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The JFK Half Dollar miniature has been struck on a planchet of solid 14-karat gold, measuring 9 mm in diameter, weighing 3.360 grains. It contains 1.965grains of pure gold.it was a limited edition and the dies were destroyed and edition permanently closed after December 31, 1984. Could you please give me any information of their value if any. And any more information on them.

Some facts about this token:

    1. This is not a U.S. Mint Product but a promotional item created by a
private company.
    2. It has no specific market value, though it doesn't mean someone wouldn't buy it from you.
    3. 14K gold is an alloy containing 58% gold.
    4. Your token does have intrinsic gold value. There are 480 grains in a troy ounce. The content that you reported of 1.965 grains of pure gold means that it would take about 244.27 of these tokens to equal a troy ounce of gold.  If we say that the current price of gold is $270 per ounce, the intrinsic gold value in dollars for one token equals about US $1.10 (270/244.27) less the cost of refining.

She also wants to know about how large and the mass of the coin should be, what would happen if the materials in the coin were worth more than the face of the coin(which is 50 cents), and what particular materials have we already ruled out because of the financial concern. Also some other costs needed to be consider in the design for this new coin. Besides all those questions, she also wanted us to know how long will the coin materials be obtained and processed, how long do we expect the coin to remain in circulation (which i don't know what it means), what will happen to the materials when used coins are removed from circulation, and how might impact on the enviornment be addressed at each stage of the coin's life cycle?

All we are thinking right now is just to use the smae materials that are being used now since to the students, it doesn't seem to be any problem. Due to our lack of knowledge, we have no idea of anything about coins. We have to give reasons for our materials selection, an analysis of both necessary and desirable properties of the chosen materials (which we hope it will be easier if we choose the ones that are using it now, and the methods used to discourage counterfeiting.

We also have to discuss how materials will be mined and/or process, to estimate the long-term availability of those resources; how long is the coin expected to last in general circulation? Will materials making up the coin be recycled or reused? And then finally we have to present and analyze production costs of the new coin. Involving factors such as location of resources, mining, production or processing (she wants us not to forget about the energy costs), and distribution. Will the cost of materials be less than the value of the coin itself? Are overall production costs reasonable based upon the expected lifetime of the coin?

So many questions and i aboslutely have to apologize for it, if this takes too much time to provide help for me, I certainly do understand. But anyhow, thank you for creating the site and letting me ask questions.

You can find much of the information that you need from the CoinSite Search Tool, the FAQ and the History of U.S. coins.  Here are some hints:

-The physical and chemical properties are important to maintain the appearance and longevity of coins.  Remember that the coins are a product of a countries economy.  You don't want the coin to melt in your pocket. (ice is definitely out as a medium for coinage).

-You don't want anybody to easily be able to reproduce your coins. Counterfeiting can destroy a nation's economy.  Explore why coins are difficult to reproduce.

-Coins used to be made from precious metals but now have been tokenized with base metals.  See the FAQ for standards of U.S. silver coins before and after they became tokenized.

-The difference between the intrinsic value and the face value is called "seignorage" and is the profit that the mint makes on each coin and one way it pays its expenses.  That's why there are no gold pennies. After you see what U.S. coins are made from you might want to check your local paper to see how much these materials cost in the open market (this includes production costs).

-You want the coin to circulate, that is be in use, for a long time. Though all silver coins were pulled out of circulation after 1964, base metal coins from this era are still being spent.  What is the oldest coin you have found?  That will give you some idea of circulation time.

I hope this gets you going on your project.

This coin was part of a series of coins struck for the Banco Italo-Venezolana by Karlsruhe Mint in Baden Germany in 1957 & 1959.  All the coins were minted in gold.  They feature all the leaders of virtually every country that was involved in World War II. They are titled in Spanish: "JEFES EN LA SEGUNDA GUERRA" (Chiefs of the Second War) The coins were made in 20 Bolivares size (.900 fine gold, .1736 troy ounce pure), 60 Bolivares (.900 fine gold, .6430 troy ounce pure). Both sizes were minted in 1957.

