it. A barrel plated zinc cent weighs 2.5 grams. See other articles on just this very subject below in this file .

Scott Vance at scvance@earthlink.net writes: Is the grading service INS still in existence? Does it have a web site? What are the perceived differences between the services? Some encapsulated coins sell for more or less depending on the service. Thanks for your thoughts.

This seems to be a recurring theme for many collectors. It shows that the grading services have created a market condition but not much confidence that anyone has a handle on grading. The problem is that the perceived differences between the services change often. This has created a lot of instability in the market and may be partially responsible for the decline in the value of some types of coins due to "grade dilution".
This a difficult and challenging subject.

Greg Hyatt at dghyatt@ix.netcom.com writes: My daughter was going through her pennies. She saves coins as all my children do. Any how I don't know the answer to this one. She found a 1987 penny the looks like it was stamped from the same material as a dime. Looks like it is silver. Is this possible or is this some kind of counterfeit item? Looks neat. It's not mercury on the coin, I have seen that before. Could it be maybe someone plated it? It slightly worn and I see no copper so I don't think it is plated any ideas? Well thanks for any input Sincerely Greg Hyatt in Ohio.

It sound like you have a cent struck on a dime planchet (blank). Dimes, by the way, are struck from a copper-nickel sandwich ( There haven't been silver dimes since 1964). This kind of error is prized by collectors and usually brings in the range of $100-$150 for an example in uncirculated or about uncirculated condition. If you look closely, you will see the edges of the cent design are flattened out. The dime flan is a little bit too small and is stretched by the cent die to fill the collar that holds the coin in place.
It is also possible you have a plated cent. I've seen many of these and I imagine they were used for some commercial promotion. In any case if you have access to a gram scale try the following:
If the coin is really a 1987 cent it will weigh 2.5 grams. If the coin is a cent struck on a dime it will weigh 2.27 grams

Gerald Stein at gstein@hcnews.com writes: I have a coin dated 1891 that has a porpoise or dolphin on one side and a crown on the other, I believe it is a silver coin, but due to the tarnish, I can not tell. The denomination is "ore". I assume it is a foreign coin. It was in with some old coins from a family member. I would like to know the country it came from and what the term "ore" means. Thank you for any help you can give me.

The coin you have is a bronze 2 Ore from Denmark (100 Ore=1 Krone). A low value coin, very much used like our cent. Though it is more than a century old, it still doesn't bring much of a premium. A good starting point for a world coin collection.

Gerald Stein at gstein@hcnews.com writes: I have three foreign coins, that I would like to know the country they are from. The first coin is dated 1974, on one side it has a tiger standing on a sword with a sword in it's hand and a crown on it's head. Written around it is "SUOMEN TASAVALTA". On the other side is a tree with "50" by it and "PENNIA" written underneath it. The second coin is dated 1944 and is about the size of a dime. On one side is a man sitting next to an anvil with a hammer in his hand and in the background is a mountain erupting. Underneath the man is written "FILIPINAS". On the other side is an eagle on a shield, with the words "UNITED STATES OF AMERICA" written around it. The third coin is dated 19?0. On one side is a large "2", with "BP.", and "FORINT" written underneath it. On the other side is a shield with a ring of wheat stocks with a ribbon at the bottom and a star in the ring at the top above the shield. Written above the star is "MAGYAR-NEPKOZTARSASAG". Any information would be appreciated.

Here are the attribution of your coins:

• The first coin is from Finland, 50 Pennia (100 Pennia-1 Markka). The legend means Republic of Finland
• The second is a Philippines 5 centavos minted under United States Administration. (It was a U.S. territory until the end of WW II).
• The third is a 2 Forint from Hungary and this style was minted from 1957 to 1967. The BP stands for the Budapest Mint.

Mel at mb11697@mcs.net writes: What can I use to clean my coins?

Generally, cleaning is not recommended. Anything that disturbs the surface, damages the coin and reduces its value. There are methods of recovering coins that have been damaged by being in the ground or under the ocean for long periods of time but these methods are best left to the pros.

S. Martin at chelgan@ultravision.net writes: I would like to know if the 1995 Lincoln cents with the double die has a mint mark. Also, on the 1984 Lincoln cents that has a double die (Lincoln's ear lobe), is there an easy way to distinguish it. Thanks, we are in the learning process.

A Doubled Die is a incorrectly made working die. Only the coins made from that die will exhibit the defect. The 1995 Lincoln cent doubled die was only in use at the Philadelphia Mint and has no mint mark.
The 1984 Lincoln cent doubled die has a strong doubled ear lobe. It would have to have this diagnostic to qualify. You could use a 1984-D cent for your model for the "normal ear" die.

