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The
William Henry Harrison Medal
by R.W. Julian - The War of 1812 is
one of the least-known periods of American history, yet it produced some of the
most interesting medallic work in our numismatic past. One such medal had its
genesis in military action in portions of our modern-day Central States
Numismatic Society region. This medal went to William Henry Harrison, who later
achieved the highest office in the land, that of President. .
"California
Gold" from the Central States
by Robert D. Leonard, Jr. -
California is not one of the Central States. Yet two jewelers in this region
made "California gold" pieces, during the craze for such novelties during the
19th century. Their models were born of necessity. In the wake of the
California Gold Rush, assorted foreign coins came into circulation, which
circulated by size and not exchange value; by late 1851, .
Collecting
Seated half dollars
Most collectors cannot complete a Seated Liberty half
dollar collection. However, in lower grades, many can come close. And, along
the way, they are likely to have a lot fun learning the story of this coin. The
Seated Liberty half dollar was introduced in 1839, its design being still
something of a work in progress. The new design by Christian Gobrecht was of a
seated figure of Liberty. It would be redesigned the following year to include
a fold of drapery from Liberty’s left elbow..
Allegorical
or actual? Should future quarter dollar designs depict actual American
citizens?
In the
Jan. 17 issue we began a discussion about future State quarter dollar designs
based on demographics in the United States. Demographics is defined as "the
statistical characteristics of human populations (such as age and income) used
especially to identify markets," according to Webster's Ninth New Collegiate
Dictionary..
Details
become clearer
Since reporting in the Aug. 10 issue of Numismatic News,
variety enthusiasts have been diligently searching for the 2004-P Lincoln cent
exhibiting a doubled-die obverse and strong doubled-die reverse. Discovered by
Robert Neff, only a few examples have been located in Florida, with one
specimen reported from Pennsylvania. While visiting friends in Arkansas, I was
able to obtain a $50 bag of circulated cents from one of the local banks to
carry back home with me for searching. .
Randall
Hoard still has impact on pricing today
The values for uncirculated large cents
dated 1817-1820 in numismatic price guides show that they are very inexpensive,
priced at one-half to one-third the value of later coppers. Why this
“low” price? The answer is the Randall Hoard, a great quantity of
large cents named for the man who first marketed them to numismatists..
Seigniorage
made one cent at a time
Making a mint at the Mint takes place with
each minted coin. That’s the inescapable conclusion of a profits statement
released by Mint director Henrietta Holsman Fore to Rep. Steve Rothman, D-N.J.,
a member of the House Appropriations Committee and on the subcommittee in
charge of oversight over the U.S. Mint. For each cent, the seigniorage –
or profit between cost and face value – the Mint makes is three
ten-thousandths of a cent ($0.0003), which sounds small but on a volume of
seven billion coins still amounts to an annual profit of about $2 million. .
The
United States Coinage
The Mint of the United States was
established at Philadelphia by resolution of Congress, dated April 2, 1792, and
the first coins were struck the following year. Subsequently the branch mints
were established. In the act establishing the mint the devices and legends for
the new coins were prescribed as follows: Upon one side of each of the said
coins there shall be an impression emblematic of liberty, with an inscription
of the word “Liberty” and the year of coinage .
A
Discussion of Five Mints
Morgan dollars were struck at the
Philadelphia Mint continuously from 1878 through 1904, and again in 1921. In
addition to many millions of business strikes, Proofs were produced each year
1878 through 1904, typically in the range of about 800 to 1,000 pieces
annually. Today these are all rare. A few Proofs were made in 1921 as well.As
Morgan dollars were made over a long period of years and to the extent of
millions of coins, the die work and striking quality is apt to vary from issue
to issue. Some years are normally seen well struck, and others with lightly
detailed features. Some are deeply frosty, and others have a satiny or "greasy"
appearance. .
THE
CENT IN SIX METALS
Are you aware that the cent, or "penny," has been made of
six different alloys during the two centuries it has been issued. Our nation's
first cents weighed more than the modern half dollar and were only slightly
smaller in diameter. These large coins officially were made of pure copper, but
some of these coins contain trace amounts of other metals, including silver and
gold. .
