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Comments:        First time we've used it, and we were suprised to come
across this mysterious coin mentioned in your archive !
Name:        Rob Jones
Email Address:   rmjones@talk21.com
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Question:        RE: Previous question about Geogivs III Del Gratia 1701 coin

We also have one of these. You suggested that the date had been changed - but no obvious signs. Coin is about 2.2 cm in diameter. The writing on the tail is: V.I.ET.FG.REX.FD.SU.F.ST.M.S.ET.C. 1701 It is definately George III on head. It looks like gold sovereign. It also has a small hole drilled near the edge.

You give little of the actual description of the coin, but the favorite for the "impossible date" alteration is, on gold, a 1791 "Spade" Guinea with the "9" chased with a special tool into to a "0" (there are no sovereign denomination of George III until 1817).  If it was detectable by you, then the alterer didn't do a good job.  You can also compare the "0" to other genuine George III coins dated 1790 to see if your "0" is the same.  If there was a date error, that "0" punch would have been used.

As far as I can determine there are no dies of George III where the date was punched as "1701".  If there were, there would be many of these in the numismatic market.  All coins struck from such dies would show the identical error.

The legends you report on your coin make no sense and do not appear on Guineas or any other coins of Great Britain under George III or under William III who was Britain's king in 1701.  The proper description of a George III Guinea is:
Obv: Laureate bust of King George III facing right.  The Laint legend around, GEORGIVS III.DEI.GRATIA (George III by the Grace of G-d).

The legends continue on the reverse and list abbreviated titles: M.B.F.ET.H.REX.F.D.B.ET.L.D.S.R.I.A.T.ET.E.1791=King of Great Britain, France and Ireland, Defender of the Faith, Duke of Brunswick and Luneburg, Treasurer and Elector of the Holy Roman Empire. The central device is a crowned spade shaped shield.

If you wish, you may have your coin evaluated as a possible George III date error by submitting the coin to the American Numismatic Association.  See their link on the CoinSite Links page.

The Mexican state of Guerrero exists in the southwestern coast of Mexico and was the stronghold of Zapata during the Revolutionary period (1910 -1917). Seven mints operated under the Zapata forces who struck denominations from 2 centavos to 2 pesos.  Some were cast but most were struck from dies. Many varieties exist.

Your coin is the 1914GRO 2 pesos. Curiously, the coin contains .595 gram of gold (31.103 grams are in a troy ounce). Approximate value range depending on grade: $8 - $35.

This is a plated penny.  These are plated for advertising purposes and high school electrolysis experiments.  Plated coins are considered mutilated coinage by the U.S. Treasury but most people will accept them because THEY think that the penny is minted in gold. You can confirm that the cent is a standard copper coated zinc cent simply by weighing the coin. A 1990 cent weighs 2.5 grams. A gold version would weigh multiples of this weight. For more information about plated coins, Click here

"In God We Trust" was added to the back of $5 notes beginning with the series of 1963. Earlier series to not have this motto. You can find currency for sale that predates the 1963 series by viewing our sister site, Collectors' Showcase (www.sellcoins.com).

You have a 1690 Austria 3 Kruezer (8 Heller=4 Pfennig=1 Kreuzer.  60 Kreuzer=1 Florin (Gulden) = 2 Florin = 1 Convention Thaler (Species) of Leopold I (1657-1705).

Legends: Leopoldus:D.G.RISA:G:H:BO = Leopold I , By the Grace of G-d, Emperor of the Romans ever august (RISA),  King of Germany, Hungary and Bohemia. ARCHID:AUS:D:(VI):BURG:STYR  ARCHID.AUST.D.BURG.STYRIAE = Archduke of Austria, Duke of Burgundy and Styria (city state in Austria; also the location of the Graz Mint).

You have a 1779A Mauritius & Reunion (Isles de France et de Bourbon) 3 sols (20 Sols (sous)=1 Livre).  These two islands exist east of Madagascar in the Indian Ocean.  The island of Mauritius was eventually ceded to Great Britain. Isle de Bourbon was renamed Reunion in 1810 and today remains a French possession.

