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Name:        Annette Mooney
Email Address:   magnolia@nccoast.net
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Question: Do you have any idea what a special edition 25 pence piece that was minted for the wedding of Diana and Charles would be worth? There were only a small amount minted in honor of their wedding. At the time, England did not even have a 25 pence piece, and probably still don't. Thanks

Actually, Britain does have a 25p denomination, though it is currently used for commemorative coins.  It translated from the old Crown denomination (4 crowns to the pound). When Great Britain changed their currency to a decimal system in 1971, all coins from the old system that fit were kept, other denominations were retired.  For example, the shilling became 5 pence, still 20 to the pound as in the old system.

The 1981 Prince Charles and Lady Diana Wedding commemorative were struck in copper-nickel and sold at banks. There were 27,360,000 minted (Value: about $1). A silver version was marketed by the British Royal Mint (28.27 grams sterling silver), mintage: 218,000. Value: about $20.

The quality of the coins in Mint rolls are far better than what is generally obtainable from the banks and department stores that have been promoting the coin. In that light, paying a 40 cent premium per coin to obtain a few gem examples might be worth it.

The obverse side, around the rim, of the coin has: FERDIN. VII DEI.GRATIA.1821 The reverse side,around the rim, has: HISPAN.ET.IND.REX.G.R.F.S. I can not find a mint mark (which worries me a bit).  There is a crown on top of a shield that has 2 lions and castles perpendicular to each other. There is also a ribbon flowing around two pillars on each side of the shield that has: PIUS  VII TRA(?, I'm sure about the TRA-part). I know that these "pillar dollars" or "piece of eight" coins were minted in Mexico City, several South American countries and, of course, Spain. I realize that these coins were notoriously counterfeited and that the earlier ones (1732 to 1772) are of greater value.  However, I would appreciate it if you could give me an estimate and, possibly, give me an idea as to whether this 8 reale coin is for real (sorry about the pun). Thank you and I look forward to your reply. Chas

You have a portrait 8 Reales (the pillar types are earlier and show the Pillars of Hercules instead of the portrait). These coins were struck in large numbers at many Mints in the Americas as well as in Spain.  The mint mark is on the reverse before "8R" and appears as a single or double letter or monogram.  The assayer's initials appear after the denomination.

The most interesting pieces struck under Ferdinand VII were minted in Mexico during the "emergency period" of the War for Independence from Spain. Coins were struck at Oaxaca, Real de Catorce, Sombrerete de Vargas, Tlalpujahua, Vallodolid, Zongolica and possible other mints.  They are crudely minted and generally are seen in no higher than Fine condition. Examples of these are rare.

Value depends on mint mark, assayer and condition. Range: $10 - $2,500.

The MS terms are subjective and are currently the venue of the third party grading services.  The only way to determine the difference between MS63 and MS64 is to have the coin graded by PCGS, NGC or ANACS.

You have a Belgium 5 Franc. If you lived in Belgium, this coin and others like it might be in your pocket.  US$1=BF37 or about 15 cents for your Belgium 5 Franc.

These sound like the Marshall Island commemoratives. They are suppose to be redeemable in the Marshall Islands for their face value but it reported that the government there is reluctant to do so.  The Marshall Islands use United States currency and these coins aren't really legal tender. The $5 coins are minted in copper-nickel. There are also similar $10 issues in pure silver (.3533 troy oz pure silver)

As far as I know there wasn't a Marshall Islands Douglas McArthur commemorative $5 in 1990-91 though there are coins commemorating Dwight Eisenhower, Doolittle's raid on Tokyo in WW II and the Space Shuttle Columbia.

United States currency with stars by the serial numbers are replacement notes for notes damaged or destroyed in the printing process.  These interesting notes attract a great deal of interest from collectors but not all "star" notes are worth the same.  The market for such notes depends on the series date, the type of note and the note's condition.

BU" stands for Brilliant Uncirculated.  The term is defined as coin with no trace of wear but might have moderate bag marks (from banging against other coins in the canvas bags in which coins travel when transported from the Mints). It is roughly equivalent to MS60 (Mint State).

An uncirculated set contains an example of all regular issue coins that were issued in the current year. The coins are of better quality than one could get from a bank or other source besides the Mint. The sets come packaged in clear cellophane like material segregated by mint, one from the Denver Mint and one from the Philadelphia Mint. Both are packaged in a single envelope and seperated by a thin sheet of cardboard.