US
Buffalo Nickel and the First Nickel Coin
U.S. Nickel -from ANA's Money Talks
programs. In 1911 sculptor James Earl Fraser began designing the "Buffalo"
nickel. Fraser said the portrait on the "head's" side was a composite of three
American Indians--Iron Tail, Big Tree and Two Moons. Fraser had the opportunity
to study and photograph them when they stopped off in New York on their way to
Washington to visit President Theodore Roosevelt. By borrowing features from
each individual, Fraser was able to sketch the "ideal" portrait for the nickel.
.
1804
Silver Dollar
The
"King of American Coins" In 1991, one of the most stunning items was given to
the ANA Money Museum--one of the most famous and valuable coins in the world!
This is, of course, the Bebee Specimen of the 1804 dated United States Bust
dollar, originally purchased from the Philadelphia mint by mid-19th century
coin dealer William Idler. .
FACTS
ABOUT 1943 COPPER CENT
From the American Numismatic Association
(ANA), the world's largest nonprofit organization for coin collectors --
founded in 1891 and chartered by Congress The 1943 copper-alloy cent is one of
the most idealized and sought-after items in numismatics, as all circulating
pennies at that time were struck in zinc-coated steel because copper was needed
for the Allied war effort. .
Draped
dollar a favorite
Struck from 1795 to 1804, the famous Draped Bust dollar
has long caught the interest of dedicated collectors. As early as the 1850s
numismatists were chasing after rare dates and during the Civil War of
1861-1865 there were numerous auctions containing specimens of this coinage..
The
nation's first nickel
Before we discuss the Shield nickel series,
we first need to consider the question of why nickels were needed at all. What
was wrong with the half dime, a venerable coin that had first been minted in
1794 and was still being produced when Shield nickels made their appearance?
The problem with the half dime was that it was a silver coin, and silver coins
had begun to disappear from circulation during the Civil War. .
Indian
Head 5-cent variety 2 Feathers coins span many dates,
Mints
Most
collectors of U.S. coins are familiar with the 1937-D Indian Head, Three-Legged
Bison 5-cent coin on which the bison's right foreleg was abraded off a die by a
Denver Mint technician's overpolishing. It is a highly sought after variety
that can bring significant money in all grades..
Will
State quarter designs be bridge to next 'Golden Age' of U.S. coinage
design?
If you
collect State quarter dollars, do you realize you are making coinage history?
When the State quarter dollars program ends in 2008, there will have been
hundreds, if not thousands, of words written about the designs. The debate
about the designs on the 50 State quarter dollars may continue as long as there
are two coin collectors alive on the planet. But what exactly is a good coin
design? Many questions must be pondered before arriving at a definition of a
good design..
A
famous Buffalo nickel
When it comes to Buffalo nickels, the
1918/17-D ranks second in value to the 1916/16. Coin Prices lists the 1916/16
at $350,000 in Mint State-65. A 1918/17-D in the same grade is valued at
$285,000. One reason for the 1918/17-D nickel’s rarity in mint state is
that the variety was not publicized until the 1930s. By then most 1918/17-D
nickels were heavily worn. Some had probably lost their date entirely, a common
problem with Buffalo nickels..
Foreign
coins from U.S. Mint
With one limited, commemorative exception,
it has now been 20 years since the U.S. Mint produced coinage for foreign
countries.In the course of more than a century, from 1875 to 1984, the United
States minted more than 11.3 billion coins for more than 40 sovereign countries
or colonies abroad. T.
Third
side of the coin - Edge may convey additional meaning
The collar that holds a planchet in place
in the coining press to be struck as a coin has been called the third die in
the operation. Like the obverse and reverse dies, it can be used to impart a
design, only to the edge. In United States coinage, that design has most often
been the reeding on precious metal coins and successor copper-nickel clad
coins. It can and has also been lettering or various types of ornamentation..
Native
Connections
You
don’t have to be an expert in American history to realize that Native
Americans were often treated badly by the European invaders of the New World.
After all, it was their land. The Indians were here first, which is why we now
call them Native Americans. Other than might, what right did the colonists have
to take over the North and South American continents? .
Qualifiers:
a guide to lingo
In 1956, The Numismatist published a series by Loyd B.
Gettys and Edward M. Catich, consisting mostly of photographs showing the
highest points of detail, and first to show wear, on various series of U.S.
coins. The purpose, the authors stated, was to establish objective standards
for separating truly Uncirculated coins from About Uncirculated examples. They
wrote of distinguishing circulation wear from weak strikes such as found on
many Indian Head 5-cent coins even when new, and from coins with abrasions
right from the Mint or with "cabinet friction" from long storage by
collectors..