The coin shows a crown over Fleur de Lis, the abbreviated French legend around is Louis XVI R DE FR ET DE NAV = Louis VI King of France and of Navarre.

The reverse shows 3 Sols 1779 A (Paris Mint), the legend around, ISLES DE FR. ET DE BOURBON. (The name of the two island possessions).

Market value depends on grade (condition).
Approximate range: US $5 - $200.

You have a 1799 Spanish Colonial 8 Reales (pronounced ray -ál -ace) struck at the Mexico City Mint (oM=mint mark) under the Spanish King Charles IV. FM is the initials of the assayer, that is, the person in charge and responsible for Mint operations.

The Spanish 8 reales was the model for the United States silver dollar and in fact, these coins were legal tender in the United States until about 1858.  The subsidiary coinage of the 4 reales (equal to a half dollar) 2 Reales (quarter) 1 real (12 1/2 cents but worn pieces often passed at a dime and was known as a bit).  The 1/2 real was technically 6 1/4 cents but worn pieces passed as a U.S. silver half dime (5 cents). Half reales circulated primarily in the southern U.S. where the coin was known as a picayune.

These terms still exist today but are slowly fading into linguistic history. You sometimes still hear people use the expression 2 bits when they mean a "quarter" and "picayune" is occasionally used to describe something very small.

The 1974D Silver clad Eisenhower dollars were discovered by a blackjack dealer in Las Vegas.  So far, only about 30 pieces are known to exist.  The normal clad pieces have a red or, when oxidized, dark gray edge. Silver clad pieces have a white edge. Silver clad piece weigh 24.59 grams, copper-nickel clad examples, 22.68 grams. A ring test (see a numismatist for this) yields a different pitch for each type.

If you believe you have a silver clad 1974D dollar, you will want to have it certified or authenticated.  You can contact ANA, PCGS or NGC for reliable authentication.  See their links on the CoinSite Links page.

Does this mean that the coin was dipped? I guess they are saying that the coin is absolutely untoned with frosty mint luster. Sounds good to me. The State Quarter program has ignited interest in all Washington quarters. 1953P was never considered a rare coin and was available in rolls.  Coin World trends show a 1953 Washington quarter in MS65 at $25.00.  What multiple would a MS66 be worth?

You have a 5th issue fractional currency 10 cents.  This issue circulated between February 26, 1874 and February 15, 1876.  The face is black and features a portrait of William Meredith, the Secretary of the Treasury 1849-1850.  The back is green, cotton fibers are visible in the blank field. The obligation is printed inside of an oval design.  The printer was the Columbian Bank Note Co.

See item ID #2294 on Collectors' Showcase (www.sellcoins.com) for a photo of an example for sale.

You have a 1795 60 Schilling from the German State, Schleswig-Holstein. This state was at the Danish-German border. Schleswig was Danish and Holstein was German.

The obverse shows the head of King Christian VII facing right.  The legends around, CHRISTIANVS.VII.D.G. DAN NORV.V.G.REX. (Christian VII, By the Grace of G-d, King of Denmark, Norway, Vendalia and Gothland). The reverse shows a oval shield topped with a crown, the denomination and the City Name is the legend around. The date, 1795, is below and separated by the Mint Master's initials, M.F.

Approximate value Range (depending on grade): $35 - $500.

The face value of any coin is the denomination that is inscribed on the coin. For example, face value of a dime=10 cents, a quarter dollar=25 cents and a half dollar=50 cents. The face value is the same for any coin of any era with the same denomination.  Therefore, a 1796 U.S. quarter and a 1999 U.S. quarter both have a face value of 25 cents.

In 1975, the United States Mint created a new quarter design that celebrated the nation's Bicentennial, that is, its 200th birthday. The bicentennial design was minted for two years, 1975 and 1976, both with the same date of 1776-1976.  Like all other quarters, this coin has a face value of 25 cents.

People who collect coins might be willing to pay a premium for coins that are difficult to find. This premium can be substantially more than the face value. The premium amount is established by knowledgeable buyers and sellers that participate in the coin market.

Table of Cuba Gold under U.S administration. 
All were struck at the Philadelphia Mint, USA.

