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Name: pat
Email Address: biejhi@gte.com
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Question: I need a value for gold banknotes "legal tender of Antiqua and Barbuda design is "Blackbeard's Queen Anne's Revenge" & Bartholomew Robert's Royal Fortune they $100.00 notes from the Excelsior Collectors Guild Ltd. thanks

Yes, I think you medal would have good value if placed in a token/medal auction. There is a strong collector base for medals of all types. I'm not familiar with the design but I'm sure it is artistic and aesthetically pleasing.

 I'm sure you wouldn't want to part with something as memorable as the medal that punctuated such a wonderful accomplishment. Cash in the Savings Bond instead!

Dear Donna,
The California Exposition half dollar (San Diego) was minted with two dates,1935-S and 1936-D. You didn't mention if the coin is encapsulated and graded by PCGS or NGC or any other service. Coin "investing" is highly speculative. Generally collectors make out better in the market because they:

Speculation usually occurs where supplies of specific coins are readily available. True rarities with historical associations almost always do well.

This has been a keepsake...but I've always wondered why it was produced..if any other reason but commemorative, and also if there was any value to it. If not...this is fine, I've just always been curious and when I wandered onto this site..I was doing some checking around and thought it would be a good place to inquire. Thank you for your assistance.
Jill

There were many medals produced for the Hudson-Fulton celebration in 1909. The New York State Legislature created the program in 1906"to re-stimulate interest in the important roles New York City and New York State played in American History, to inculcate in the vast immigrant population of the state pride in their new Homeland and to promote international friendship."

1. was not a decimal coin in 1800 (e.g. South Germany pre 1837: 8 Heller=4 Pfennige=1 Kreuzer)
2. could be valued differently between German States.
3. didn't exist in some German State's currency in 1800.

These pieces never circulated at face value since their cost was much more than face value when they were issued. They are legal tender for the face amount. Many pieces show up abused in some manner, values run from about $150 to $4,000 depending on grade.

You mention a 1885 dollar, I assume it has no mint mark so it would be a Philadelphia strike, values can run from about $6.00 to $30 or more depending on grade.

The 1917 United States $1 Note features a portrait of Washington in the center. An engraving of Charles Schussele's famous painting,Columbus Discovery of Land appears at left. The note is valued by condition and signature combinations. Star notes (replacements for damaged or destroyed notes) also exist and are more valuable. There were just under one billion 1917 United States $1 notes printed and many survived as souvenirs when U.S. banknotes were radically changed in 1928. Approximate value ranges: $15-$1,000.

The designer of the Texas Centennial commemorative half dollar was Pompeo Coppini. You'll have to check further to see if Brown's work is on private issue medals.

The legend (Auspice Deo etc) only appears, in 1792, on Spanish Colonial gold escudo coins . The legend is in abbreviated Latin and says: "CHARLES IV BY THE GRACE OF GOD KING OF SPAIN AND THE INDIES" and "UNDER GOD'S WILL WE PROSPER". There are several important pieces of information that is important to further identify the coin.

You can have your coin authenticated by contacting the American Numismatic Association. See the Numismatic Links page on the menu below.

Name: Michael Koenig
Email Address: koenig @techheadnet.com
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Question:I have a Whitman Lincoln cents book and for 1982 there is (cop. Lg. Dt. snd zn. lg. dt )what does it mean and how can you tell.

There are two kinds of blanks that show up in bags of quarters shipped from the Mints. Type I, no upset rim and Type II, with upset rim. The former not only missed the press but the upsetting machine as well. Values for clad quarter blanks, about US$5.

There were no $5 1934A Red Seals printed. (See the article on Red Seal Notes and also the article on WW II emergency money in the FAQ). WW II era $5 Hawaii overprinted notes were only issued on 1934A Federal Reserve Notes (green seal). Note that the heading on Legal Tender Notes, red seal, says "United States Note" and Federal Reserve Notes, green seal, says: "Federal Reserve Note

• 13 bars representing the 13 original states-USA interlocked on the other side-one of the emergency small tokens used after 1785 in New York.
• 1965
• Summer Olympics
• I assume you mean "$" - Mexico, Portugal, British Virgin Islands, Hong Kong. Note: some countries that use "$" only use this symbol on coins.

This coin was struck under the Rajput dynasties. The bull and horseman types are the most common types of coins struck during this era. They started out as silver coins but over time and inflation they were minted in base metal.

Toning, or to use another term patina, is the result of coin metal combining with oxygen in the air. The depth of the oxidation and the type of chemicals that might have been in the air in the presence of the coins, determine what the patina will show. Silver coins kept in the same environment for a long period of time will most likely show similar patterns of patina.

The "V" is the Roman Numeral for "5", therefore your 1905 nickel is a 5 cents coin.

