Charlie B. writes: I found a coin in an old barn we were cleaning out and would like to know where I can find out about it. It has George Washington on the front with his name above and the dates 1789 and 1797 with first president of the United states between the dates. on the back it has George Washington name /dob/first in war /first in peace and the date he died. Any info would be appreciated.
The medals below are only recognized Washington medals that use the legend “First In War, First In Peace”:
All others with this legend are modern imitations and are usually individual pieces from a larger set of presidential medals.
Ingo R. writes: In 1982 and 1983 the Mint didn’t make any mint sets. I have heard that if you went to the mint in those years you could have bought a set from that mint. I have also seen some for sale on E-Bay. Are these real or just put together by someone other than the mint?
Both. Mint sets consist of regular issue coins from all the Mints that struck coins in a particular year. They come packaged in film and placed in envelopes that have the name of the Mint that made those coins.
In 1982-3 the Philadelphia Mint did not make Mint sets but you could go, in person, to either the Denver or Philadelphia Mint and buy a Year Set from the Mint gift shop. The set included a paper label or token identifying the set as coming from the Philadelphia or Denver Mints. You would have had to travel to both cities to get a complete set.
Some dealers put together their own sets from coins gotten at local banks. These rarely are of the same quality as the Year sets (the banks put the coins through counting machines that put scratches and nicks on the coins).
The purpose of Mint sets is to allow collectors to add gem examples of current coins to their collections. They are standard issue business strikes not proofs or special issues.
Pamela C. asks: What does FACE VALUE of a coin mean?
Face value is the denomination – the original intended value of a coin. For example, a nickel has a face value of 5 cents, a dime has a face value of 10 cents, a quarter has a face value of 25 cents etc. “Premiums” are about how much a coin’s collector value might be. For example a 1936 Buffalo Nickel in uncirculated (new) condition might have a premium value of $15 but has a face value of 5 cents.
The phrase face value is most frequently used today in reference to U.S. 90% silver coins that are sold in bag quantities of $1000 face value. For instance, a $1000 bag of silver coins could contain 10,000 dimes, 4000 quarters or 2000 half dollars. Accordingly, $2.50 in face value could be 25 dimes or 10 quarters or 5 half dollars or any combination that adds up to $2.50 in value.
Shaz B. writes: I’ve recently came across an old $100.00 bill. It is from 1929 and has on it a rust colored US seal and numbers. It was questioned by my local bank and sent to a state crime lab. It came back as a valid bill but the police told me it was worth more than its face value. It has written on the front of it “The Federal Reserve Bank of CHICAGO ILLINOIS”. I could scan you the bill to verify the information. I’m dying to know its value and any feedback you could give me would be greatly appreciated.
You have a National Bank Note. There used to be many different kinds of paper currency. Some was a receipt for debt (United States Notes also known as Legal Tender Notes or, in post 1928 small size, Red Seals), Silver (Silver certificates), gold (gold certificates), interest bearing notes such as Refunding Certificates or the modern, fiat, Federal Reserve Notes.
National Bank Notes were issued from 1863 to 1929 and were an outgrowth of the National Banking Act during the Civil War. It allowed chartered banks to issue their own money against bonds deposited with the Federal Government. The printing was done at what became known as the Bureau of Engraving in Washington, D.C. All the designs were the same but differed only in the name of the bank and its charter number. Only series 1929 Nationals were issued in small size.
There are two types. Type I shows the charter numbers in black, type II shows, in addition to the black charter numbers, a brown charter number next to the serial number at left. All 1929 Nationals have brown seals. (See: National Currency). The Federal Reserve issues are generally more common than the State bank issues. There were 384,000 of the Federal Reserve Bank of Chicago $100 National issued.
Market value depends on the grade (condition of the note). Range: face value to approximately $400 (uncirculated). Other factors that might increase the notes value to a collector: Fancy serial numbers, low serial numbers or a star next to the serial number (replacement note).
I’m always surprised that the place that knows the least about paper money is a bank. If a counterfeiter wanted to “slip one by” he certainly wouldn’t make the money look different.
Alicia writes: Could you please help me identify and perhaps find the value, if any of a coin, 1841, appearing to be copper, with “Webster Credit Current” surrounding what appears to be a clipper ship marked “Constitution” on the hull of the boat. On the reverse it is marked “millions for defence” around the outside, and in large letters in the center, “Not one cent for tribute”. I found other coins with this phrase on your site, but nothing with the front markings. Thank you in advance!
