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From: Julie &/or Bob
Alexander
Comments: Great! ame: Vincent Franzella Email Address: vinybabe@msn.com ------------------------------------------------------- Question: What does the letters "VAM" stand for in the description of a Morgan dollar? From:cheryl Subject:Gold Ring with a gold coin in setting. ------------------------------------------------------- Hello, My father was handed his grandfathers 18k gold ring which is a very dark colored gold, and the setting appears to be hand made but nice. And on the top it has some prongs to hold an Emperor Maximilian Gold coin in it. The coin has a picture of Maximilian on it and on the back I can only see part of it due to the setting, but I can see an eagle with wings spread and some writing on it around the edge and part of the date starts with 18?? it is to dirty and dark to see the rest of the date. Can you give me an idea of what this coin and ring might be worth? Thank you. Coins made under Maximillian that also features his portrait are the silver 50 centavos (about the size of a U.S. half dollar), One Peso, about the size of a U.S. dollar and a 20 Pesos in gold also about the diameter of a U.S. Silver dollar (33.84 grams, .875 fine gold). Other minor coins show an eagle on one side and the denomination on the other. All Maximillian's coins show a denomination. The tiny "Maximillians" don't. They are essentially "jetons", that is non-monetary tokens, essentially souvenirs. Modern souvenir Maximillian gold tokens, as usually seen, are about half the size of a U.S. dime and dated between 1864-1867 though they were really made in the 20th century. Most of the ones that I've seen are 10K gold. Giving gold coins as gifts for life events such as marriage (13 gold coins?) and births is common in Latin Culture. The use of tokens such as Maximillians were an affordable substitute for genuine, though expensive, legal tender gold coins. Name: WANDA Email Address: PEACHE01@HOTMAIL.COM ------------------------------------------------------- Question: I have a 1/4, 1/2 and un balboa cincuentenario Republica de Panama. Please tell me something about these coins 1953 Values depend on grade but these often trade near silver bullion value in the market. 1/4 Balboa - approximately US 75 cents 1/2 Balboa - approximately US $1.50 1 Balboa - approximately US $3.80. The above prices are for average circulated pieces dated 1964 and before. After 1964, only half balboa's contained silver but at a lower fineness (40% instead of 90%) until 1970. Circulation one Balboas ceased production in 1966 (A Royal Canadian Mint issue) This parallels U.S. coinage standards in this era. Standard copper-nickel issues are worth face value (US$=B1) Comments: Very informative. I believe it should be a little more organized though. It is really hard to find information about a specific coin without reading every word on a large page. Only to read information on many other coins that have no relevence with your "Specific" search Name: Frank Villafuerte Email Address: Frank ------------------------------------------------------- Question: As many other people who ask you questions on here. I am a newbie. I will start by telling you what I have. I have a 1968 Liberte Egalite Fraternite Coin. I don't know anything about this stuff and was wondering like many people on here if this is worth anything. I found a site that has this exact coin on it, but all this information on it is in French. HA!
Name: Rene Pearson Email Address: trp75@yahoo.com ------------------------------------------------------- Question: I have a coin that says "Millard Fillmore 1850 13th President of the United States 1853" and an F next to his picture on the front and on the back it says "Millard Fillmore Born Jan. 7 1800 Grow up in a log cabin; Last Pres. of whig party; Opened trade with Japan; Installed first library in the white house. Died Mar. 8, 1874" I would like to know if this has any money value. Watch CoinSite for an article with images about this interesting set of tokens. Comments: Great site! Name: Regina Landeck Email Address: regina@prolingua.ab.ca ------------------------------------------------------- Question: Dear Coin Doctor: I am a translator and currently working on a text about Bronze Age discoveries in the bogs of Europe. They mention a one-sided coin (pattern only on one side and blank on the back). The German term is "Brakeat". I am looking for the English equivalent. Could you help me? Yours, Regina Landeck, Certified Translator (Canada) Coinage as a means of exchange is credited to the Lydians from about 700 BC and was a standardized weight of "electrum", a naturally occurring alloy of gold and silver found in the river beds running down from the Tmolus mountain range in Lydia. The coins were a blob of metal, weighed out and stamped with the fore-part of a lion, the official seal. The reverse shows a rough incuse punch. The bronze age, from about 3000 BC in Greece and China and 1900 BC in Britain and part of Europe, occurred far before the invention of coins and well before the idea of an economic system where coins replaced barter. It wasn't until the iron age, about 1000 BC, that the technique of heating and forging iron, a necessary skill for creating dies, was discovered. Like many archaeological digs, past layers of civilization are heaped together as towns were built over towns. It would not be farfetched to find medieval bracteates on or near a dig where Bronze age materials were also found. Comments: This is a return visit, I have learned many interesting things, and plan to continue browsing this site to learn more. Thanks. Name: Melanie Clark Email Address: jclark347@earthlink.net ------------------------------------------------------- Question: I know of several people who have been saving $1. bills with a "K" in the serial number. Can you tell me if there is a specific reason for saving these bils. Are they a collectors item? Are they worth more than face value? Comments: Good reference, I am adding it to my numismatic bookmarks Name: Don Sucha Email Address: dsucha@ucalgary.ca ------------------------------------------------------- Question: I have posted queries about this coin on a few discussion groups and no one has come up with a definitive identification. I looked through a number of catalogues, but to no avail. Some people think it is South/Central American, Some think it is provincial German, but no one has seen this exact item. It may well be a reproduction or counterfeit, but I am curious as to what it is a counterfeit of? The item is about one half inch in diameter and appears to be made of brass (although one person suggested it may be very low grade gold. The hole is recent. The legend on one side, which apears to be a ship, says "Plus Ultra" which would correspond to both the Spanish and German theories. The legend on the other side appears to be German and says "II UBER * REC II . PFE * II ." (stars and dots included. the image appears to be stars bursting from the ground.