Most of the grading services are reluctant to grade coins that have been cleaned. The general definition of cleaning is that the coin's metal has been disturbed by artificial means. Abrasive cleaning leaves surface marks that are regular but contrary to the flow lines that are created when the coin is struck. Chemical cleaning removes flow lines and gives a coin an unnatural brightness.

The purpose of cleaning is always deception, that is making the coin appear in a higher grade than it really is. This has nothing to do with wear which appear as random marks from circulation and in its beginnings, the wearing down of the highest parts of the design.

It may be possible that 90% silver 1965 dimes exist but yours would be the first found. Check the edge to make sure that you don't see the clad copper. You can also weigh the dimes on a gram scale. Pre-1965 silver dimes weigh 2.50 grams and copper-nickel clad dimes weigh 2.27 grams. If you don't own a gram scale, ask your Pharmacist if he will weigh it for you.

The "dinar" denomination circulated in various countries in Africa and Asia from about 660 AD to 1902. The width of the coin varies but the weight is usually about 4.2 grams and almost pure gold (about .975 pure). That makes a dinar .1317 troy ounces of pure gold.

I don't know the statistics of the amount of redeemed mutilated coinage, but I know that the Fed does redeem them for cash at a discount. The lifetime of a coin is great, maybe between 20 to 50 years or more.

Except for the half dollar which is not used at all in every day commerce, the order of usage is probably the following:

Comments: I think that this site is wonderful as I would like to know more about coins that I'm interesting in, especially "Peace Dollars"!
Email Address: tully@javanet.com
How did you find TCD: Dealer or Friend's Recommendation
Your Name: tony
Your Question: I have found an 1848 Large Cent that is Square. I found it while metal detecting. Do you have any knowledge of other such coins that may have been altered, and if so , why were they made into a square coin? Thank you

Since no "Square" Large Cents were minted, someone would have had to file or cut the coin to a square shape. One way to prove this, is to weigh the coin. A large cent from 1848 weighs 10.89 grams.

The coin is either a half penny or farthing of George II of England. The obverse shows a bust of King George II of England, the legend is Latin for GEORGE II KING. On the reverse, Britannia is seated on a rock holding a trident (nautical symbol), a shield leans against the rock. The reverse legend is BRITANNIA

From your description, it probably is not a Mint error. Reengraving coins was a popular past time during this period. The most famous of the reengraved coins were the "Hobo" nickels, mostly altered from Buffalo Nickels (1913-1938) but "V" nickel "Hobos" do exist.

An uncirculated note would bring at least a $10 premium. These notes were made for a long period of time and were replace by the 1950 series of Federal Reserve Notes. A small letter next to the date (A-D) would allow knowing the approximate date range.

Though these notes are not yet valuable, especially if they have been circulated, they are bound to become scarce over the the next ten years as they are replaced by the new $20 design. There are a few characteristics that make some 1934 $20 Federal Reserve Notes more valuable than others. Here's a few thing to look for:

• Any 1934 or 1934A note overprinted "HAWAII"
• Star Notes, that is notes that have a star next to the serial numbers. They are replacement notes for notes that were destroyed at the Bureau of Engraving.
• In 1948 the White House, that appears on the back of the $20 1943C note, was changed. The new version shows 2 more chimneys, a second floor balcony and different and larger trees and bushes.
• Though not considered valuable yet, the 1934 $20 Minneapolis Federal Reserve note is scarce and has the lowest number printed of all the $20 1934 FRN issues.
• For the 1934A $20 issues, Atlanta FRN (less than 6 million notes printed), Dallas FRN (only about 2.5 million notes printed and the Philadelphia FRN (less than 4 million made) should be put away for a few years. These will be considered scarce or rare in the future.

I think you might be looking for an obscure die variety. There is no mention of a 1958 Canada half dollar with an added dot that I've seen in any of the books and catalogs on Canadian issues.

You may be confusing this coin with the 25c coinage of 1947-48 when Canada had to eliminate "Et IND: IMP" from the obverse legend when India became independent. Since new dies wouldn't be available for several months, they restruck 1948 quarters with the 1947 date, replacing the "dot" next to the date with a tiny maple leaf. Later that year when the new dies arrived, the quarters were struck with the date 1948, sans the Maple Leaf.

If anyone has more information about Kevin's 1958 half with "dot", please add a message to the Soap Box or start a dialog in the Discussion Room. Click on the appropriate menu selection below to go there.

The Coin is a silver twopence (pronounced tuppence) of George I of England. The obverse legend is Latin for "George By The Grace of G-d". The reverse uses an Latin abbreviation code for MAGnaeBRItanniaeFRanciaeET HIBerniaeREX, which translates to,King of Britain, France and Ireland.

The note is from Timor an Island near Indonesia and became the 24th province of that Nation in 1976. The note you have was issued on 24 October, 1967. It is a popular note but not particularly scarce except in uncirculated condition. Values range from US$1 to more than $25. 

