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From: darren carter
Subject: bank note
I'M TRYING TO FIND OUT WHAT COUNTRY DID THIS ( bAHK YKPAIHN-with two dots above the i and a reversed n) BANK NOTE COME FROM.. I WOULD BE GREATFUL IF YOU COULD HELP ME.. YOURS TRULY HAWKEYE....

Your note was issued by the Ukrainian National Bank in the Ukraine.  Formally a part of the Soviet Union, Ukraine has been an independent country since 1991. The main language of the country is Russian which uses the Cyrillic alphabet.

Comments:        First impression is very good. I have seen it for the first time today.
Name:        Mike Vaughn
Email Address:   pvaughn@mediaone.net (Mike Vaughn)
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Question:        In 1998 and 1999 there were two large auctions of British tokens ('Conder tokens') by Noble. Who is Noble? Where are they located? How can one obtain catalogs and prices realized of these auctions? (Allan Davisson is sold out.)

William J. Noble is a collector of tokens and other exonumia of British numismatic History.  The two sales that I am privy to are the W.J. Noble Collection of British Tokens, 7th and 8th July, 1998 and The W.J. Noble collection of British Tickets and Passes and World Tokens on 3rd and 4th August, 1999.

There was a lot of interest in these sales as the collections were very complete and the catalogs have become a text book on Condor and other tokens. You'll have to rummage around, numismatic book sales and such, to try to find copies.  When you find them, copies with the prices realized aren't cheap.  Expect to pay in the neighborhood of $100 per catalog.

The catalogs were published by Noble Numismatics Pty. Ltd, 360 Collins Street, Melbourne, Australia.

Name:        cecilia Alvarez
Email Address:   calvarez@aeacu.com
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Question:        A friend collects coins.  He is having the hardest time finding a 1975 Quarter.  I read that in 1975 and 1976 Quarters were minted with the bicentenial dates.  Does this mean that there were no quarters issued for the year of 1975?  Please let me know so that I may either stop my search or continue looking.

There are no U.S. quarters dated 1975. The Bicentennial design with the date 1776-1976 was struck for two years.  The government wanted to make sure that the Bicentennial design did not become scarce or that it would be hoarded. 

Comments:        I've used it before....GREAAT!!!!
Name:        dan mackey
Email Address:   djmackey@msn.com
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Question:        re: WWII Nazi Ghetto coins: 
I've acquired a 5 mark coin from Litzmannstadt Ghetto(Lodz), Poland 1943.  I'm aware that the 10MK coins were made of aluminum, and the 5MK coins were magnesium. This coin is made of aluminum. Were the 5MK Litsmannstadt coins made of magnesium AND aluminum? or is this a fake? Thank You for any help you can give me! Dan Mackey

Below is the list of Concentration Camp tokens used at Litzmannstadt Ghetto 1942-43:

-10 pfenning - produced with only the 1942 date and was struck only in magnesium on either 21 mm or 18 mm flans.
-5 Marks (22 mm) - 1943 - struck on both magnesium and aluminum flans
-10 marks (28 mm) - 1943- struck on both magnesium and aluminum flans.
-20 marks (33 mm) - 1943 - struck on aluminum flans only

Comments:        Very thorough! Great resource!
Name:        Bill Salsgiver
Email Address:   william.j.salsgiver@monsanto.com
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Question:        Hello, I have a coin with the following inscription: FRD.VI.D.G.HISP.ETIND.R with a crest and crown on one side and VTRA OUR VNUM 1748 with a wreath and crown on the other side. It is about the size of a quarter and the quality is Good. What is it? Thanks for your help!

You have a Spanish 2 Reales.  There is also a Mint Mark on the coin in the form of a small letter or monogram.  That and the assayer mark is necessary in order to know where the coin was struck and to help determine its market value.

The coin was minted under the reign of Ferdinand VI (1746-1759). The abbreviated Latin legend FRD.VI.D.G.HISP.ET IND.R translates as "Ferdinand VI King by the Grace of G-d of Spain and The Indies".  The motto "Utra Que Unum" refers to the conjoined globes on the coin and proclaims that "Both Are One".  The pillars represent the Pillars of Hercules and the limits of the known world. "Plus Ultra" appears on either pillar and means: "More Beyond".  This exciting message still rings true today.