You have a “Hard Times” token from the Jacksonian era. There were hundreds of privately issued tokens that attempted to make up for the coin shortages during this period. They were not only money but a means to spread political propaganda or advertising messages. (For more information about these interesting tokens and the Jacksonian era, see: “Hard Times” tokens
There are several varieties of “Webster Credit” tokens and they represent Daniel Webster’s advocacy of renewing the charter of the Bank of The United States in opposition to President Jackson. It features a clipper ship with the word CONSTITUTION on its side, surrounded by the legend *WEBSTER* CREDIT 1841 CURRENT (or CURRENCY on some varieties). The reverse shows the legend MILLIONS FOR DEFENCE and in a wreath (or sometimes a border of stars) NOT ONE CENT FOR TRIBUTE. The token is 28 mm in diameter and was struck in copper. Value depends on grade. Approximate range: $3 – $175.(unc)
Fred B. writes: I found an old coin near Martinsburg, W.Va. It is encrusted on both sides. On one side I can make out a man with a ponytail facing right, and written around the edge is Georgivs III.R.. On the other side there is a king’s crown with a harp or a shield under it. There are illegible letters around the edge. Can you identify this coin, and how can it best be cleaned and restored?
You may have a Virginia Halfpenny. These were authorized by England for Virginia in 1773. The obverse shows the head of King George III facing right, the legend GEORGIVS III REX (George III King) is around. The reverse shows a large crown, with 17 and 73 on either side, over a shield with lions, fleur de leis, harp and horses in quadrants. The word, starting on the right side is VIRGI and on the left side is NIA. Ciculated examples range in value from approximately $50 – $350.
Restoring coins and removing dirt is best left to an expert. Amateur cleaning substantially reduces the value of a coin. The idea is to remove what is on the surface not the surface itself. See Coin Grading Services on the CoinSite Links page for professional restoration and authentication services..
Alan writes: I have a friend that asked to find out for him if his coin is worth anything. It is a Millard Fillmore coin he is on the front of the coin and a indian and some one else in the back I think the date is 1880 or earlier. It says in the front Millard Fillmore President of the United States. Thank you for attention.
From your limited description it seems that you have a President Millard Fillmore Indian Peace Medal. The obverse shows the head of Millard Fillmore facing right, the date 1850, is below. At the truncation of the bust is the initials of the designer, S. Ellis (Salathiel Ellis). The legend MILLARD FILLMORE PRESIDENT OF THE UNITED STATES, is around.
The reverse shows a settler and Indian standing before an American Flag; LABOR, VIRTUE HONOR are in ovals above. Below in exergue is the initials of the designer J. WILSON (Joseph Wilson). The settler is lecturing the Indian on the benefits of civilization. This message was obviously ineffective and didn’t seem to stop the constant, savage Indian wars. (Did anyone ever think that maybe the Indians had a different perspective?).
The medals were struck in silver and copper and the original issues are 76 mm in diameter. After 1860 similar medals in a smaller size, 62 mm, were struck for collectors. The original size was struck for sale after 1892.
The original examples were struck at a private mint in New York. This was the first time that Indian Peace Medals were struck by contract outside the Philadelphia Mint. See: Indian Peace Medals
Approximate value range for the copper examples: $400 -$1,200. Value for Mint produced brass replicas: about $5.
Kate H. asks: What is the value of 1988 penny mis-stamped. The coin itself is not the correct shape and is only stamped, front and back half way.
You have a cent struck on a clipped planchet, that is, an incomplete coin missing 10-25% of the metal. This results from an error in punching out blanks from metal strip. The punch accidentally strikes a portion of the strip already punched. They are described by collectors by their shape: curved, straight, ragged, incomplete and elliptical.
Years ago, these errors use to be difficult to find since the coins would get caught in counting machines and be retrieved and remelted. In the early 1980’s the Mint began weighing the coins instead of counting them resulting in large numbers of these errors finding their way into the stream of commerce. The value of these errors depends on the size and type of the clip (curved, straight, elliptical, partial, ragged). Some coins can even have multiple clips. Approximate value for the most common clips found on a 1988 cent: $1.