Producing
for circulation - Presses strike more than 750 coins per minute - Part
3
For circulating
coinage, the Philadelphia and Denver Mints use German-made Schuler presses
capable of striking 750 to 850 coins per minute with one pair of dies striking
horizontally.Planchets are placed into a hopper from which what are called dial
feeders deliver them to between the obverse and reverse dies. Each press is
fitted with a gauge that catches defective planchets before they enter the
coining chamber and automatically shuts down the press when it encounters
material that is substandard. In other words, a potential error coin is being
caught before it can be made. .
Getting
ready - Planchets necessitate preparation PART 2
Just as it takes many steps to produce the
dies used to strike coins, actual coinage production requires a series of
preparatory steps before any coins can be struck. Coins are struck on
planchets, blank disks of metal, which have to be readied to receive the
impressions from those dies to produce finished coinage.....
Designs
undergo many steps before becoming coins PART 1
First of three parts - The coins
that Americans use in everyday commerce, collect as a reminder of the nation's
monetary history or use as an investment instrument get their start in the
halls of Congress.The U.S. Constitution grants Congress the sole authority to
authorize and regulate coinage; the United States Mint, an agency of the
administrative branch of government, is tasked with producing the coinage.
Tales
of two types - Mint transitions designs same year
The omega and alpha. The end and the
beginning. Collectors have the opportunity to assemble a collection of United
States coins wherein coins of an individual denomination and struck the same
year were of two or more specific design types. This generally occurred as one
design type ended and another was introduced. However, during some periods, two
different designs for the same denomination were produced. .
Colorado
begins quarter design search
Colorado Governor Bill Owens put out the
call to state residents for design proposals for its 2006 state quarter on Feb.
9. Designs are being accepted until May 10. That same day, he named 13 members
to the Colorado Commemorative Quarter Advisory Commission, chaired by first
lady Frances Owen. .
States
add tax law
The
State of New York this year is joining Wisconsin and other states by adding a
new line to the state income tax form requiring filers essentially to tally and
pay the sales taxes they owe on purchases made from out-of-state sellers. .
10
Great Coins
So you
do not have a great deal of money to spend, but you want to own great coins. It
sounds a bit like asking for too much, but in the rare-coin market, it is still
possible. And while the suggestions listed below will not make a single
collection, they make a potential start on many collections, or perhaps just a
few great coins at bargain prices. Just to make the selections interesting, and
to keep the list well within the budgets of most, the coins I’ve picked
will have to be priced at $100 or less. In some cases, they will be far less,
but the point is that coin collecting is for everyone, and everyone should have
a chance to own great coins..
TONED
VS. DIPPED WHICH SHOULD I AVOID?
There are two solid schools of thought in
high end coin ownership: buy blast white or totally colored (original) coins.
While BOTH sides can point out strong pros and cons, we believe neither is
right or wrong. Our preference, is for the coin itself. If it has gorgeous eye
appeal and the quality is all there, then we'll buy it-even if it has been
dipped. Lets explore BOTH sides: WHITE COINS: Yes, its true, blast white coins
usually have been dipped. Its not natural for a coin from the 1800's to be snow
white. Dipping is NOT a crime. .
The
Earliest American Money
The earliest American money was that used
by the Mound Builders and Indians. The Mound Builders used money made of
lignite, coal, bone, shell, terra cotta, mica, pearl, carnelian, chalcedony,
agate, jasper, native gold, silver, copper, lead and iron. Some of these pieces
were of workmanship superior to that shown by the Indians subsequent to the
time of the builders of mounds. These pieces were usually round and bore
sometimes curious dots, circles, squares, crosses, etc., with cabalistic or
hidden meanings. Some of these marks correspond to a startling degree with
those on relics of the ancient Babylonians, Egyptians, Greeks, Romans, and
people of later times. .
Money
misfires
NEW YORK
(CNN/Money) - The Treasury Department has had some bad ideas and poor
executions over the years. If America reacts negatively to the new, colorized
twenty-dollar bill, it won't be the first time money has caused controversy.
Remember the Susan B. Anthony dollar? It was the first U.S. currency to feature
an historical female figure since the 19th century, when Martha Washington
adorned a silver-backed note. .