These and other denominations of Spanish and Spanish Colonial coins circulated throughout the world and was the first international currency. Spanish coins were legal tender in the United States until 1858. (for example a 2 reales was the same as 25 cents.

Comments:        I don't know nothing about coins, but I bookmarked the site for future use.
Name:        Thelma Smith
Email Address:   keke@ccconline.net
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Question:        My sister who lives in Panama (central america) bought an ogtagonal $50 gold coin (1852) for certain amout of money. Now she is worry thinking that this investment was wrong. Could you please write me and let me know if this coin has any great value. Thank you, Thelma

Yes, it does. United States Assay Office, 1852 gold $50 coins are extremely valuable.  There are two major varieties, both have a eagle with spread wings on one side and a target (concentric circles on the reverse) and say either .887 thous. or .900 thous.

You should have the coin authenticated by the American Numismatic Association or alternatively by PCGS or NGC (they will grade the coin also). See the Coinsite Links Page. Genuine pieces are easy to sell.
Approximate Value Range for authentic examples: $5,000 - $35,000. (depends on grade and type)

Comments:        comprehensive and easy to navigate
Name:        Graham Pearce
Email Address:   gpe10@aol.com
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Question:        What can you tell me about the 1946 Iowa Centennial Half Dollar, including current value? Thank you.

The half dollar coin was authorized by the United States Congress and commemorates the 100th anniversary of Iowa's Statehood. The coin was designed by Adam Pietz of Philadelphia. The Iowa State Seal is on the reverse.

The coin was first marketed to residents of Iowa and then to the residence of other states. A percentage of the original mintage still is being stored by the State government in Iowa.  The total mintage was: 100,058. The coin is rarely seen below the grade of AU (about uncirculated). Value range: $35 -$85+.

Comments: i think it's a pretty good site to check out
Name:        frank rizzo
Email Address:   area51@g2a.net
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Question:        i have a 1953 nickel,which appears to to be made of copper, like a penny.  My question is, was there ever such nickels produced or is this a screw up at the mint? Would my nickel be worth something?

You could have a nickel struck on a cent blank, but it would be thin and weigh 3.11 grams instead of 5 grams and the outer portion of the design would be missing.

A better explanation is that your nickel is heavily oxidized.  That's not unusual considering that a 5 cent coin is 75% copper and only 25% nickel.

Comments:        I think the site is interesting and I will be on this site more often.. The coin Doctor is a good idea and a good way to help the people who have questions like myself
Name:        Brandon Cottrell
Email Address:   bm_cottrell@yahoo.com.
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Question:        I found a gold coin in my parents cabin, and on the front of the coin there is a picture of John F. Kennedy and under his picture it says "35th Presedent Of The United States. Also on the front it has the dates 1961 and 1963 on each side of his picture. On the back of the coin it says John F. Kennedy Born May 29, 1917. World War 2 Naval Hero; First Catholic Presedent, Established Peace Corps;Youngest Presedent to be Assassinated. Died Nov.22,1963... I was just wondering if I got a good find and if it is rare and worth money.

This is not a coin but a privately issued medal, probably one of the many metals offered for sale in newspapers and magazines in the 1960's and 1970's.  I doubt it is gold (though I've seen tiny ones like this that were). Usually they are gold plate over base metal or gold plate over silver or just brass.  The selling price was exorbitant (because it was going to be "a rare collectable someday") but affordable so precious metal was usually ruled out. Plating gives the medal the illusion of being more valuable than it is.

