Tim C. writes: You recently answered a question about a silver Massachusetts coin which was a reproduction of a copper coin. Mine isn’t silver. I don’t know if it’s really copper or not, but it seems to be, with a patina on most of it. The edges are quite rough and it is not perfectly round. One side has LIBERTY AND VIRTUE COPLEY 1776, the other MASSACHUSET and I can’t make out the rest.
My daughter’s great-grandfather gave her the coin about 2 years ago. The story he told her was that when he was 11 or 12 years old, a friend gave it to him because he didn’t want it any more. He was born in 1903, which would make the date that he came into possession of it around 1914. He kept it in a coin box for all those years until one day my daughter was asking some questions about his collection and he gave it to her because she thought it was interesting.
My questions revolve around whether it’s at all possible that the coin is authentic…. were copies of the coin made as collector’s items before the 1910’s (when great-grandfather got the coin)? Would even copies of that vintage have any value? How can we find out if it’s original? (Very unlikely, I know.) Is the only way to send it to the ANA? How do you protect the coin? Do you insure it? Thanks for any help you can provide!
Not much is known about the unofficial coppers of Massachusetts but they were aimed at relieving the shortage of small change. What was in short supply, was pennies and half pennies that made up the bulk of transactions in this period. Larger sums of money were handled by Spanish 8 reales (Pillar and portrait dollars), English shillings and crowns and foreign gold coins. Official coppers were authorized by the Massachusetts General Court on October 17, 1786. All State coins became obsolete in 1789 when the United States constitution was ratified.
As far as I know just one 1776 Pine Tree copper exists. There is speculation that Paul Revere designed and struck this coin and might have made the other two unofficial coppers as well, (the 1776 “Three Heads Halfpenny” and the “1776 Province halfpenny”), as many of the design elements are similar to other known works by Revere. There is also speculation that the severe shortage of copper and Paul Revere’s lack of knowledge about die-sinking might have been the reason that the project was abandoned.
Many replicas have been made over the years, mostly as souvenirs, especially in the centennial and bicentennial years of 1876 and 1976. These copies are not deceptive. Only a tiny minority have been made to fool inexperienced collectors. The Hobby Protection Act passed by the United States Congress some years ago requires that coin reproductions have the word “copy” or “replica” stamped into the reproduction. Of course, replicas made before the act have no stamp.
If you believe that you are in the possession of a numismatic discovery, you should send your piece to be evaluated by NGC or PCGS.
Beth V. writes: I have an 1849 Twenty Dollar coin from the Cincinnati Mining & Trading Company and I am looking for any information regarding it’s worth (if anything), and if there are any collectors you may know of who may be looking for this particular coin. Any information you could provide would be greatly appreciated. Kindest Regards, Beth
The Cincinnati Mining & Trading Co. was one of the private firms that made “emergency” gold coinage for commerce during the Gold Rush period in California (1849-1856). Only a $5 and $10 coin were issued. No $20 coins were struck. Very few of these private issues survived since their gold fineness was too low for acceptability and so most were melted.
Only one $5 gold piece is known to exist and the $10 gold pieces are very rare (last auction price: $200,000). There are many replicas in base metal, brass or white metal, that are either museum copies or made for some other commercial use. A well known copy of the $10 coin has the word “TRADING” spelled as “TRACING”. Copies have no specific value.
Dawn W. asks: What packaging would I expect to find a 1956 proof set? I know my 1975 and 1990 set are in a plastic case and in a cardboard folder. I have “Mint” sets in cellophane. These sets are different from proof sets right? It’s just the 1956 sets look like they are packaged like a mint set and I don’t want a 1956 mint set I want the proof like my 75 and 90 sets.
1956 proof sets were packaged in cellophane and sent in a envelope. There is a silver colored mint seal inside the film.
From 1947 to 1956 Mint sets were sent with the coins inserted into a cardboard cutout. There is nothing covering the coins. Two of each coin, from each mint, was included. The style of the time was to store the coins in cardboard albums that showed only one side. The duplicates allowed showing the reverse in a collectors’ album. Mint sets from this era often show heavy patina caused from long contact with the high content sulfur cardboard holders.
Diane P. asks: What does unc or unc+ mean as far the worth of the currency? It appears I have a $20 Bill that was printed on replacement paper but if it falls in one of those categories, it’s worth more. Can you help me? Thank you.
Uncirculated means no folds or bends or dirt smudges and the note must have 4 sharp corners. The notes will be crisp with no waviness to the paper. Superior uncirculated pieces (choice or gem) have better centering and brighter colors and a very deep sharp raised impression. Notes with waviness are essentially AU (about uncirculated) and are worth about $30. Those below this grade are currently worth their face value.