The
United States Coinage
The Mint of the United States was
established at Philadelphia by resolution of Congress, dated April 2, 1792, and
the first coins were struck the following year. Subsequently the branch mints
were established. In the act establishing the mint the devices and legends for
the new coins were prescribed as follows: Upon one side of each of the said
coins there shall be an impression emblematic of liberty, with an inscription
of the word “Liberty” and the year of coinage .
RECOVERED
DU PONT COINS
The
unique 1866 "No Motto" Proof silver quarter dollar and half dollar, stolen from
Willis H. du Pont in a 1967 robbery, were recently recovered through the
American Numismatic Association. The two pieces have now been authenticated by
the ANA Authentication Bureau (ANAAB). .
Die
States as a Key to Coinage
Harry Bass Foundation - Die Cracks
and Other Evidence. - Any discussion of die states considers the specific
condition of both the obverse and reverse dies when a given coin was struck.1
In nearly all cases, the actual dies no longer exist. Thus surviving coins
provide the only evidence available today. Specific characteristics include die
cracks and die breaks, clash marks, die rust, and lapping or polishing lines.
Occasionally, some of these defects occurred before the first coins were
struck, usually die cracks that occurred during the die manufacturing process,
sometimes from internal metal stress. .
Building
a 20th Century Type Registry Set
A 20th Century type set! It doesn't get any
better than that in numismatics. Just think, the magic Morgan dollar, the
historic Barbers, America's most beautiful coins; the Walking Liberty half and
the $20 St. Gaudens, the gorgeous Type One Standing Liberty quarter, a blazing
red Indian Head cent, a matte proof Buffalo nickel, and so much more. .
Early
U.S. Type, Challenging and Interesting
CDN - Many collectors seek to
assemble Type Sets of U.S. coins. Based on both their interests and financial
resources, some collectors limit their sets to certain time periods, e.g.,
twentieth century issues, i.e., 1900 onward. Others seek to obtain all major
design Types issued by the U.S. Mint since 1793. Still others seek to obtain
examples of additional minor design changes. An example is the 1793 Liberty Cap
Cent, which has a beaded border, unlike the 1794-96 Liberty Cents, which have
dentils around the edge. A Type Set can be whatever the collector wants it to
be. .
Early
U.S. Type, Challenging and Interesting
CDN - Many collectors seek to
assemble Type Sets of U.S. coins. Based on both their interests and financial
resources, some collectors limit their sets to certain time periods, e.g.,
twentieth century issues, i.e., 1900 onward. Others seek to obtain all major
design Types issued by the U.S. Mint since 1793. Still others seek to obtain
examples of additional minor design changes. An example is the 1793 Liberty Cap
Cent, which has a beaded border, unlike the 1794-96 Liberty Cents, which have
dentils around the edge. A Type Set can be whatever the collector wants it to
be. .
Shady
Origins, Stolen Coins
The search may be intensifying for the
unique missing 1866 No Motto, Seated Liberty silver dollar stolen from the
Willis H. du Pont Collection in 1967, now that in rapid succession two closely
related coins have recently been recovered. Technically the 1866 No Motto,
Seated Liberty quarter dollar, half dollar and silver dollar coins should not
exist. They are the result of the muling of the obverse of an 1866 die with a
reverse of the die from a previous year. All officially-struck 1866 silver U.S.
coins of these denominations were to be struck using a new reverse die on which
the legend IN GOD WE TRUST appears above the heraldic eagle. None of the three
coins with the obsolete reverse are mentioned in the “Annual Report of the
Director of the U.S. Mint.” .
Barber
Coins: Great Collector Coins at a Bargain Price
The coin market is in a good place.
Activity is increasing and several areas of the market are very hot. Best of
all, though prices have moved up in a few of the hot modern series such as
Washington quarters and Lincoln cents, most prices in most market segments are
very reasonable. We're going te take a look at one of the most underpriced
areas of the entire coin market; Barber dimes, quarters, and halves. These
silver coins were struck at the turn of the last Century. They are both
historically and numismatically important. .
One of
My Favorite Coins
David Hall - As a major player in the coin market
for 30 years and founder of PCGS I've seen a lot of really great coins. But
PCGS recently graded a coin that made even my heart thump, a spectacular 1794
silver dollar. PCGS gave the coin the special designation of "Specimen" and a
grade of SP66. I believe the coin is the finest known example of the first U.S.
silver dollar, and quite possibly the very first piece struck of the
denomination. It is a magnificent Gem and a gorgeous historic treasure..