From:Robarnd@aol.com Subject: National Currency ------------------------------------------------------- Tell me about this note. The note is in new condition. Also, I have determined that it is type 2. The bank is Maybrook National Bank, Maybrook, N.Y. The bank closed in 1935 and $50,000 in small size notes were outstanding (all in $5 notes). These were all backed by the Federal Reserve and were and still are legal tender. Uncirculated examples trade at approximately $250. Low or fancy serial numbers are worth more. From: "James Ballinger" jjaa@mindspring.com Subject: 1883 Indian Cent Proof "Double-Die"? ------------------------------------------------------- Hi, I've recently purchased an 1883 Proof Indian Cent and upon close inspection under a jeweler's loupe the obverse lettering (including the Liberty on the headband) are staggered/stacked. I'm new to this hobby, but from my investigations on the net , it appears the coin is a "double-die".. Is it possible for this to occur in a proof?, if so, what about it's value if indeed it is a proof double-die. Thanks for your time, Most likely only one die was made to strike the 6,609 1883 proof Indian cents and since this die wasn't a doubled-die, your doubled lettering has another cause. Proofs are struck on specially prepared planchets and are generally in higher relief than business strikes because they are struck more than once. If the collar that holds the coin in place when it is struck is loose then the planchet will move slightly when it is struck causing a slightly doubled image on part or even all of that coin. "Strike doubled" coins are unique and are not the result of a defective die. This type of manufacturing defect is usually minor and requires a loop to see it. The characteristic look of this type of doubling is often called "shelf doubling" because of the shelf like appearance of the lettering. Doubled-dies show distinct separation of the doubled areas. Shelf-doubling rarely brings a premium above the price of a normal coin. One characteristic to look for on 1883 proof Indian cents is the presence of a repunched "3" in the date. This may have been done as a bungled attempt by a mint worker to strengthen the digit. Only a small number of 1883 proofs with repunched "3" exist. If you discovered this characteristic on your coin it would add value as this is a rare variety. Name: jennifer l. niece-smith Email Address: jniece_smith@donet.com ------------------------------------------------------- Question: I have inherited a coin collection from my father. I need to know where to start to evaluate this items. He has a 1777 $5.00 bill signed by A. J. Norris. He also has several proof silver dollars, 1889, 1886, 1803 and so on. Several bank notes from the 1800 & early 1900's. I looked up most of these in the red book of coins. However, the 1777 paper money I can't find. Please help. Thanks, Jennifer Your inheritance is worth quite a bit. Proof dollars are very rare and valuable especially the 1803 where only a handful of proofs exist. I suggest getting them graded and placing them in an appropriate auction. See the CoinSite Links page for third party grading services. Comments: I am not a collector. I am doing research on an historical novel. Name: Ed Rumelt Email Address: rumlet@netzero.net ------------------------------------------------------- Question: I am doing research for an historical novel. I need info on what Portuguese gold coin(s) would have been in circulation 1n 1814. Is it the "tostao"? 20 reis (copper) = Vintem 40 reis (copper) = Pataco 50 reis = 1/2 Tostao (silver) 60 reis = 3 vintens 100 reis but marked 80 reis (why?) = silver tostao 120 reis = 6 vintens Other silver denominations of 200 reis and 400 reis exist pror to 1814 480 reis = 24 vintens or 1 cruzado 800 reis = 1/2 escudo (gold) and minted 1805-1807 and not again until 1818 1600 reis = escudo (gold) - minted in 1805 and 1807 3200 reis = 1/2 Peca (gold) - minted in 1805 and 1807 6400 reis = Peca (gold) - This was the main trade unit used to settle trade debt (.4228 of a troy ounce of gold). Note that Portugese gold coins were not often seen in circulation. Even a 1/2 escudo was quite a bit of money and the mintages were rather small, usually in the hundreds, though there were 5,253 Portugal 1/2 escudos minted in 1805. Compare this to silver and copper coins whose mintages were from the hundreds of thousands to millions. Brazilian gold coins were minted in far higher numbers, probably because of the availability of native gold and Brazilian gold under Portugal did circulate, at least in the New World. Name: Barry Altwig Email Address: altwig@aol.com ------------------------------------------------------- Question: Hi there, I have a silver 1972 Olympics Commemorative 10 Mark coin that was apparently incorrectly issued and withdrawn. It states "1972 Olympiade in Deutschland". As we know, Olympics are held in a city and not in a country, and it was withdrawn and changed to "1972 Olympiade in