The “+” sign was used to show that higher prices are possible. The prices in the “What’s my Paper Money Worth?” tables are very general. They are designed to help those that do not know how to grade get an approximate value for their material.
Note: If you find notes with a star by the serial number, this is a “replacement note”, that is, a note that replaced a damaged note at the Bureau of Engraving. These are frequently (but not always) worth a great deal more (approximately $250 for an Uncirculated 1950 $20 FRN * replacement).
Store the notes in individual Mylar or acetate currency holders (available by mail order or possibly from your local coin shop). DO NOT USE HOLDERS THAT CONTAIN PVC. PVC holders are very flexible and have an almost white haze to them. They will emit hydrogen-sulfide gas and, over a short time, will destroy paper currency (or coins).
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Steve K. writes: Howdy, DOC..nice Site…you really DO know all about these coins! You made it into my favorites! At any rate, here’s my question….I have a 1998 dime. I received it from the bank, in change, and noticed it was not ‘plated’ on one side. in effect, it is copper on the reverse, but, looks like a normal dime on the obverse. Is it rare for our Clad coinage to miss being plated on one side?..This is the first one I have ever seen.
Dimes, quarters and half dollars are struck on blanks that are essentially a sandwich of copper nickel (the bread) with a pure copper center (the filling). Occasionally the “top piece of bread” doesn’t stick, falls off or came from strip improperly manufactured. Note that small, partial “laminations” do not add value to a coin but full side laminations do bring a premium in the coin market (search “lamination” in the CoinSite Search Engine for more information about this error).
Value Range for a full lamination on a copper-nickel dime: about $6.
David H. writes: Hi, Do you know anything about medallions? A friend has a medallion from Hawaii issued around 1959 for the states joining the Union. This medallion has a spelling error instead of oahu it reads aohu. Is it worth collecting ? Can you direct me to someone who may know something about it? Thanks.
There were a variety of privately struck medals to commemorate Hawaii’s admission the Union as a State on August 21, 1959. The only one that I know of that actually lists the names of the Hawaiian Islands is the Alaska-Hawaii Statehood medals privately issued by Clifford Mishler of Vandalia, Michigan and struck by Robbins Co, in Attleboro, Massachusetts. (Both Alaska and Hawaii became states in 1959).
It is unusual for there to be more than one working die to make these medals. The reason being, besides the expense, is the relatively small number of coins struck. Any errors on the working dies most likely would appear on the entire run of medals.
The Mishler medals were made in various metals including 10K rose gold, sterling silver, bronze, oxidized bronze, copper, oxidized copper, nickel-silver oxidized and aluminum. Collectors like this particular medal. Value range, depending on grade and metal: $25 – $250.
Michael D. writes: I received from the Post Office in change, a Susan B.Anthony Dollar that has a date on it showing 1999. I was wondering if they started making these again for that year, or if it was a misprint when first minted and worth money? I am really confused about this, so if you can help that would be greatly appreciated.
Yes, they made SBA dollars in 1999. There was more demand for dollar coins than what was available at the Treasury. The ’99 mintage made up the shortfall. SBA’s are now replaced by the Sacagawea, Native American and Presidential dollars. All the coins are identical in size and weight and electrical properties and all will continue to circulate. The new dollar is easier to identify because of its brassy, gold color and its lack of edge reeding.
P=Philadelphia Mint D=Denver Mint
Many people are surprised to learn that dollar coins circulate. Years ago, they were “discovered” by many municipalities around the U.S. as a great transportation token. Also, by that bus, train or subway station are vending machines that take the coin. Lunch money for school kids is less likely to be lost if given as a dollar coin. It is also a great “tip” coin. One doesn’t have to take out a wallet to pay luggage handlers.
Alas, not everyone is aware. I watched with consternation as a cocktail waitress perused my SBA dollar tip, tossed it on the floor and announced with great indignation that she didn’t accept Canadian money!
Darlene G. writes: Hi. We found a coin in Iowa that reads:
Sutler Goods, Check 25 cents, Mich., J.A.Leggat, Sutler Mich. Cavalry
Can you tell my anything about it and a value?
When I was in the service during the Vietnam War, I fondly remember the Post Exchange (PX) where you could get treats and comfort items not available anywhere else. Sutlers were merchants, that during the Civil War (1861-1865) operated a kind of a mobile PX that visited Northern Army positions, especially on pay day. They offered tobacco, chocolate and other treats, razors and hundreds of other items that were not available from the Army. The Sutlers were private citizens but would often service the same Army units and follow them even into the battle field.
Small change was often in short supply during the Civil War and Sutlers would often give “good for” tokens in change. Of course, the tokens were only spendable at that Sutler’s stall. These pieces of Americana are quite popular with Exonumia collectors (They are my favorite too) and, of course, have a strong historical connection. Value Range: $35+