A single, large 160 Bolivares medal was made with the portrait of Adolf Hitler and is dated 1959.  This is probably your piece.  It is .900 gold and contains 1.4468 troy ounces pure gold.  Approximate value range: $425 - $600.

Yes. Dimes without Mint Marks prior to 1981 were struck in Philadelphia. From 1981 to the present, the "P" mint mark has been added.

You have a coin constructed from two other coins in a machine shop. For a "mule" to exist, that is dies from two completely different coins mixed to create a composite coin, there would have to be a common planchet (coin blank) not two different blanks fused together.  Also, there were no Sacagawea dollars in 1998 so such a mule couldn't exist.

This coin is used in magic tricks and for other novelty purposes. Similar pieces can be purchased in a hobby or novelty shop for about $8.  For copious amount of information about magic coins, click here

If you believe this is a United States mint struck coin, you can submit your coin for authentication at the American Numismatic Association, PCGS or NGC. See their links on the CoinSite Links page for information about their authentication services.

Genuine Sacagawea mules, the first mules in United States History, have been discovered. So far, Seven pieces have been found. They have sold at prices from $28,000 to more than $40,000.  Note that this coin is struck on a Sacagawea dollar blank and shows a 2000 Washington quarter obverse and a Sacagawea reverse.

It weights about 8 grams, is 3 mm thick and measures about 21 mm in diameter. I THINK it's copper (cd note: an  image was available but the link is now dead ) If it's possible, I would like to know how old it is, where it's from, how common or rare it is and how much it's worth.

Educated Guess:  India- Mughal Empire, early 18th century - the denomination is called a Dam(like a penny) and based on your weight estimate, "the light weight" standard.  The language on these coins would be Arabic not Indian. The symbols on the coin represent the Shah's monogram, a regnal year (the year of the Emperor's reign) and a mint mark.  Generally these are crudely struck and are found in low grade. Values usually less than US $20.

Possibly, someone out there will be able to specifically identify the Shah and the exact date.

"Red" is the designation for the original color of a copper coin.  The old copper cents had a red tinge to them possibly having to do with the small amount of tin and zinc that was part of the alloy.  Current cents are made of zinc with a pure copper plating and appear very pale red-gold. "Red-brown" is the color as a copper cent begins to oxidize. "Brown" is the color of a fully oxidized cent. A copper cent can be uncirculated in any of the above states of oxidation but a full red cent is prized and priced above cents with oxidation.

MS means "Mint State" and is the designation for coins that are uncirculated, that is have the original mint luster and no trace of wear. There are 11 grades (qualities of condition ) for mint state coins, MS60-70.  Coins graded MS65 and above can be quite scarce, especially on copper cents.  Collectors who purchase third party graded coins also like to check the Population Reports issued by each grading service, to see how many coins have been graded in each denomination,  date and grade.

The rarity of coins depends on other factors besides grade.  For example, there might be many State quarters that will grade MS65 or higher because they were gotten directly from the Mint.  This doesn't indicate that they are particularly rare or expensive.

Cents minted after 1982 are minted on copper plated zinc planchets.  It is possible for the copper plating to be of various colors depending on to what gases it has been exposed.  Copper is a reactive metal.

You can determine that you have a standard cent simply by weighing the coin. A standard zinc cent weighs 2.5 grams.  If one was made of brass it would weigh more. For example, standard copper cents (pre 1982) weigh 3.11 grams.

 When foriegn material comes between a planchet (coin blank) and die, the resulting coin shows some alteration of the design. This Kind of error is called a struck-thru error.

Common stuck-thru materials are small pieces of cloth left on the die from cleaning, pieces of wire from a die cleaning brush, grease, scrap metal, string and staples. The type of material should be listed as part of the description of the coin since this information determines market value.

Traditionally, struck-thrus haven't been sold primarily by grade as their collector value is associated with the type of struck-thru erro.  As far as I know, no standards have been published regarding a method of grading such errors. Since grade as not been a major consideration in the past, a new kind of market will have to develop to defind and accommodate struck-thru coins by mint state grade. Currently, I have no knowledge of such a buy/sell market. 