Scott Chao at JeffChao@Cyberramp.Net writes: I recently found a 1942 penny that did not have the Lincoln Memorial on the back. Instead, it had "one cent" on the back. Could you tell me what it is worth?

The Lincoln Memorial Reverse had its debut in 1959. Prior to this date and beginning in 1909, the reverse of the Lincoln cent portrayed the words ONE CENT, UNITED STATES OF AMERICA between wheat ears. Cents with this design are affectionately called "Wheaties" by collectors. In average circulated condition a 1942 "Wheatie" is only worth its face value, one cent.

LaMarr Nichols at nichols@shadowlink.net writes: I have an English five shilling piece (one crown) commemorating the festival of Britain. Can you tell me how much it is worth?

Since the inception of the decimal system in Britain, the crown denomination has been used exclusively for commemorative purposes. They are minted in two metals, copper-nickel and silver. The CuNi pieces are made in large numbers for public consumption and are valued at less than a $US. There are also silver versions that are minted considerably smaller numbers and bring between $5-$25 depending on the current interest for these coins in the market.

Jon Barnes at czone@total.net writes: We have an 1834 silver dollar in the family but I cant find a value for it anywhere. Is it a fake, or could it possibly be an 1884 coin (there are markings which indicate it may have been tampered with to make it look older than it is. There is an eagle on the back and a liberty bust on front, with printing E. Pluribus Unum. Please help.

The coin you described is a Morgan Dollar. The first year of issue was 1878 therefore your coin has an altered date, possibly an 1884. A coin in this state is only worth its bullion value, about $4 in the current market for cull (damaged) dollars.

Shachar Weis at holopoint@rocketmail.com writes: i have a 1896 mint M silver dollar and a 1900 silver dollar of unknown mint (can't make out the mint sign) I was wondering how much are they worth.

I have received many questions pertaining to Morgan and Peace dollars that are common dates and in average quality or lower. There are plentiful supplies of these coins and they are bought in sold in bags of 1,000 in the market. These are not the pristine uncirculated coins that collectors search out but simply a super bullion item that has more silver value than numismatic value. Though newbees to coin collecting are incredulous that an old coin could have so little value, it indicates that they are bringing to this age old hobby preconceived notions of what constitutes value and how coins are evaluated. Check out your local coin show. It's a good place to begin a numismatic education.

David Grissett at m_c_0237@frank.mtsu.edu writes: Hi Doc, I was wondering if you know of a web page pertaining to paper money as informative as this one. I have a friend who seems to be spending collectable paper money without consideration to its true worth. i.e. A two dollar bill. Thanks for your assistance.

You can check our Numismatic Links Page for other numismatic sources. You can also get an idea of value from books such as U.S. Paper Money by Gene Hessler, BNR Press, Clinton Ohio or any of the paper money references by Krause Publications, Iola Wisconsin. Two dollar bills are still being made. There are two Federal Reserve issues, 1976 and 1995, so they are just current money. Spend them an enjoy!

Tom Reinsfelder at treins@usa.net writes: I recently found a penny from 1944 on the ground and it has a silver color to it. I don't think it is steel because it would not stick to a magnet. What is the story on this? I have been trying to find some information in books and have not had too much luck. Is this a rare coin or not and how much is it worth today? Thanks for your help. ....Tom

If it's not attracted to a magnet then it's not the famous 1944 steel cent. It's probably plated. Try weighing it. A copper penny weighs 3.11 grams.

Chuck Kutschenreuter at chuckkay@netunlimited.com writes: I have many old coins, Is there a site on the internet that gives the value of coins.

Yes, but you have to have more information about the coins in order to be able to get a good idea of their value. Coins are collected by rarity and condition. Grading is an art devoted to evaluating the state of preservation of coins or paper money.
There can be vast differences in value between one grade and another. This is easy to understand. Coins were simply a convienient medium of exchange and were used until they were worn out. Relatively few coins, especially 19th century issues and earlier, were kept, unused, in their original pristine condition. Most people couldn't afford to to that. They needed to spend the coins to provide for their daily needs.
There is another problem. Relatively few people lived near a Mint and therefore had access to fresh undamaged mint specimens (few cared also). By the time the coins were available locally, they could have been banging around in a bag for days if not weeks, leaving the coins still uncirculated but with cuts and bruises. Even today, with modern roads and transporting techniques, the coins still arrive "baggy" at the local bank. The US Mint makes quite a nice profit selling collectors nice current year uncirculated coins in the form of Mint Sets.
Try The Coin Site's Numismatic Link Page for other coin information sites or try looking the coins up in a world coin catalog. That book should be available at your public library

Sandy Davis at ssd1@ra.msstate.edu writes: I was wondering if you could tell what organization laid and dedicated the cornerstone for the Carson City Mint?