The coin is a U.S. 1848 Seated Dollar and looks like it might be in Very Fine (VF) condition. This is a rare date dollar, only 15,000 were minted. Estimated value between US$500-$600.

The 1982 copper plated zinc cents exhibit many bubbles over the surface. You can easily see these bubbles with a 4 or 5 power slide glass. This flaw is caused by the copper plating not adhering properly to the surface of the zinc.

If you have access to a gram scale, copper cents will weigh 3.11 grams and the copper plated zinc cents will weigh 2.5 grams. Proofs were struck in the old copper alloy.

The large date cents have a curled end to the number 2, the small date 2 is almost straight.

From: gdsims@ns.sympatico.ca (George Sims)
Reply-to: gdsims@ns.sympatico.ca
To: rokogrp@aol.com
can you help me find a Canadian token with no date that says ships colonies & commerce and there is a picture of a ship on it. I'd like to know how much it is worth

These trade coins were probably issued for Prince Edward Island. This beautiful and historic token is the most common of all the Canadian trade tokens. Values depend of course on grade and variety. Prices range from $2 to several hundred dollars.

From: SRumpler
Subject: Continental Currency Dollar
Hi I found this coin in my yard, can you help me please.
I can't tell if my coin is an original or not. I can
tell you that there was a restrike of this coin offered by Robert
Bashlow & Company back in the 60's.
The restrikes were made from the original die, and were offered in
brass, pewter and silver. The silver ones had an "S" stamped on them.
I think mine may be pewter. How much are they restrikes worth if this one
is a restrike?

There are lots of restrikes and replicas of this historic coin, some made for the centennial celebration in 1876, Restrikes made by Coin Dealer Thomas Elder before WW I, Q. David Bowers strikes from the Elder dies in 1961, Robert Bashlow transfer die imitations, and even some aluminum versions made by the Boys Scouts of America.

No one is sure exactly how these dollar size coins were used but they were probably prototypes for the first United States silver dollar. We know that the coin was designed by "E.G", possibly Elisha Gallaudet. The coins are marked with E.G. FECIT, Latin for E.G. made it.

I couldn't see your images, the URL was not active so I can't tell you what variety or replica you might have. Genuine examples are quite valuable and worth sending the the American Numismatic Association for authentication. See the Numismatic LinksPage to contact the ANA about their service.

From: jthomas@jhancock.com (Thomas, Joy)
Were there quarters minted for the year 1975. Been searching and cannot fine one.
Joy Thomas
IOS Systems Management

Quarters, half dollars and dollars were never minted with the date 1975. The Bicentennial design which featured the dual date 1776-1976, was minted for two years to accumulate enough coins to prevent hoarding and give everyone a chance to save some specimens as souvenirs.

From: semonaghan@mail.utexas.edu (Shari Monaghan)
Hi,
I don't have time to look through answers, and know little of coins.
But my daughter just bought on Ebay a 1500+ Queen Elizabeth sixpence for her wedding next year. Half of it is tarnished looking? Do you recommend cleaning it or just leave it alone? Also, I have some 1800 Silver Dollars, do they have any value?
Thank you,
Shari Monaghan

I don't recommend cleaning coins. Cleaning usually reduces the value and gives the coin an "unnatural" look. Just imagine, the the oxide coating trapped on the surface of the coin is a sample of the air that exisited during the time of Queen Elizabeth I. It would be a shame to destroy that little bit of a time capsule.

I assume that you mean that the dollars are dated 1800. Yes, these are quite valuable. Even low grade examples would bring more than $300.

From: serge.dub@sympatico.ca (serge Dubé)
I recently found one copper one cent of 1943 in my teenage collection
that does not stick to magnet. How can i do to know its value ?

For all those that wrote in about 1943 copper cents, here's the story once more:

In 1943 The United States Treasury changed the composition of the cent from 95% copper and 5% tin and zinc to steel coated with zinc. Copper was a critical metal and was becoming in short supply and was needed for the war effort.

The Mint's policy has always been to avoid the creation of accidental rarities. Their main mission is to supply coins for commerce. They were very careful not to allow any copper planchets (blanks) to be mixed with the steel flans. In spite of their care, a few copper blanks, probably left over from 1942, were overlooked and were minted with the 1943 date.

I personally know of only two genuine specimens of the 1943 Philadelphia copper cents (I sold one in the 1980's). There may be more. Both specimens are in circulated condition. One is EF and the other is VF. If other specimens exist they most likely would come from circulation too. Note that the above specimens circulated without the spenders realizing that the lowely cent they were spending was a major rarity.

Recently a Denver copper 1943 cent was discovered and brought $88,000 in an auction sale. As far as I know, that coin is the only 1943-D copper cent in existence.