Proof coins are specially made pieces that are struck on highly polished blanks. They are struck multiple times from a special high relief die and handled individually. Proofs often exhibit "mirror" fields and frosted design elements. The current year sets can be purchased from the United States Mint (see the Links Page on CoinSite). Currently, only the San Francisco Mint produces proofs. Previous year mint or proof sets are available from coin dealers.

The market value for various years proofs or uncirculated coins depend on the demand and circumstances surrounding the set.  For example, when 90% silver coinage ceased in 1964, Congress mandated that the half dollar retain a sandwich of 40% silver and copper-nickel.  By 1970, the price of silver had risen to the point that the silver in the 40% half dollar was about to exceed its face value.  While the Mint waited for Congress to act, they decided not to release 1970 half dollars to the public but they were included in the mint set. Finally, Congress made their decision and the silver was eliminated from the half in 1971. If you want a 1970 half dollar you must purchase a 1970 mint set or buy one cut from the set.

No one yet has come up with a way to tell how many 1969-S doubled dies exist.  When they are found they are usually in grades from VF to Unc. The doubling is strongest on "IN GOD" and at the date.

A doubled die error comes from a defective die set out of many that are made to strike coins each year.  Only coins struck from that one particular die set has the doubled image.  This type of error appears quite frequently on many U.S. coin dies, especially in the early history of U.S. coinage, though doubling in most cases is barely perceptible. The technology of the times allowed  rotation, even if tiny, when the working dies were impressed multiple times.

Collectors are just beginning to discover this coin, but there isn't yet the recognition  that one sees for the 1955 and 1972 doubled dies. Current price records show a range of between $300 -$2,000 depending on grade.

There are several private mints that manufacture souvenir medals.  The subject of Christmas is a popular theme. Few of these issues ever develop a market and they tend to sell at their precious metal value (though the Franklin Mint Christmas bars seem have developed some popularity). Christmas is popular enough that you might find a private person that would enjoy this set and might be willing to pay you a premium.  I would ask 15% or so over the precious metal value.

There are no gold Susan B. Anthony Dollars.  However, plating base metal coins is easy enough and seems to be prevalent for use in private promotions or other advertising use. The plating is virtually worthless and the coin is worth essentially its face value.

Your medal (coins have denominations)is an original or copy of the Rutherford B. Hayes Presidential inauguration medal. The dies for this medal were engraved by George T. Morgan of "Morgan Dollar" fame.

Obv: RUTHER B. HAYES around bust to left. MORGAN on truncation. Rev: INAUGURATED MARCH 5. 1877 within a laurel wreath surrounded by the legend: PRESIDENT OF THE UNITED STATES.  Size is 76 mm (about 3 inches in diameter).

The original pieces were minted only on copper flans and most examples are seen toned a deep chocolate color. The 20th century Mint copies are struck in a brass alloy, have a "golden" color and are smaller in size than the Mint issues sold to the public in 1878. The Mint brass copies are still available from the Mint catalog.

This medal was the first of the presidential medals marketed and sold to the public. Value Range (originals) $50 - $150 (depending on grade).

There are several coins of Henry III of France (1574-89)in both silver and bronze. Based on your description you may have a bronze denier tournois (2 lis on the reverse).

The legends HENRICVS III D G FRANCOR ET POL REX 1578 translate as "Henry III By the Grace of G-d King of the French and Poles 1578" The legend MANET VLTIMA COELO roughly translates as "made to the highest standards" and is similar to the English legend that says that the design is a" ornament and a safeguard" (against counterfeiting).

These emergency coins were the result of the lack of small denomination coins for commerce during the California "gold rush" period. Starting in 1852, quarter, half dollar and dollar pieces were minted by private mints to alleviate the shortage. After about 1856, the acceptability of these pieces declined (they were often debased below their face value) and they became souvenirs or items for jewelry.

The Act of 1864 declared these coins illegal but they were manufactured anyway, at least until 1882. The designs tend to be crude and often incomplete. The later issues were struck on highly polished flans giving them a "proof-like" appearance.  There are no proofs.

Genuine pieces have the words CENTS, DOLLAR or an abbreviation of these words on the reverse.  There are no bears or other animals on the designs of the original tokens. There are modern reproductions in gold that were sold at the Panama-California Exposition in 1915-16.  These have no denomination and are worth a nominal amount.  There are also reproductions in gold plated brass manufactured after about 1950. These are worthless.