S Mint
marks of 1979 and '81
Mint mark varieties on some 1979-S and
1981-S coins have been sneered at as trivial and too hard to discern, but
collectors can't disdain the prices. The "Clear S" varieties for the Anthony
dollars from the San Francisco Mint for those years are now in standard guides
and regarded by many as essential to a complete set. They are also the most
expensive coins in that short-lived series..
Dream
coins
By Paul M.
Green - Why get greedy? I could wish for any number of coins. However,
short of winning a big lottery, my chances for a 1913 Liberty Head nickel or a
1933 Saint-Gaudens gold $20 are slim to none. It would be better that my wish
at least has a chance of being realized, no matter how slight. For me that
means the best coins of a century, and since I spent most of my life in the
20th century, why not the best coins of that time? .
Rainbow
Toned Dollars "The Experiment" by David Goldsmith
CDN - Usually I write articles on
"How to Detect Artificial Toning," and not about how prices have risen for
Rainbow Toned Dollars. In this article, I will try to explain what has happened
in price to beautiful and exceptionally toned Morgan Silver Dollars. Their
price increases have been exponential to say the least. Since my first talk
about toning at the 1994 Annual American Numismatic Association's (ANA) summer
convention in Detroit, I have seen prices on toned coins tumble and now rebound
with a vengeance. I believe my talk on "How to Detect Artificial Toning" (which
has since been given about 50 times throughout the country) has probably hurt
the market of Rainbow Toned Dollars for a short time, because many numismatists
thought their coins may have been artificially toned. .
Of
Trade dollars and pesos
It’s hard to imagine the United States
coining money specifically to get rid of it by moving it out of the country,
yet that’s exactly what the Mint did—twice within 30 years. In the
1870s there was so much silver coming out of Western mines that a special Trade
dollar was authorized. In 1873, the silver dollar was done away with, at least
for a while, but the Trade dollar was authorized at the same time. Later on, as
the 20th century dawned, the Mint was producing coins for another kind of
export—to its newest territory, the Philippines..
Coin
Market Booms & The Importance Of Gold
by Richard N. Nachbar - Sometimes an
internal factor can so influence a market that customary supply and demand
relationships are temporarily thrust aside. The advent of professional third
party coin grading in 1986 is often pointed to as having had one such major
impact on the U.S. rare coin marketplace. The resulting explosion in demand
propelled high grade coin prices to a peak in mid-1989 that today is often
looked back upon in awe for the record prices and volume set. That certified
coin boom left such a high watermark that many coin prices today are still only
10% to 30% of the Bid quotes posted in the June 2, 1989 Certified Coin Dealer
Newsletter - Bluesheet. .
A
worthy coin in all grades
By 1891, the Seated Liberty half dollar had
been minted for more than 50 years. The U.S. Treasury Department decided that a
design change was in order. The Treasury was entitled to make this change based
on the Coinage Redesign Act of 1890, which permitted the redesign of U.S. coins
once every 25 years. The result was the Barber half dollar, released into
circulation in January 1892. The Barber half dollar, named after its creator,
Mint chief engraver Charles E. Barber, was the final product of two
unproductive design contests that began in 1890. .
United
States Mint Celebrates Halfway Point Of 50 State Quarters® Program
PHILADELPHIA
– United States Mint Director Henrietta Holsman Fore welcomed Delaware
Congressman Michael Castle to the United States Mint facility in Philadelphia
to mark the halfway point of the 50 State Quarters® Program. It is
estimated that more than 130 million Americans, nearly one in every household,
collect the 50 State Quarters coins..
Document
says 1870-S quarter exists
A pair of California researchers have
unraveled a longtime mystery concerning the second San Francisco Mint, which
they say proves the existence of a previously unknown 1870-S quarter. At the
center is an authenticated, previously unknown warrant that lists 11 coins
incorporated into a metallic box placed within a cornerstone at the Mint
facility. Married research team Richard G. Kelly and Nancy Y. Oliver have
researched the topic for six years and found the warrant, signed by Mint clerk
William F. Tracy and coiner Joseph Breck Harmstead.
Nickel
three-cent piece often overlooked
There are a number of U.S. coin series that
numismatists know something about but never really collect fully, either by
date or date and mintmark. Either these coins seem too expensive, too exotic,
or too hard to find. For these or any number of other reasons, such coins
become the ones that can be seen in advertisements or in dealers’ stocks,
but that are constantly bypassed..