Abraham Curry was responsible for getting Congress to authorize the building of the Carson City Mint in 1863. He eventually became its first superintendent. A mint was desperately needed to produce coinage for a booming western expansion. It wasn't too bad for Carson City either.

Dianne at camp1@bellsouth.net writes: I have three coins and wondering if you can tell me where they come from. On the first it says BUNDESREPUBLIC DEUTSCHLAND on the front and 2 PFENNIG on the back. On the second it says JULIANA KONINGIN DER NEDERLAND and on the back it has a crown and 25 cents. On the third, it has a man's head and BOUDEWIJN I and on the back it has a small crown 1F and BELGIE. Also have another one form 1976, but it looks like it is written in Japanese, so I can't read it nor type it. I know absolutely nothing about coins, so any help would be appreciated.

Dear Dianne, -Coin #1 - Is a 2 pfennig coin from West Germany, though the country is now just called Germany. The first issue year is 1950. It is still current. There are 100 pfennig to the Deutch Mark (roughly 1.4 DM per $US).
-Coin #2 - From the Netherlands, the legend says Juliana Ruler of the Netherlands. This is also a current coin. There are 100 cents to the Gulden (roughly 1.55 Gulden per $US)
-Coin #3 - Is a 1 Franc from Belgium The legend shows that the coin was struck under the King Baudouin I (1951-) and it is also current money (roughly 28 Francs per $US)
-Coin #4 - Is probably from Japan but you didin't supply enough information to identify.
Coins like the above are plentiful and are usually sold by the pound for educational purposes or just for inexpensive collecting. They are the left over "change" from visits to other countries and are kept by travelers as mementos or they are coins that just never got spent. Starting with coins like these can be the seed of a future coin collection. If you are fascinated by these items, take a journey to your public library and use their resources to help you pick a coin collecting direction.

Patrick McCleary at sl6w8@cc.usu.edu writes Hello..I have six silver dollars and I was wondering if you'd be able to give me a ball park figure of their worth. I have 5 Morgan dollars, the dates are: 1879, 1881, 1902, and two 1921's. I also have one from 1922..I believe it is called the peace dollar? Would you tell me how to know what constitutes good condition on these coins and any other valuable information I may need. Thank You--Patrick McCleary

Morgan and Peace dollars were minted at several mints. Besides condition, the mint mark adds or subtracts from the value depending on the rarity of that mint's issue. If all of the above dates are from the most common mints and are in average circulated condition they would be considered common and are worth between $4-5 each. Common date silver dollars are sold in $1,000 face value bags in the market.
If you are interested in learning about grading, the two best books, in my opinion, are:
The Official A.N.A. Grading Standards by the American Numismatic Association and published by Western Publishing Company, Racine Wisconsin and A Guide To The Grading of United States Coins by Martin R. Brown and John W. Dunn. The later is my all time favorite but you have to rummage around a bit to find a copy. I think it's out of print.

Rich Pierce at tabasco1@gte.net writes: Hello, My wife found a 1959 Lincoln cent that appears to be lead or zinc. I have seen plenty of the 1943 vintage like this, but never 1959. What can you tell me? Thanks for the help, Rich.

There are no zinc pennies made in 1959. All are a brass with a weight of 3.11 grams. If your 1959 cent weighs this amount or a tiny bit more, it has been plated. If it weighs considerably more or less than it is counterfeit. I have seen lead copies of cents made from a copy die of a real cent. It's possible it was practice for some more ambitious project. If you want to, you can send your coin to the American Numismatic Association for certification. You can go to their web site by clicking American Numismatic Association for more information about their services and to request an application.

Jay Johnson at jay.johnson@usa.net writes: Coin Dr.,
What is all the fuss about the differences between the grading services? Particularly between ANACS and PCGS. IS ANACS GENERALLY INFERIOR TO PCGS? IS AN ANACS MS-60 INFERIOR TO A PCGS MS-60?

Dear Jay,
Grading is an art not a science. That doesn't stop the market from deciding that one service is more conservative than another, therefore making their graded coins more valuable. The opinions about the services change often, but overall and over time, the values in any specific grade average out to be fairly equal, with PCGS and NGC taking turns on who is on top.
A recent poll from the Coin Dealer Newsletter shows that the average price of certified coins varying only 4 points between NGC and PCGS and averaging ten points lower for ANACS relative to CDN bid. There may be little meaning in the above survey. Coins are never exactly the same and grading standards seem to slide up or down a bit over time. For example, the ANACS coin could be removed from its holder, sent to PCGS and come back the same grade. If the above survey is accurate the PCGS graded coin would now be worth about 10% more.
There is no substitute for knowledge and experience. The coin you buy must stand on its own. If you are not up to telling the difference, and it does take time to become sensitized to small differences in strike, luster and other qualities, please seek the advice of a trained numismatist before you spend your hard earned money.