Only about 10,000 genuine pieces still exist and more than 500 varieties have been identified, some are very rare. Most pieces show the coin maker's initials somewhere on the coins. Examples are: N, NR, L, H, G, GG, FD or DERI. Market value depends on the denomination (25c, 50c, 1 dollar), type (round or octagonal) and grade (condition).

Please use the CoinSite Search Tool to find many other references to "California Gold" (use this as your search term).

Approximate Value range: $50 - $2,000.

There is more than one Great Britain coins dated 1897 that portray Queen Victoria and St. George and The Dragon. The legend, VICTORIA.DEI.GRA BRITT.REGINA.FID.DEF.IND.IMP. translates as "Victoria By the Grace of G-d Queen of Britain, Defender of the Faith and Empress of India". The key here is the "Dei. Gra.". This version of the abbreviation appears on a gold sovereign, gold half sovereign and silver crown (regnal date on the edge). Value depends on which coin, and its condition (grade).

The value of your coins does not depend on its age but its rarity and condition. Some dates are common and are only worth very little, other dates are rare and attract a great deal of interest.  Again, condition and rarity are everything. For example a 1860 penny from Great Britain in EF condition might bring $1,200 in an auction, but one dated 1851 in the same grade might only bring $50 or so in the same grade.

You might want to purchase a book or two. Try "Seaby's Coins of England" or any of the Krause World Coin Books. Alternatively, try exploring your local public library for coin catalogs.

Bavaria is in south Germany.  From 1180 AD to 1918 the Duchy of Bavaria was ruled by the descendants of the Count of Wittelsbach.

Your coin is a Bavaria 3 marks. The 1911D issue commemorates the 90th Birthday of Prince Regent Luitpold. The mintage is 640,000 pieces. Value range: $10 - $100 depending on grade (condition).  A proof (presentation piece with mirror fields and higher relief than the regular issue) also exists.

Your coins are United States commemorative half dollars.
-1925 Stone Mountain half dollar - the proceeds were used to construct the Stone Mountain Georgia Civil War monument. Value depends on grade(condition): $5 -$200. See the CoinSite's Search Tool and search "Stone Mountain"
-1923 Monroe Doctrine Centennial - Value range: $5 -$2,500 Search for "Monroe Doctrine" for more information.
-1893 Columbian Exposition Half Dollar - The first of the half dollar commemoratives. Value range: $5 - $1000. Search "Columbian Exposition".

Make sure to select the "Exact Phrase button" to search by the whole phrase.

Silver cents were never struck in the United States. There were cases where a silver dime blank was accidentally mixed with some cent blanks and was struck with the cent dies.  This would be called a cent struck on a dime blank.  To confirm this, the coin would have the following characteristics:

1. It would be missing the outer part of the Lincoln cent design (the dime blank is smaller than the cent blank)
2. Lincoln cents weigh 3.11 grams a silver dime (before 1965)weighs 2.5 grams.

There are also lots of cases of people silver or gold plating coins for some commercial or other purpose. These have no collector value.  You can confirm that your coin has been plated simply by weighing it on a gram scale and comparing it to the weights above.

United States nickels dated 1942 to 1945 were minted in an emergency composition in order to free up the supply of nickel, a critical war material during WW II.  The composition of the emergency nickels was 56% copper, 35% silver and 9% manganese. To signify the change of composition a large mint mark was placed over Monticello on the reverse.  The letter "P" for Philadelphia was the first time the Philadelphia Mint had displayed a mint mark on a coin. The 1942 issue appears both in the standard and emergency compositions.  The large mint mark is the way you can tell the difference.  There were eleven "war" nickels minted from all the mints, Philadelphia, Denver and San Francisco.  There are three rare varieties:

• 1943P-3 over 2
• 1943P-doubled eye
• 1945P-Doubled die reverse

The silver content of the war nickels is .05626. That makes them worth more than 5 cents (29 cents at $5.20 silver). Uncirculated pieces are scarce with premiums from $3 and up depending on quality. Average circulated pieces are worth their silver content.

1836 U.S. half cents were never made for circulation. They were made for presentation only as proofs.  There are two types: the original proof, minted in 1836, and a mint restrike proof minted c.1858-59.  Market value varies depending on the actual quality (Prf60-69).  Below are approximate prices in PR63 as reported by the 2000 Red Book. The metal content is 5.44 grams of copper, diameter=23.5 mm with a plain edge.

1836 original.......$6,000
1836 restrike.......$7,200.