Comments:         These coins were accumulated by my uncle who was a pipeliner all over the world for many years. I'll be looking for your answer, also how could I have this authenticated?
Name:        Linda
Email Address:   nrogert@yahoo.com
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Question:         I have a small collection of coins from lots of different countries and they are early 19th century. The one I would like to know about is a 1" diameter, thick, gold coin that says "Two Drachms" across the top of both sides and "Troemner Phila" on the bottom with a tiny little star separating the writing on each side of the coin. Two stars on each side. In the center of the coin is what looks like  "3ii" I think these are Roman symbols. It is in excellant condition although dirty looking it is extremely legible. Where it has been handled there is visible evidence that this is pure gold. Is this as old as I think it is like 320 BC. I would like to know the history and value. I have not and will not try to clean it. I read all of the other questions people sent in and I will write more later. Thank you ~~~ Linda

You have an apothecary weight, probably early 20th century vintage.  In the days before electronic scales pharmacists carefully weighed out the required medicines on the platform of a balance scale.  Small drachm weights, grain weights and smaller were employed to balance the small amounts of chemicals ordered by a doctor's recipe or prescription for each dose. Since the weights were base metal, mostly copper, the drachm weights were often gold plated to make them easier to read. The manufacturer' name is usually always listed on the weight, in this case "Troemner Phila". "Phila" is the abbreviation for Philadelphia. If you show this piece to a pharmacist it will be instantly recognizable.

Apothecary weights are collectable, though collectors prefer complete sets with their original cases rather than single pieces. See Coin Doc Archive #23 for another answer about apothecary weights.

From: "Violet Houseworth" violetrose@mvn.net
Subject: Re: Question To The Coin Doctor;
I have a note from The State of Louisiana on the back and from bottom left ; corner -  up, it is written:Receiveable for sales of public lands and for ; all public dues.The top right corner -down, it is written : Receivable for  state Parish  and Municipal Traes ?Under the state of Louisiana it has, will pay the bearer ONE HUNDRED DOLLARS at the Treasurers office Shreveport,  March 10th 1863?It has a picture of a building with this written above it: "Twelve months after a Defenitive Treaty between the Confederate states and The United States". It also has a picture of a man in the left top ; corner.On the front is has a woman holding a sign with 100 and she is ; between 2 seals with the word HUNDRED (with giant 1 behind the word)and ; little 100 around the outer shell of these seals with a total of 8 around ; each seal.I sure hope you can help me with this one.

At the start of the Civil War in 1861, New Orleans fell under the control of Union Troops. Union General Benjamin F. Butler's army entered the city on May 1.  Louisiana was essentially partitioned, with the Confederacy controlling Western Louisiana, with the capital established at Shreveport.

Your note is a Confederate States issue of Louisiana. The note shows the bust of Governor Thomas O. Moore at left and large building at the center and an allegorical Seated Liberty at the lower right reminiscent of the figure on the Federal Seated Liberty coinage.  STATE of LOUISIANA and ONE HUNDRED DOLLARS are prominent in the center. The back has an ornate design printed in blue-green ink.  Plate letters are from A to K.

These notes were issued in Shreveport Louisiana and printed by B. Duncan, Columbia, South Carolina. Value range (depends on grade Good - Unc): $5 - $90

Name:        Jeffrey Willis
Email Address:   jawillis@mediaone.net
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Question:        I have a 1958 six-pence. I believe it is British but I'm not sure! Is it of any value, if so how much? It has a picture of Queen Elizabeth II on it..

When Great Britain changed to a decimal system in 1971, all the coins that didn't fit became immediately obsolete.  The 6 pence (6d) was one of the most used coins in the old system and at one time was a silver coin (In 1958 it was copper-nickel). Though this late 6 pence has almost no monetary value, even as a collectible, it still has lots of interest and it represents a part of a very strange (at least to us) monetary system.  It was arranged like this (hold on to your hat):

4 farthings = penny (written as 1d)
2 pennys = twopence (2d)
3 pennys= threepence (thrupence)(3d)
4 pennys= groat (4d)
6 pennies= 6 pence (6d)
2 six pence = shilling (1s)
2 1/2 shillings = florin
2 florins = 5 shillings = Crown (about the size and value of a U.S. silver dollar)
4 Crowns = pound (£)=240 pence
21 Shillings= Guinea

This complex system existed for centuries in England and at various times had other divisions. If you were going to buy something and the price was 2 shillings 6 pence it would be expressed like this: -/2s/6d The first space was for pounds, the next for shillings and the last for pence. 2£/5s/3d or 2 pounds 5 shillings and thrupence.