Since the 1943 copper cents are so rare they have been a popular target of counterfeiters and other scam artists. Favorite methods of faking the 1943 copper cent include:

• copper plating a 1943 steel cent.
• altering the date of a Lincoln cent of another year to make it look like the last digit is a "3" -1948 is a common choice.
• casting a coin from scratch -very crude and easy to tell, coins are struck not cast.
• creating a die from a genuine 1943 steel cent and striking a copper flan with it.

If you think you have a 1943 copper cent, how can you tell if it is genuine?

• Steel cents weigh 2.7 grams, copper cents weigh 3.11 grams.
• Steel cents are attracted to a magnet, copper cents aren't.
• Compare the digits on a 1943 steel cent with your coin. The shape of the digits should be the same and there should not be tooling marks where empty space would be on the"3".

If your cent passes ALL of the above tests than it is time to get the coin certified by a recognized numismatic body. You can send the coin to the American Numismatic Association for certification. To learn how, visit the ANA web site on The Links page.

To confuse you further, another error occurred in 1944 when copper cents were resumed. Some 1944 cents were accidently struck on steel blanks.

Good Hunting!

From: pfunk@tcia.net (Phillip Funk)
I have a coin a little bigger than a quarter, it has PAUL von HINDENBERG with his image with dates 1847-1934, also with an (F) stamped before the first 1 in 1847. On reverse side is picture of eagle holding wreath with swastika. It has a 5 with the letters DEUTFCHES REICH 1939. Around edge of coin is the letters -emefnnut- geht bor-fgennutf. The dashes are unreadable letters to me. Any help you can give will be greatly appriciated.

Paul Von Hindenburg was the last Chancellor of the short-lived Weimar Republic (Germany 1919-1933). The commemorative was first issued in 1935 and features a profile of Hindeburg and on the reverse,an eagle with the words Deutsches Reich (German Empire)and the denomination, 5 Marks.

The transition to the Swastika reverse began in 1936 and the series ended in 1939. The mint mark, "F" represents the Suttgart Mint. The coin has a lettered edge but I don't know the translation of the motto.

From: mugsy@superior.net (PETE)
Are franklin mint 1971 20 balboas proof coins legal tender and are they worth more then face value as collector items

The Franklin Mint, a private company, often contracts with countries to make commemorative issues under their name. They pay a fee for the priviledge. Technically the 20 Balboas are a legal tender coin of Panama and equal in face value to US$20. The silver content alone, 3.8544 troy ounces, even at $5 silver, is close to its face value. If you add the collector value, than the coin exceeds the face value by far.

Comments: It seems pretty cool, with lots of good information Email Address: blankdj@email.uc.edu
How did you find TCD: Keyword
Your Name: Derek Blank
Your Question: I have heard that there are some trial Euro's in circulation in Italy. I was wondering if that is true, and if so, how I could get one, without going to Italy.

Currently the Euro is electronic only. The paper and coin Euro is not scheduled to be released for general use for a couple of years.

Email Address: mrdivot@ix.netcom.com
How did you find TCD: By Accident
Your Name: Doug Spooner
Your Question:
Hey Doc,
I took your quiz and I am a little curious on something. A question asked what coin has been minted continuously since 1793, and the answer was a cent except for 1815. I don't believe they made quarters for several years from 1794-1815. Are you sure you have this right?

The question asks: "Except for one year, what U.S. coin has been minted continuously since 1793?" You are correct in that quarters skip several years when they weren't minted but the questions asks about a coin that was continuously minted except for one year. Also the first year of the quarter was 1796 so it is immediately disqualified as a correct answer. The only U.S. coin that meets the criteria is the cent.

Email Address: nelsonjorge@yahoo.com
How did you find TCD: By Accident
Your Name: Nelson Jorge
Your Question: Help! I'm looking for a coin from described as "currency of the mayor of Tripoli". The comment is from a document written in Arabic in 1893 in Lebanon and the coin is also referred as "ghersh" (free translation from Arabic) later on. The "Tripoli" in question is in present day Lebanon but was part of Syria in 1893. Any ideas how I can find information on this coin or even a specimen?

The denomination gersh appears in Ethiopian coinage and the ghurush appears in Tripoli (in present day Libya) during the domination by the Turkish Ottoman Empire. The silver ghurush or piastre (19.5 grams) was introduced by Suleyman II in 1687 as a light weight competitor to the European Thaler. The Coin was essentially a trade unit and fractional units divided it in the following manner:

- 3 akce = 1 para
- 40 para=1 ghurush
- 80 para= double ghurush
- 100 para = 1 yuzlik

Almost all of that area of North Africa including Tripoli, Tunis, Egypt, and Algiers were vassals of the Ottoman Empire until World War I. I don't know the exact reference to the "currency of the mayor of Tripoli", but here is some information to help you continue your research.