Munich". Has this coin any particular rarity or value? Your comments would be appreciated. Thanks and regards, Barry Name: julian gilbert Email Address: 11brambel@ukonline.co.uk ------------------------------------------------------- Question: Mauritius 10 cent coin dated 1897 queen victoria on the reverse, silver in colour and about 10mm in diameter, could you please tell me the value of this coin. Many thanks julian gilbert The coin shows a portrait of Queen Victoria facing left, VICTORIA QUEEN is around. The reverse shows MAURITIUS and 10 CENTS within a circular border. the number "10" is at center. Value depends on condition (grade). Approximate range: US $1 - $75. From: Jennifer Skalsky Subject: Balwin $20 Gold Coin ------------------------------------------------------- I am interested in knowing where this coin came about and the worth of this coin. I believe it is a very rare coin this came from my family's rather large gold coin collection but I did not find it with the collection. If you could give me some idea as to either its worth or how to find out it's worth. The only thing I have found is that it is a rare piece. Thanks Jen
Not only were high denomination coins struck but many jewelers struck fractional gold coins, that is coins with denominations of less than one dollar. Because of the historical reference, California gold coins from any of the private minters are highly sought after and are quite valuable. Only a small quantity remain and, in some cases, examples are unique. Baldwin & Company's $20 gold pieces were the first coin with that denomination struck in California. Average circulated Baldwin $20 gold pieces can bring more than $80,000 when offered for sale at auction. However, only genuine coins are valuable. The image that you sent along with your message is of a cast replica in base metal. This copy was not made to deceive, the design work is too crude for that, and it isn't struck on a gold planchet but it makes a very good "museum" souvenir to show students of the era the coin's approximate design . Comments: I just found this site so was excited that I could get information when needed and could try to get an answer to my above question. I bookmarked it for future reference. Name: Jane Flynn Email Address: JaneFlynn@msn.com ------------------------------------------------------- Question: i have a "gold" coin, about the size of a nickel but heavier that says Helvetia on the front with a profile picture of a woman with braids in her hair and mountains in the background. The reverse has a shield with leaves surrounding it and a cross in the middle of the shield. It says 20 FR and 1935.the side edges have little nubs around the coin which protrude very slightly.. I am interested in finding out what it is,where it is from and possible value Gold trade units were very much in use until the World War II era and was one of the ways countries resolved debt with one another. Today these coins are still traded as bullion (see your local gold bullion dealer) and are dependent on their gold content for their value. The Swiss gold 20 Francs weighs 6.4516 grams and was struck on .900 fine gold planchets. The actual pure gold weight is .1867 of a troy ounce. To determine the approximate value, simply multiply the decimal above against the current world price of gold. See the CoinSite's Metals Page for current quotes. Comments: Great Name: Chelsey Dunn Email Address: chelseyad@aol.com ------------------------------------------------------- Question: Dear Coin Dr., My daughter found an old coin dated 1792. On the front it says CAROL III D. G. HIS P. ET IND. R with a picture of a man facing right. On the tails side it has a picture of a crest with a crown on top and says IN UTRO FELIX AUSPICE DEO. On the left of the crest there is an 8 and on the right an S. Can you please give me a ball park figure of it's value. Thanks for your time! The reverse shows the Crowned shield of the King of Spain surrounded by a chain suspending the golden fleece. The Latin legend around is, IN UTRO FELIX AUSPICE DEO (under the fortunate guidance of G-d). Genuine 8 escudos weigh about 27 grams (27.06 grams is about official weight) and were struck on .875 fine gold planchets. The coin is gold in color (brass and copper museum copies exist). Market value for genuine examples depends on the date, mint mark, assayer and grade (state of preservation). Approximate value range: $500 - $2,500. Coins can be authenticated at the American Numismatic Association, NGC, PCGS or ANACS. See their links on the CoinSite Links Page. From: Michelle veal" memoriesofdublin@hotmail.com Subject: Unusual U.S. quarter ------------------------------------------------------- Sirs, I have acquired a 1990? U.S. quarter which has some unusual characteristics. This coin is It about the same size as a nickle. The edge seems to be rolled, making it approx.2mm higher than the rest of the coin,and thereby 'hiding' half of each printed word. George Washington and the