So, now enjoy your six pence. (six pence in your shoe and you'll never be blue).

Comments:        Great site! This is the only site I've found that is willing to "go the extra mile" and answer our questions. Thanks!
Name:        Rob Ladely
Email Address:   mrrob@robsmail.com
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Question:        Dear Coin Doc:
I have 2 coins that I acquired from my father's collection when he passed away. These coins are dollar size, and appear to be what could be called silver rounds. The date on both is 1974, on the obverse is the U.S.S. Constitution in full sail, with the name under the ship. Around the rim are the words "HONEST VALUE NEVER FAILS". On the reverse the words "*CONSTITUTION MINT*" are at the top, and "CONTAINS ONE TROY Oz. PURE SILVER" are at the bottom inside rim. Under the words at the top in very small letters, the words "PROVO, UTAH USA" are printed. In script in the center of the coin is inscribed "No State shall... make any Thing but gold and Silver Coin a Tender in Payment of Debts..." (Capitalization taken from the coin.) Under this in small letters are the words, "ART. 1, SEC. 10 (copyright symbol) U.S. CONSTITUTION"

Both these coins look like they are proofs, but don't say anything about a face value. Any light you can shed on these will be helpful. Thanks, and keep up the great work! Rob Ladely

These are bullion rounds made by a private company.  Rounds were made as a convenient way to hold silver as well as a vehicle for a political or moral agenda.  There are many other medals or rounds  from various sources but their value is the same - the price of one ounce of silver.

Name:        Tom Ramon
Email Address:   snomars@fl.freei.net
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Question:        I have an 1865 20 franc coin that appears to be solid gold. It has napoleon III emperuer and his image on the front and his crest on the reverse.  It reads empire francais around the crest.  I have searched high and low to find out more about this coin. It is in very good condition. would you know what this coin is worth?  Any assistance would be appreciated, Thanks.

French 20 Francs as a denomination existed from 1803-1914 struck on planchets of .900 fine gold. The Napoleon III pieces after 1853, followed by "The Angel writing" and then followed by the"Rooster" design (1899 -1914) were made in vast numbers for trade purposes and today, except for a few exception, are essentially bullion coins (the Roosters have been restruck with dates from 1907-1914).

These coins are available in quantity from almost any bullion house.  You can determine their approximate value by factoring the pure gold content against the world price of gold (.1867 X world gold price in dollars).

Name:        Loann Trygg
Email Address:   ltrygg@rangenet.com
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Question:        I have seen a $1000 dollar confederate paper note.  The date on it is May 1811.  Is this note worth anything?

The Confederate States of America didn't exist until 1861. The date on a $1,000 Confederate States note would be May ??,1861.  This is the highest denomination Confederate note produced and this denomination only exists in the first series of notes.  The note features John C. Calhoun at left and Andrew Jackson at right, the colors are black and green on white linen paper.  Only 607 were printed.  The note is very rare.

Beware of "play money" replicas on yellowed fake parchment printed with black ink and printed signatures.  The originals were hand signed after they were printed. Value Range for genuine notes: $3,500 - $25,000 depending on condition.

Name:        Luis Ripado
Email Address:   l.f.ripado@netc.pt
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Question:        I was given two Cu coins, being South Africa its country of origin, I suspect, with a facial value of 2 cents and both from 1999. The inscription is AFURIKA TSHIPEMBE. Are they in fact from South Africa ? The word AFURIKA instead of AFRIKA is it normal ou may i believe thats is a exception , I mean, an error of that serie ? Thank you for your help. Best regards.

The coin's legends are correct.  As of 1996 South Africa's coins show various tribal legends, Afrikaans legends and English legends.  The 1996 copper-plated steel 2 c coin displays the Venda legend AFURIKA-TSHIPEMBE

Comments:        I think that the site is very helpful and that they have a very good method of answering people's questions.
Name:        The Cow
Email Address:   thecowisangry@hotmail.com
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Question:        Dear Doc,
I have a 1943 copper penny.     My friends all tell me that the coin is worth trillions. To tell you the truth, I have some trouble believing them. The story I've heard is that in 1943, copper was needed for bullets, so the Amy decided to make only steel pennies in 1943. By accident, thought, about 1000 1943 pennies were made. I don't know how much they're worth apiece, but I think that you may be able to help me.