These coins were not exactly issued by the Marshall Islands. Marshall Island coins are minted by Medallic Art Co., Roger Williams Mint and the Sunshine Mint, all private minters located in the United States. Though the Marshall Islands have been independent from the United States since October 1, 1986, the United States dollar is still the official currency. Though these coins are technically sanctioned by the Marshall Islands, they are under no obligation to redeem them for U.S. currency.  The face value in this case, is just a design element.

New collectors and those that collect space memorabilia like these coins. They are well executed and they remind one of particular historic events that are part of space technology.  The 2000 Krause World Coin Catalog lists these at a retail price of $27.50.  Dealers tend to want to pay close to silver value because of the thin market for these coins.

Each 1989 $50 coin is an troy ounce of pure silver (see the CoinSite Metals Page for current precious metal U.S. dollar values in troy ounces). I'm sure the issue price was "face" value (24 x $50=$1,200) but I'm pessimistic that you could get anywhere near that in the current coin market.

You have a jeton or counter.  This particular token was used as game piece circa Middle to late19th century.  This kind of piece goes under the heading of "Exonumia" and is collectable.  Approximate value range $5 -$15.

From your scan I would say that your note is genuine. The note central theme shows an allegorical Liberty standing and Ceres seated. Plate letters for these notes are from A to H. Your note grades fine or bit better. There are a few edge nicks at top and rust stains at bottom.  These notes were interest bearing and would have been redeemable in January of 1866. Unfortunately, The Confederate States of America ceased to exist after 1865 and the notes were never redeemed.  Many people kept these and other notes hoping that some day "The South Would Rise Again".  Maybe, but right now collectors and dealers will redeem your note for between $10 and $15.

During the period between the 16th and 19th century, many Spanish ships didn't survive the transit of the ocean from Spanish America back to Spain. These ships often carried large shipments of silver and gold coins as well as bullion bars.  It is not unusual to find common shipboard items fused by coral to coins.  Some of these artifacts are collected as is and are interesting because of their historical reference.

The value of such items depends on what coins are impeded, type, metal, mint mark and how they are arranged in the artifact. Values can range widely, depending on the coins and most important, the notoriety of the shipwreck.

You have a proof quarter, not meant for circulation. Proofs are specially made coins struck with special dies on highly polished blanks multiple times so they are in higher relief than regular coins. The San Francisco Mint only made proof coins in 1978. The coins from this year show mirror fields and frosted devices. Proofs are sold in sets that represent every coin that was minted that year for circulation. In 1978, 3,127,781 proof quarters were struck.

Approximate value in original condition about $1.

As the story goes, 4 wagonloads of dimes were lost in the Black Canyon fresh from the Denver Mint. No one knows if this is the reason that Mint State 1907-D dimes are difficult to find. Ed Rochette published an article about this story in Numismatic News some years ago.  You can contact them and see if a reprint is available.

Your coin is a 1951 Crown (5 shillings).  This copper-nickel piece was made in large numbers for the Festival of Britain. More than 2 million pieces were struck.  They are non-circulating legal tender.  The coins have a proof-like finish, that is highly polished fields, and the design in normal relief.

The coin features the head of King George VI facing left (father of the present Queen, Elizabeth II).  The legend around in abbreviated Latin is GEORGIVS VI D:G: BR: OMN:REX: F.D. (George VI, by the Grace of G-d, King of all the Britians, Defender of the Faith). FIVE SHILLINGS is below.  The reverse features the famous 19th century portrait by Benedetto Pistrucci of King George slaying a dragon. (This portrait was first introduced on some coins of George III in 1818).  The date, 1951 is below.

Proof examples in high relief and a VIP proof (about 30 pieces minted) also exist.

Values depend on the type. The approximate prices listed below assume that the coins are in the original condition.

Uncirculated P/L = $8
Proof = $20.
VIP Proof = $250.

The highest denomination note ever printed in the United States is the 1934 $100,000 gold certificate.  This note was not meant for general circulation but for transactions between Federal Reserve Banks. None are available to collectors, though the Bureau of Engraving displays a spectacular sheet of these notes at major coin shows.