Collecting
Indian Head cents
For a past generation of Americans the coin most heavily
collected was almost certainly the Indian Head cent. In many respects the
Indian Head cent was probably the coin that started the first large generation
of collectors. That was nearly 150 years ago. However, based on recent prices,
it appears Indian Head cents, while not receiving a great deal of publicity,
still hold enormous appeal to today’s generation of collectors..
Draped
dollar a favorite
Struck from 1795 to 1804, the famous Draped Bust dollar
has long caught the interest of dedicated collectors. As early as the 1850s
numismatists were chasing after rare dates and during the Civil War of
1861-1865 there were numerous auctions containing specimens of this coinage..
Die
States as a Key to Coinage
Harry Bass Foundation - Die Cracks
and Other Evidence. - Any discussion of die states considers the specific
condition of both the obverse and reverse dies when a given coin was struck.1
In nearly all cases, the actual dies no longer exist. Thus surviving coins
provide the only evidence available today. Specific characteristics include die
cracks and die breaks, clash marks, die rust, and lapping or polishing lines.
Occasionally, some of these defects occurred before the first coins were
struck, usually die cracks that occurred during the die manufacturing process,
sometimes from internal metal stress. .
Document
says 1870-S quarter exists
A pair of California researchers have
unraveled a longtime mystery concerning the second San Francisco Mint, which
they say proves the existence of a previously unknown 1870-S quarter. At the
center is an authenticated, previously unknown warrant that lists 11 coins
incorporated into a metallic box placed within a cornerstone at the Mint
facility. Married research team Richard G. Kelly and Nancy Y. Oliver have
researched the topic for six years and found the warrant, signed by Mint clerk
William F. Tracy and coiner Joseph Breck Harmstead.
Barber's
Liberty Head nickel
The five-cent piece, or nickel as we know it, was
introduced in 1866. It was first struck during an ongoing shortage of coins and
for that fact alone plays a prominent role in American numismatic history.
Prior to the Civil War, the five-cent piece was made out of silver but the war
and inflation meant that such coins were hoarded. Its replacement by the
copper-nickel version in the midst of these problems set off an enormous demand
that took the Philadelphia Mint several years to fill. .
Grading
Mint State Indian Cents
Indian Head Cent (Copper-Nickel)
(1859-1864) MARKS: As with the Flying Eagle cents, these coins were struck in
copper-nickel alloy. Resultant marks and other surface impairments are
noticeable to about the same degree for the obverse. The reverse of the first
type, with no shield and a thin laurel wreath reverse, shows marks and other
detractions more easily than the second type, with a shield and the more
complex oak wreath. .
A
History of the Small Cent 1856 - 1909
Back in 1857 the biggest change in the
circulating coinage of the United States took place and the Flying Eagle Cent
was at the center of all the activity. Since the early days of the country the
circulating coinage was a chaotic system where virtually any precious metal
coin from any country could be found. Silver was typically encountered with the
Spanish and Mexican coinage being the most prevalent. Many of these coins were
heavily worn or had been subjected to some indignity that kept it in
circulation, bouncing from person to person like a hot potato. .
Collecting
Two-Cent Pieces 1864-1873
Two-cent pieces, a short-lived series, were
issued from 1864 through 1873. Exactly why a piece of this denomination was
considered necessary in our decimal coinage system is not known. The suspension
of specie payments (silver and gold coins) had severely restricted circulating
coinage, and perhaps the two-cent piece was intended to help alleviate this..
1909 to
Date Lincoln Cents - Part 1
In 1909, the 100th anniversary of Abraham
Lincoln's birth, a new coin appeared on the American scene, the Lincoln cent.
The designer was Victor David Brenner, whose initials appeared on the bottom of
the reverse of the first issues. The obverse of the Lincoln cents shows the
portrait of the president from the shoulder up, facing right. The reverse
illustrates two stylized wheat stalks. This general format, with only minor
variations, was produced from 1909 through 1958. .
1909 to
Date Lincoln Cents - Part 2
The year 1960 saw the appearance of the
1960 (Philadelphia Mint) and 1960-D large and small date varieties. These
caused a sensation and resulted in tremendous nationwide publicity being given
to the coin hobby. Time magazine and countless newspapers told of mini-fortunes
being made by people fortunate enough to acquire a $50 Mint-sewn bag of the
small date variety. Instant sales were reported for many thousands of dollars
per bag, with several in the $10,000 to $12,000 range! A barber in Binghamton,
New York, and a bank teller in Syracuse in the same state were among the lucky
ones, and there were many others as well. In Syracuse, dealer Jonah Shapiro
made a lively market in the issue. .