The third party opinion of grade not withstanding, premiums for struck-thrus would depend on the type of struck-thru error and how spectacular the error is. Premiums might range from $0 to multiples of the normal value for this particular coin.

Dr. John D. Parsons, an Assayer in Oro City, Colorado, c. 1858, was involved with both the real estate business and the gold refining and assay business near the Taryyall Mines.  He made several gold coins as well as trial strikings in copper.

The 1860 gold $20 ingot is controversial (Why was it made? Is it really from Parsons? Where did the punches come from as the bar predates the arrival of Parsons minting equipment?). Only one genuine Parsons gold $20 ingot is currently known to exist. The piece is in the famous Eli Lilly collection currently housed at the Smithsonian in Washington, D.C.  The stated weight of this bar is 39.81 grams but actually weighs a bit less at 39.53 grams.

Many base metal copies of this ingot exist, most made by Curtin & Pease as an advertising promotional device during the 1960s.  These copies weigh much less than the weight listed above. If you believe you have a genuine Parsons 1860 TWENTY DOL.S Specie Ingot, this would be a major numismatic discovery. Authentication is mandatory. You will want to contact The American Numismatic Association about their authentication services.  Please see the CoinSite Links Page.

  From the Coin Doc Archives: This is quite specific: "You are confusing your coin with a rare aluminum pattern that is dated 1974 . Patterns are created by the Mint for the purpose of exhibiting a proposed coinage or a change to an existing coinage.  Congress was looking for substitute metals to replace the increasingly expensive copper in cents. Only thirteen aluminum cents still exist.  One is in the Smithsonian, the others in the hands of congressman who never returned them to the Mint. The solution to the copper cent problem was resolved in 1982 when copper cents were replaced with zinc cents plated with copper."

    1.There were no aluminum cents made by the United States Mint dated 1973.  (Plating cents with silver is a common promotional practice and is also common in high school electrolysis experiments. This is what you might have). The idea for a cent struck in a cheaper metal was discussed by Mint officials in the Fall of 1973 when the price of copper was rising rapidly.  Several proposals were made and in line with one of them, aluminum was chosen as a replacement metal for cents in 1974.
2. The Philadelphia mint struck 1.5 million aluminum cents dated 1974 in anticipation of the coins acceptance. The coin was never approved and all were counted and destroyed except the samples given to Congressman to evaluate. 
3. Since the issue was never authorized by Congress, owning this coin is probably illegal and if offered for public sale, would probably result in confiscation and destruction by the United States government. (One can speculate that private sales have already occurred).
4. Only 12, 1974 aluminum cents remain, probably in the hands of Congressman who failed to return them or collectors who purchased them from Congressmen.  An additional piece is in the Smithsonian.

  If you discovered an aluminum cent dated 1973, you would have the only one. This would be front page news as well as a numismatic mystery (though it might be legal since only 1974 aluminum cents were ordered to be destroyed). 

  Weight is diagnostic. A copper cent weighs 3.11 grams. An aluminum cent would weigh far less. You can have any coin authenticated by the American Numismatic Association in Colorado Springs, PCGS or NGC.  See their links on the Coinsite Links page.   

Die cracks and "cuds" are the result of a die that is at the end of its useful life. A cud results from a missing piece of the die. Areas on the blank that are struck show a raised lump where the metal was forced into the missing area on the die. Die cracks appear as jagged raised lines on a finished coin.

Collectors pay about $15 or more for small cuds on copper Lincoln cents and $35+ for large cuds.

1. Grading isn't based on bag marks alone. Original luster and where the bag marks are important. Usually, bag marks on the devices are worse than if in the fields. An MS65 should have no distracting bag marks, but might have a few nicks here and there.

2. Toning is natural on metals such as silver and copper. Removing patina with a mild acid that is in such products as Jewel Luster also removes the oxide layer and thus the top layer of metal. The luster of a coin, the effect that causes light shined on a coin to move in a circle, is caused by flow lines created when a coin is struck. When you dip a coin, you are also removing the flow lines and thus the luster as well. Sometimes no more than two dippings will turn your uncirculated coin into one that is AU.

