Coin News for February 16, 2010

By Tim Shuck on Tuesday, February 16, 2010
Filed Under: Coin News Daily

Numismatic New Orleans
Heritage Blog
The New Orleans Mint has an unusual history in two acts. One of three branch mints to begin striking coins in 1838, New Orleans shut down operations in 1861, along with the other two branch mints, which were also in Confederate states. While the other two branch mints never re-opened, the New Orleans Mint was refurbished and began to strike coins again in 1879. The re-opening was only a partial success. The Mint’s equipment was old, and its existence was controversial. Production halted in 1909, and the Mint machinery was dismantled and returned to Philadelphia two years later.
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“Found in Rolls” Online
Ask About Coins
As the author of the “Found in Rolls” column as seen in “CoinWorld Magazine” I find a large number of collectible coins in rolls that I obtain from local banks and credit unions. Since I can’t fit all of my discoveries in my column, I thought I could share some of my other finds here.
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U.S. Mint 2010 Commemorative Coin Pricing
Mint News Blog
The pricing for the United States Mint’s 2010 Commemorative Coins was recently revealed in a notification published in the Federal Register. The two programs for this year will include the 2010 American Veterans Disabled for Life Silver Dollar and the 2010 Boy Scouts of America Centennial Silver Dollar. The uncirculated version of each coin will have an introductory price of $33.95 and a regular price of $35.95. The proof version of each coin will have an introductory price of $39.95 and a regular price of $43.95. Each price level will represent a $2 increase from the levels set for last year’s programs.
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I’m Still Fighting!
Laura Sperber – Hot Topics Report
I do not fight coin doctors and the coin establishment to be a hero. I LOVE coins and would do them 24/7 if I could. I have always been a collector first, dealer second. It hurts me badly everytime I see a coin that is destroyed. Or when I see a totally incompetent dealer selling to the public. I can’t stand most of todays dealers. They lack even the basic knowledge of knowing how to grade (you would be surprised what big name companies can’t grade)! There needs to be more protection and higher standards for entry.
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Silver Can Still Be Found in Half Dollar Rolls
Numismaster
Collectors checking bank rolls for silver half dollars are rewarded with silver issues quite often, including a good number of early clads, with 40 percent silver. Many of the general public believe that all silver coinage stopped in 1964, and are not aware that the half dollars of 1965-1970 contain some silver. In my own experience, I have found a great number of 1967 half dollars, on the occasion I can find rolls of halves.
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An (Indian Head) Penny for Your Thoughts
The Right Thing
On his way home from work after a long day, a reader in New York stopped in a Subway sandwich shop in Penn Station to buy dinner. It was about 1 a.m. While waiting for his order, my reader noticed that the shop had a “take a penny, leave a penny” container on its counter. Among the handful of Lincoln cents in the container, he saw an older Indian-head penny, “clearly worth much more than one cent.” On closer inspection he found it to be “fairly worn,” with a mint date of either 1893 or 1898. Though in good condition for a coin that had been around for more than a century, it was clearly not a misplaced item from someone’s collection.
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Mint Cashes In with Gold Coin Issue
The Province
Everyone wants a piece of Canada’s first Olympic gold medal on home soil, as evidenced by lengthy lineups for a commemorative gold coin. On Monday, the wait outside the Royal Canadian Mint Pavilion was up to two hours, for a “once-in-a-lifetime” chance to plunk down $24.95 for a commemorative “First Canadian Gold Medallion and Nugget.”
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About the Author

Tim Shuck is a life-long Midwestern resident, and started collecting coins after finding an Indian Head cent on the ground at his childhood farm home. Additional encouragement came from looking through a collection of well-worn late 19th and early 20th century coins kept by his grandfather in an old leather coin purse. Current collecting interests include U.S. types from the Civil War era through the early 1930's, and Colonial and Early American coins.