Only about 20 1943 copper cents have been found from all Mints.  The last one, a 1943-S, recently sold for $115,000 at auction. You can find lots of information about 1943 cents on The CoinSite, including some simple ways of authenticating your coin. Try the Search Tool and search for "1943 cent" to find the information. (Either keep the quotes or click the exact phrase button to find that term.) You might want to have the coin authenticated and/or graded before you offer it for sale at auction. Please see the Links page to connect with the ANA, NGC or PCGS to learn how.

Subject: Re: Question To The Coin Doctor

Please explain why not to clean coins (copper, silver) with rust and green dots? I only got your email with the answer "don't"!

If you remove the surface of the coin, you've essentially reduced its value to near zero (or its precious metal content).  Whether you agree with that or not, that is how the market sees it.  Amateur cleaning is almost always immediately apparent to a professional numismatist.

If the coins are rare, you might want to enlist the services of an archival professional that knows how to remove coral, dirt, rust, pvc and verdigris (your green dots) without harming the existing surface. One of the places you can contact for such a service is The American Numismatic Association (see their link on the CoinSite Links page).

Name:        Terry DeGroff
Email Address:   terryd@micrord.com
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Question:        A friend showed me an unusual silver certificate dollar bill.  He received it as pay in the service when stationed in Fort Benning, Georgia.  The the two serial numbers are on the front of the bill are different.  The second digit differs. I believe in is a 1957 or 1967 series.  He asked if it had any value.  He carried it in his wallet for years and it is stained brown from his wallet getting wet.  He remembers the government trying to buy them back for double value at the time but he kept this one.  Do you have any info on this bill?

Mismatched serial numbers are caused by a jammed counter and are known to exist on both silver certificates and Federal Reserve notes.  They have been observed on $1, $2, $5, $10, $20 and at least one instance on a $1,000 note. Mismatched serial numbers are also known on large size (pre 1928) U.S. paper money  also, but they are extremely rare.

Though the Bureau of Engraving is quite careful, all kinds of errors appear. There is a strong collector market for error notes. The government has never offered to buy paper money errors from the public and in fact has no mechanism by which to do this except through your local bank.  Generally, the tellers who count money, delivered to them by companies such as Brinks, are the source of the most obvious errors.  Instead of "turning them in" they sell them to dealers or collectors at a profit. Other errors that require closer scrutiny (such as mismatched serial numbers) often go unnoticed or are found in circulation by knowledgeable collectors.

Series date 1967 does not exist for either silver certificates or Federal Reserve Notes, so I will assume that your note is a 1957? series.  Value is dependent on condition, damaged pieces, with stains for example are worth far less than undamaged notes. Approximate Value Range:VG     (very good) - CU (crisp uncirculated) - $20 -$100.

Comments:        Great site!!  This was my first (but not last) visit.
Name:        Roger Dee
Email Address:   roger@helicon.net
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Question:        Hi:

I've been interested in coins for forty years, and I recently had a discussion with a friend, and we had a slight disagreement on an issue. There is no bet riding on this, but we're both interested in the answer. The question is: are all coins 'legal tender', or are only certain ones in that classification?  Thanks for your help.

It used to be that coins were "the money". The use of paper money was essentially a receipt for gold or silver. Through the 19th century the United States had a bimetal system (gold and silver money). A major problem with this system was that it was difficult to maintain a parity between gold and silver. At various times, gold dollars and silver dollars were not equal.

There were also problems keeping the value of gold constant.  In the early part of the 19th century, United States gold coins actually had more gold than the corresponding value as exchange in Europe.  Gold coins disappeared faster than they were being minted.  By 1834, Congress had reduced the gold content in coins to their intrinsic value and for the first time the coins freely circulated.