There were no dollar coins minted in 1918.  The dollar denomination ceased production in 1904 and wasn't continued until 1921. The coin you are describing is a Peace Dollar minted intermittently from 1921-1935. The Deco style of the Peace Dollar design uses the Latin alphabet. In Latin, there is no "U".   "V" is the Latin equivilent of the English "U".  So, the legend appears as IN GOD WE TRVST.  This is a stylistic consideration, not a Mint error.

For more information, see the CoinSite FAQ and the article about Peace Dollars.  Also, see the CoinSite History of U.S. Coins  for historical information about this coin.

Here's a link to get you started:
http://www.moneycontrols.com/products/products.html

The dollar is divided in 100 parts.  The word "cent" means one hundredth (1/100).  Denomination below a dollar are other fractional parts of a dollar.  For example a "quarter" is 1/4 of a dollar or, as a decimal, .25. It takes 4 quarters to make a whole or a dollar.

With this great insight, you can now figure the other denominations and their fractions and decimals on your own.

The coin is dull silver in color and the diameter of a dime, although thinner.  The face of the coin shows the profile of a man who appears to be wearing a light helm and robes.  He appears to be holding some form of scepter or plant. there is a ring of lettering around 3/4 of the front, but i can not make it out.  The reverse of the coin has a center circle which contains a cross with a circle at the juncture.  It is an even cross with all four arms of equal length, not the type of cross used in christianity. Out side of this inter circle are the letters PYNSIGEONLVND, which the dealer has traslated as "wynsige on London."  There is no date that I can see, and I have only been told that the seller claimed it to be "really old."  The seller has marked the coin container as "CNVT short cross penny", and claimed it to be of Scotish origin.  Thank you for any help which you can give me.

Your coin is from England in the late Anglo-Saxon Period under the Danish King, Cnut. He was proclaimed King by the Danish Fleet after their conquest of a part of England in 1014 A.D.  He was repulsed by the English but returned in 1015 and 1016 and compromised (after a huge payoff) on a division and joint rule of the country with Eadmund Ironsides, the son of Aethelred of England. (There was a good reason why Aethelred is known by his nick name of "the unready".)   When Eadmund died in 1016, Cnut inherited all of England and married Emma, the widow of Aethelred. He ruled England from 1016 - 1035.

There are several varieties of Cnut silver pennies and the "short cross type" is one of the most common types found. Value depends on grade (condition).  Approximate market value range is: US $65 - $200.

You should have your coin authenticate and attributed at the American Numismatic Association. See their link on the CoinSite Links Page.

You have a Austria 20 Schillings note. (Zwanzig is the German word for twenty.) Though the 1967 20 Shillings is outmoded, it is still redeemable until 12/31/2009. The current exchange value of Austrian Schillings in U.S. Funds is 1 Shilling = 7 cents. So, 20 Shillings = US $1.40.

Your note might have collector value, if it is in new condition. Crisp uncirculated 1967 20 Schilling notes trade at about $4 among collectors.

Morgan dollars were minted from 1878 to 1904 and then briefly again, with a modified design, in 1921.  The design was replaced by the Peace Dollar in December of 1921.  Mint Mark's on Morgan dollars appear on the reverse of the coin (eagle side) and under the wreath.  Coins struck at the Philadelphia Mint have no mint mark.

During the production of Morgan dollars, the following Mints struck these coins:
(No Mint Mark) = Philadelphia
S = San Francisco
O = New Orleans
CC = Carson City, Nevada
D = Denver (1921 only).

Red Books are collectable.  A 1st edition copy of the first year of issue, 1947, brings approximately $500 in new condition.

$1000 notes are still legal tender but collectors pay a premium for these notes based on the grade (condition). Depending on this information the approximate value is $1,400 - $2,000.  You can offer the note at your local coin dealer or you contact some of our paper money advertisers (see www.sellcoins.com).

The United States Never made dimes or any other circulating coins in pure silver. The fineness for dimes from 1796-1837 was .8924 silver and .1076 copper. From 1837-1964 dimes were .900 silver and .100 copper.