You have a 1944 Wheat Penny with an error. Some errors can create a weak or incomplete image on one side. This can be caused by a fragment of a cleaning cloth adhering to a die’s surface or brockage where a struck coin remains on the surface of the die after striking and impresses its image on to the next coin blank.
If there is no evidence of an image there is a good chance that the coin’s reverse was planed off by someone outside of the mint. You can test this conclusion by weighing the coin. A copper U.S. cent weighs 3.11 grams. A planed off piece would weigh less. Altered coins have no premium.
Jay writes: Hi, I’m trying to figure out the value of some PCGS Roosevelt dimes that grade PF69 Deep Cameo from 1964 to present. I can only find prices up to 1964. Help.
The lack of a price list may be because there is not a widely accepted two way market for these coins. You might check listings in the Coin World newspaper to see dealer ads that list modern cameo proofs for sale. I discovered that if you offer these coins for sale to dealers they either refuse to buy or offer a price significantly below their sell price. This indicates that this market is currently rather thin
This a strange area of collecting since everyone can purchase modern proof sets for very reasonable prices, in some cases, far below the Mint’s issue price. Removing the coins from the sets, which are certainly hardly ever flawed and then sending them to a grading service that agrees that they are not flawed and then grades them “69” or “70” miraculously changes a lowly mass produced modern proof into a valuable heirloom. Instant rarity by plastic.
“Frosted” coins, known as “cameos” because of the contrast between the devices exist on both uncirculated and proof coins of various eras and was originally the result of preparing a new set of dies for use. This effect is popular enough that the Mint, in modern times, has struck proof cameos for many years.
Unfortunately, a skilled person can reproduce this etched effect by the judicious use of acid carefully painted on the devices and this has been done to coins that normally or rarely are found to have the cameo effect. Of course the acid is being applied to the coin and not the die so small errors, such as etching the field around the devices often give the altered coin away.
If this area really excites your collecting interest, try searching for cameos in original sets and send them in to the grading services yourself. You will know for sure that they are original and your cost per coin will be nominal. View proof sets at most local coin shows or at your local coin shop. Most dealers will let you go through their entire stock if you are willing to buy enough to pay for their time.
Hartsel B. writes: I have a small rectangular piece of gold, a little over an inch long and a half inch wide and 1/8 inch thick. On the front in crude stamping it says, “Parsons & C. Assayers Col. 1860 Twenty Dols.”. On the back it is stamped, “Carat 18 1/2 DWT 25 6/10”. What is this?
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 in Park county. Very little is know about his operation though in 1861 he minted 2 1/2 dollar and 5 dollar coins as well as trial strikings in copper which today are very rare. This emergency money had similar use as the private issue pieces that were minted during the California Gold Rush days of 1849-1857.
A Parsons & Co. gold bar dated 1860, the same as you described in your note, is known to exist but is thought to be unique. 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.
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?).
Note that hundreds of base-metal copies of this bar were made by Curtin & Pease for promotional purposes in the 1960’s. They are not gold nor do they weigh 25 6/10th penny weights (DWT). If you think your bar may be genuine, you can start by weighing it. If the weight is correct send the bar for authentication. See Grading Services on the CoinSite Links page.
Matt H. writes: I have a 6 oz bar from the Moffat and Co. It is stamped with a eagle and has many marks including serial number, date of 1852 and many other marks also. I am wondering what is the worth as I have heard that they are rare and collected when they appear on the market. Thanks Matt
This is a puzzle as by 1852 Moffat & Co. were minting coins in $5 and $10 denominations. Moffat had received a federal subcontract to make $50 ingots under Augustus Humbert in January of 1851. This establishment eventually became the U.S. Assay office.
The first Moffat issues, in 1849, were bars and characteristically they were denominated in dollars. (at $20/oz a six ounce gold ingot would say $180. There were ingots as high in face value as $256.24. Moffat bars also have the Carat (sic) fineness listed on the bars.
The most available of the Moffats is the rectangular $16 ingot. Value range about $25,000+. Though a Moffat six ounce gold ingot could be genuine, you should have the it authenticated by ANACS, NGC or PCGS. (see the CoinSite Links page under Grading Services). Value Range if genuine: $50,000 -$100,000+.
Lisa W. writes: I would like to find the value if any of a $5 bill that I have, or any information on what it is. The issue date is 1928 and the main difference is this bill has printed on it that it is payable in gold on demand. I have never seen any other bill with this printed on it. Can you be of any help? The bill in is good condition, but it is fairly worn and wrinkled, but no rips or tears and barely faded. Thanks for any help you could give me.
You have a 1928 $5 Federal Reserve Note. The obligation printed on the note at that time was for redemption for $5 in gold coin at a Federal Reserve or member bank. The convertibility of currency for gold ended, by Presidential decree, in 1933. The note does have collector value. Please see the What’s it Worth? page to learn the current market value.
All paper money has an obligation, that is how the note can be redeemed. A long time ago, the United States was on a bi-metal system and paper money was a receipt for bullion in the form of gold or silver coins. Gold Certificates were receipts and could be redeemed on demand for its face value in gold. Until 1933, your $5 gold certificate would have gotten you a $5 gold piece on demand at your local bank.
Mary K. writes: I was wondering is there a museum which has the original large James K. Polk peace medal that is made of silver. Was there peace metal made of pot-metal? How thick is the peace metal? I would love it if you can give me some information. Thank you.
The 1845 James K. Polk Peace medals were struck in only silver and bronze. The medals were available for sale to the public after 1861 and continued to be struck after 1892.
There are two sizes 51 mm and 61 mm. The larger size is most often encountered. Modern gold colored brass versions may still be available from the Mint’s medals catalog.
John G. writes: I have heard that there was a misprint on the 1995 pennies. I have saved all I found but can’t find what the misprint is. Do you know?
Billions of cents are struck each year and many dies are manufactured to mint the large number of cents required. There is one 1995 cent die that shows strong doubling of the letters in LIBERTY, on the obverse of the coin. This kind of error is called a doubled die and occurs when a die is improperly manufactured. Every coin struck from this die will show the exact same doubling. Note that hundreds of dies are used to strike cents and only this one die was responsible for the error.
Value: about $25-30 in red uncirculated condition.
Cecilia A. writes: A friend collects coins. He is having the hardest time finding a 1975 Quarter. I read that in 1975 and 1976 Quarters were minted with the Bicentennial dates. Does this mean that there were no quarters issued for the year of 1975? Please let me know so that I may either stop my search or continue looking.
There are no U.S. quarters dated 1975. The Bicentennial design with the date 1776-1976 was struck for two years. The government wanted to make sure that the Bicentennial design did not become scarce or that it would be hoarded.