3. The letters "O" "S" and "CC" are mint marks. This is a quality control device that signifies which mint struck the coin. Coins without mint marks were struck at the Philadelphia Mint. (On Morgan dollars mint marks are under the wreath on the reverse) . O=New Orleans, S= San Francisco CC= Carson City. The rarity of the coin depends on the availability of date and mint. For example 1886 dollars are easy to come by in grades up to MS64. 1886-S examples are scarce to MS64 and rare above this grade.

For more information, see the CoinSite History of United States Coins, the FAQ, or CoinSite's What's it Worth? feature.

Some of my coins I would like to have professionally graded. I become concerned with the cost to do so compared with my own estimated value of the coin (based on my grade of it). It is extremely rare that collectors can agree when it comes to grading (and ultimately the value) and even more disappointing when attempting trades with "dealers". It seems that some will even question the grades of professionally graded coins. My questions are: What is the general "rule of thumb" that will help reaching that decision - to have the coin authenticated and profesionally graded or not? and: Can you give me an idea what to expect to pay to get a coin professionally graded; how do those services establish their prices; is it based on the appraised value of the coin, or what?? Thanking you in advance for your answers - I wish you a good day, Bob A.

Grading is more art than science but standards exist. Circulated coins are far easier to grade since degree of wear is measurable against a set of existing standards. Manuals such as the ANA's Grading Standards for U.S. Coins and Brown & Dunn, are benchmarks against which coins can be evaluated successfully (see the CoinSite Books page).  Attempts by 3rd party grading services to make fine, one point delineations between circulated coins is as confusing as their similar attempt at evaluating mint state coins.  

Factors that influence grade of uncirculated coins:
-luster
-bag marks
-strike (this is controversial)
-toning or patina (controversial)

If you employ a third party grading service, there is no way to predict what a specific grading service will grade a coin since the above factors have become completely subjective. It is possible to have a coin graded over and over again by the same service and get widely different results (five grades on a AU/Unc coin is my personal observation).  The majority of uncirculated coins submitted are graded between AU 58 and MS64. I think that the chief value in the grading services is their authentication service.  You can almost be sure that if they graded the coin then it is genuine.

Coins will be rejected by grading services for various reasons such as:
- alteration to the coin
- added mintmark, altered date, altered surfaces, artificial toning
- Damage - Bent, Brushed, Burnished or polished, chopmarks (controversial), clipped, corrosion, physical damage, environmental damage, residue of glue or other material, graffiti, lacquered, evidence of removed mount (jewelry), plugged, rim damage, repairs, solder marks, tooling, whizzed (polished with a fine wire brush) and wiped.

Cost of grading services vary from approximately $15 -$30 per coin regardless of value.  Coins are shipped insured so postal insurance is factored into the final fee. The value of the coin will influence whether the coin should be graded or not.  Recently, the lure has been that common coins in gem condition are selling (at least retail) at breathtaking price.  Your $1.50 worth of silver 1964 Kennedy half dollar is $175 if you can get it in a MS68 holder. You can get information about third party grading services on the CoinSite Links page .

The term "penny" refers to a coin that is part of the English monetary system. The first issue of pennies were the descendants of the "deniers" that were first introduced by Pepin, the father of Charlemagne.  Pennies replaced this coin and were introduced into England by Offa, the King of Mercia in about 755 A.D.  Pennies were virtually the only denomination in English coinage for almost five centuries. These were silver pennies (weight about 20 grains or 1.3 grams).

The American use of the word "penny" comes from the English tradition but the denomination does not exist in United States coinage.  The term "cent", that is a hundredth of a dollar, was introduced with the first United States cent in 1793.  To see an example of one variety of this landmark coinage see the CoinSite Image Gallery .

1479 ASW means the Actual Silver Weight is .1479 of a troy ounce.  Precious metals are measured in troy ounces.  There are 12 troy ounces of 31.1033 grams/ounce.  If you multiply the decimal against the world price of silver, you will realize the intrinsic value of the coin.  For current silver prices in troy ounces, see the CoinSite Metals page.