The
Flying Eagle Cent: A Small Coin That Made A Big Splash
Very few Americans seem to have noticed the
change that has occurred in their cents since 1982. The transition that year
from primarily copper cents to copper-plated zinc -- though significant in
nature -- took place with little or no fanfare and almost no apparent public
awareness. And in nearly two decades, the new cents have seldom attracted a
second look. .
The
Copper Coinage of 1793
by R.W. Julian When the Mint stopped
striking the old large cents and half cents in 1857, it created the first coin
collecting boom. Many people attempted to put together date sets of the copper
coins, but the most desirable pieces, then and now, were those struck in the
earliest days. The cents and half cents of 1793 did not spring magically to
life, but were the result of a long and complex process. In the 1780s America
was flooded with lightweight copper coins; at first they were made abroad, but
then states such as New Jersey and Massachusetts went into the coining
business..
1859-1909
Indian Cents
The
search for a replacement for the unsatisfactory (for striking purposes) flying
eagle cent led to the production of several patterns. These are of two main
obverse types, those with a small and skinny-looking eagle and those with an
Indian. The Indian appears in full headdress and is identical to that actually
used for later coinage. In addition, regular flying eagle Proof cent dies were
used for the obverses of certain patterns, probably to produce delicacies for
collectors. .
1856-1858
Flying Eagle Cents
Following the pattern cent issues of 1854 and 1855,
patterns were prepared in 1856 for a small diameter cent, one with a really
small diameter. These pieces are known today as 1856 flying eagle cents. The
Treasury Department believed that changing the cent format from the old large
copper style was a necessity. However, as virtually every adult in America at
the time had been accustomed to using large cents since childhood, an
educational program was necessary. As a result, 1856 flying eagle cents, tiny
in comparison to the large cents, were made in relatively large numbers for a
pattern..
1922
'plain' cent not quick to catch on; confusion ruled
The 1922-D Lincoln, Missing D cent - what
often is listed as the 1922 "plain" cent - did not always have the recognition
it does today, and more than 40 years would pass from the time of its minting
until research overtook speculation about the circumstances of its creation.
Collectors were aware from the beginning that officially, all 1922 cents were
struck at the Denver Mint and should carry the D Mint mark. That this mark was
not readily apparent on some mushy-looking examples did not appear to cause a
ripple in collector circles..
An
amazing collection of 1793 Liberty Cap cents
When you ask most coin collectors which
particular U.S. coin has the most mystique surrounding it, you're likely to
hear "The 1804 Silver Dollar," or perhaps "The 1913 Liberty Nickel." When it
comes to the specialized field of early U.S. copper, however, a few coins
quickly come to mind: the 1793 Chain Cent (the first coin authorized by the
United States for general circulation,) and the 1794 Starred Reverse cent.
However, the one that stands out number one in my mind is the 1793 Liberty Cap
cent. .
UNIQUE
COLLECTION OF LINCOLN RARITIES SURFACES
An important collection of Lincoln Cent
wrong-planchet errors has been graded and encapsulated by Numismatic Guaranty
Corporation. Consisting of eight pieces dated 1943 and 1944, these rare coins
were submitted by collector John Whitney of New York and have been pedigreed to
his collection by NGC. .
The
Controversial 1909 V.D.B. Lincoln Cent
In 1905 President Theodore Roosevelt
contacted sculptor Augustus Saint-Gaudens, whose studio and residence were in
Cornish, New Hampshire, and began discussions which resulted in a commission to
redesign the American coinage. Although sketches and even some models were made
for several different denominations, only the 1907 Indian $10 and MCMVII (1907)
"Victory" $20 gold were ever produced. The artistic, afflicted with cancer,
died on August 3, 1907, the rest of his commission unfulfilled. .
Collecting
Circulated Indian cents
Richard Snow - Contrary to what you
might think while looking at our lists in the past, we do deal in circulated
Indian Cents as well as the expensive finest knowns. Unfortunately, many of the
nicer coins in the XF and AU grades get sold to collectors before they make it
on to our lists. Many times we buy a nice collection of XF's at a show only to
have other dealers buy them from us at full retail prices. .