Eagle are perfectly centered.'In God We Trust' seems to have been 'flattened' into the coin. If anyone has any ideas about this quarter, and possibly its value, I would really appreciate hearing from you. You can send your coin to either NGC, PCGS, ANACS or the ANA for certification. See their links on the CoinSite Links Page. Comments: I found this in the lastest issue of "Coin World". I am very glad I saw it. Will use it on a reg. basis. Thanks Name: E. S. "John" Johnson Email Address: amhertco@alltel.net ------------------------------------------------------- Question: I have a 1980 (nineteen-eighty) Washington quarter struck on a 90% Silver planchet. Do you know if any others exsist?,and what possible value would it have. I grade the coin AU50 or 53. I curently have it in my BU collection of Wash. Qtrs. 1932 to present. I have not sent it in for grading and authentication. Thanking you in advance, John I'm do not know what method you used to determine that the coin was struck on a 90% silver planchet but there is an easy way to tell. There is a substantial difference in weight between a copper-nickel clad quarter and a silver one. Copper-nickel clad quarters weigh 5.67 grams 90% silver quarters weigh 6.25 grams 40% silver quarters were struck for the Bicentennial in 1976 but only in San Francisco ( "S" mint mark). These coins have a special design and show the dual date "1776-1976". The production of 1976-S 40% silver quarters continued for several years. 40% silver quarter planchets weigh 5.75 grams. (Note that San Francisco copper-nickel clad proofs also exist.) If the weights indicate that you have a 90% or 40% silver quarter, it would be currently, the only one known with the date 1980 and I imagine it would be quite valuable. If the weight checks out, you should have the coin certified by either a third party grading service such as NGC, PCGS or The American Numismatic Association. See their links on the CoinSite Links Page. Good Luck! Name: Ronnie Email Address: 9501288404@MSN.COM ------------------------------------------------------- Question: Is Their Any Value To A 1916 Quarter Dollar Standing Liberty, Also Why Is It That My Coin Contain The Legend - E PLVRIBVS VNVM, My Research States That It Should Have The Words - E PLURIBUS UNUM In the Standing Liberty design which was issued at the end of 1916, The motto is spelled with the proper Latin spelling as E PLVRIBVS UVNVM. There is no letter "U" in the Latin alphabet. That letter is served by "V", therefore the alternate spelling. The use of the Latin "V" instead of the English, "U" carries over to other coins of this era as a stylistic consideration and is not an error. For example, the motto on the Peace Dollar (1921-1935) is spelled "IN GOD WE TRVST". The 1916 Standing Liberty quarter is a key coin of this series because of its extremely low mintage and the fact that public's prudish rejection of the naked breast on Liberty established a unique variety. Only a month later, in January of 1917 was her breast covered with shirt of mail or armor. Value depends on grade (condition). Approximate range: $1,000 - $8,000. For more information about Barber quarters and Standing Liberty quarters, see the CoinSite's History of U.S. Coins. From: "Chris Perley" jabberwock@mlode.com Subject: Confederate note ------------------------------------------------------- Hello. I have a North Carolina $2 from 1861. I am looking to find more information about this bill. The front side has a hand written signature (looks like Henry Hardie) and serial number 41-22. It says "The State of North Carolina will pay to bearer two dollars at the Treasury on or before 1st Jany. 1866. Raleigh Oct 1st, 1861." At the bottom is the printer info: F.W.Bornemann, Charleston, S.C. The curious part is the back of the bill. There are two halves of $4 printed sideways, with Two Dollars stamped across in red letters. Please let me know if you have any information on this bill.
Comments: i think you site is wonderful.. i have used it before to do some research for a class, and now i am hooked! Name: kat roberson Email Address: mrsmaxwell@collegeclub.com ------------------------------------------------------- Question: i have a dime(i think) and it has a lady on the front (1924). i know this is vague, but i found it in a very old paper wrapping in my bedroom. it is in pretty good condition, due to the wrapping, and two of the collectors that ive spoken to have tried to buy it from me for 3,000 and one for 5,500, so i am eager to know the actual value.. perhaps you could help? 1924 - Average circulated (VG - Fine) - 50 cents EF - about $8. MS63 - about $100. 1924-S Average circulated (VG- Fine) - $3 EF - $40 - MS63 about $600. 1924-D Average circulated (VG- Fine) - 50 cents EF - $40 - MS63 about $350. Gem uncirculated examples with split bands on the diagonal bands that hold the bundle of sticks are worth more. For an explanation of grading click here |
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