Over the years the trend has been to distance the economy's value in terms of gold or silver.  The last redemption of silver certificates was in June of 1968 and the minting of precious metal silver coins for circulation essentially ended in 1964 (though half dollars had a reduced 40% silver content until 1970, they were driven out of circulation by their silver value).

Today United States coins are essentially tokens and only paper money is legal tender. Cent coins are legal tender up to 25 cents. The ramifications of this are interesting.  Since coins are not legal tender, no one is obligated to take them in trade, including the IRS. In fact, Merchants can decide what they consider appropriate for payment. I do not see merchants turning down national paper money but they sure could turn away coins or foreign exchange.

Dear Coin Doc:
Well, now I'm really confused about 'legal tender'.  I received your reply, which indicated that coins were tokens, and could be refused for payment of debts. I found the following item in an encyclopedia, which takes a different stance.  What do you think?  Thanks for your help.

"Legal Tender- offer, usually of money, made in satisfaction of a debt or other liability and in accordance with requirements prescribed by law. In the U.S., legal tender most frequently signifies the currency designated by law that a debtor may offer and a creditor is obligated to accept in the settlement of financial obligations. Legislation passed by Congress in 1933 provided that "All coins and currencies of the United States (including Federal Reserve notes and circulating notes of Federal Reserve Banks and national banking associations) heretofore or hereafter coined or issued, shall be legal tender for all debts, public and private, public charges, taxes, duties, and dues. . . ."

Following enactment of the Gold Reserve Act of 1934, by the terms of which gold coins were withdrawn from circulation and the further coinage of gold coins was discontinued, gold coins ceased to be legal tender in the U.S.

Paper money was always suspect but was to be redeemable in gold or silver as its obligation on the note required. As time has gone by, the ability to convert paper money to precious metal coins has been removed. 'Remember when dollar notes were silver certificates and were redeemable for silver? Experiments with fiat money began during the Civil war when the North issued non-redeemable Legal Tender Notes (Legal Tender notes or red seals survived until 1966).

The law of 1933 is suspect. The constitution provided that money had to be "specie" which was defined as gold and silver. The authority to remove the convertibility of gold is still being debated today.  At least, in the Congressional mind of 1933, there would be a least a silver currency to satisfy the needs of the Constitution.

By the 1960's two events changed everything.  The elimination of silver from the Coinage of the United States and the end of convertibility of paper money for precious metal coin. Current paper money is produced by the Bureau of Engraving for a private corporation called the Federal Reserve.  Coins are manufactured by the mint in base metal.  Only paper money has an obligation that it is "legal tender". The IRS grabbed on to this a few years ago when an irate taxpayer tried to pay his substantial tax bill with a truck filled with current clad coinage and was refused. The refusal held up in court because it was argued that base metal coins were not legal tender.

The confusion over "legal tender" status is clouded further by the fact that the current monetary system is fiat (it is money because the government says it is) but the law still defines a dollar as:

31 USC 314: Standard unit of value: "The dollar consisting of (twenty-five and eight-tenths grains of) gold nine-tenths fine, as established by section thirty-five hundred and eleven of the Revised Statutes of the United States (former 31 USC 315), shall be the standard unit of value, and all forms of money issued or coined by the United States shall be maintained at a parity of value with this standard, and it shall be the duty of the Secretary of the Treasury to maintain such parity."

In the 19th century, base metal coins weren't legal tender either but that didn't hurt their acceptability unless you tried to dump large quantities on someone.  Stipulations were made from time to time about the number of base metal coins that were "legal tender" (this referred to 1/2 cents, cents, two cent pieces, three cent pieces, and 5 cent nickels).

Don't confuse "acceptability" with "legal tender status".  Even during the time of Ancient Rome, bronze coins were a wonderful convenience and were accepted because they would commonly be accepted as money but only gold and silver were legal for debts, land, pay in the army and other important monetary events.

If you want to be a purist, NONE of the current coins or paper money satisfies the test of being "legal tender". If you want to be less of a purist, only Federal Reserve Notes have the obligation that they are legal tender and therefore are acceptable in any amount.