Republic
of Vermont Copper Coins
The ANA Museum holds a major collection of
the interesting and elusive copper coins of the 18th century Republic of
Vermont. This is due in large part to the generous gifts of Mr. Sanborn
Partridge, Museum benefactor and serious student of early Vermont issues.
Nearly all of the recorded die varieties are present, with the exception of a
few of the late, aberrant mulings. Many of the Museum's examples are in an
outstanding state of preservation for this series (condition census specimens).
In the 1770s, the sparsely populated, remote region of the Green Mountains--a
frontier area contested by the British colonies of New Hampshire and New
York--constituted itself as an independent country. .
The Bar
Copper 1785: Introduction
As with several other tokens of the period,
little is known about the origin of the undated bar coppers. Most probably they
were minted in Birmingham at the request of a New York merchant. From the New
Jersey Gazette of November 12, 1785, we learn:.... .
The
Continental Currency "Dollar" of 1776: Introduction
Unfortunately little is known about the
important and captivating coin called the Continental Dollar. The denomination
of the coin is unknown, but Newman has surmised the value to be a dollar. The
first four emissions of Continental paper currency from May 10, 1775, through
May 6, 1776, included a dollar bill, but the one dollar denomination was
missing from the next six emissions and does not reappear until the last
regular emission of Continental paper currency from January 14, 1779..
The
Continental Dollar
The Continental Dollar is the premier coin of the United
States. Our specimen, donated by the late museum benefactor Byron Johnson, is a
beautiful, toned Mint-State example. It is ANA Museum Accession No. 1979.68.1,
classified as die variety Newman 2-C. The Continental Currency "dollar" was the
original proposed coinage of the United Colonies (soon to become the United
States) early in the course of the Revolutionary War, but the rebels had no
source of precious metals for minting, and the British shortly captured the two
cities where the minting would probably have had to have taken place --New York
and Philadelphia. .
United
States Mint Refines 50 State Quarters® Design Evaluation Process
WASHINGTON –
United States Mint Director Henrietta Holsman Fore today announced
much-anticipated revisions to the 50 State Quarters® Program design
evaluation process. The revisions will enhance the Pprogram’s educational
value and promote the historical accuracy and artistic beauty of the designs.
The recommended changes were approved by U.S. Treasury Secretary Snow on March
8, 2003, and will be implemented in the 2005 quarter design evaluation process.
Thoughts
on Grading and Pricing
Grading is a shorthand way of determining a
coins value. The question “what is it worth?” always begins with
“what grade is it?”. If a disagreement arises regarding a grade of a
coin, the underlying reason is always money. Much confusion has been made
regarding grading over the years, usually the argument is between dealers who
push the grade of a coin to get a higher price and collectors who want as good
a deal a possible. .
'Popular'
series rising
Coin
World Trends - It stands to reason that in the early stages of an actively
rising market, such as we're now experiencing, the most popular collector
series are receiving the most demand and prices for those coins are rising the
fastest.In the small denomination coins, as listed in this week's print edition
of Coin World Trends, more people collect Indian Head cents, Lincoln cents,
Indian Head 5-cent coins and Winged Liberty Head dimes than, for example, 2-
and 3-cent coins, half dimes or Shield and Liberty Head 5 cent coins. This
collecting interest is verified by Coin World's readership studies. .
Top 10
U.S. cents
Cents
are special. There may not be any that would bring $1 million at auction, but
cents have an impact beyond their market values. Generation after generation
has seen the vast majority of collectors start with cents. And, like hitting
your first home run or perhaps your first kiss, the first coin you really
wanted to own seems to be something you never quite get over. For most
collectors that coin was a cent and that makes cents special. .
Thoughts
on Grading and Pricing
Grading is a shorthand way of determining a
coins value. The question “what is it worth?” always begins with
“what grade is it?”. If a disagreement arises regarding a grade of a
coin, the underlying reason is always money. Much confusion has been made
regarding grading over the years, usually the argument is between dealers who
push the grade of a coin to get a higher price and collectors who want as good
a deal a possible. .
Look to
Lincoln
Just when
everyone was about to write off the Lincoln cent, including the government
(which keeps trying to find a reason to stop making the coins), it has come
roaring back into the headlines. And, based on the prices, any question as to
whether the Lincoln cent still has large numbers of followers can be put to
rest. Just consider a few prices in the past five years and their changes. The
1922 “no D” in Mint State-65 has soared from $39,000 in 1998 to
$175,000..
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