Cyndi J. asks: Wasn’t there a penny recently that was double struck? I remember reading that you could see it in Lincoln’s hair. I seem to remember it being in the 1990’s. Or am I nuts?
Aside from the well-known double die Lincolns of 1955 and 1972, here are some recent doubled die Lincolns:
These are fun to search for and can be found. I’ve caught a few myself, though the attendants at fast food places look at you strangely when they see you closely examining your change. Such is the lot of us coin nuts!
F.R. writes: I have a Brasher Doubloon I found when I was just a kid. I have recently decided to do some checking on it to see if it is worth anything. It is dated 1787 and has EB on it’s wing and Brasher under the sun and and R on the left under the sun. I think the coin is possibly made out of brass and may have some gold in it. Could this possibly be one of Robinson’s copies? I am very interested in learning more about this coin. If you have any information please let me know. Thank you.
This was a pattern made by Ephraim Brasher, George Washington’s neighbor and friend. Brasher’s 1787 Doubloons were essentially patterns or proposals for coinage. This is probably the most important of all American coins. There are three designs, 1. the 1787 “New York” Doubloon with Ephraim Brasher’s Initials on the reverse eagle’s wing (EB) and the New York motto, NOVA EBORACA COLUMBIA EXCELSIOR; 2. a unique 1787 “New York” style with the EB punch on the eagle’s breast (see image, this page) and 3. two specimens dated 1786 and based on the design of the 1742 Spanish Colonial cob Lima 8 Escudos. There also exists a unique 1787 New York half doubloon which is currently housed in the Smithsonian Collection in Washington, D.C.
The doubloons were the equivalent to $15 in New York Currency. They were minted on gold flans and weigh about 408 grains or about 3/4 troy ounce of gold (a troy ounce is 480 grains).
Brasher Doubloons are very rare but didn’t receive the attention they deserve until the 20th century. In January 2014, an example of the “punch on wing” design (graded NGC MS63) brought $4,582,500 at public auction. The unique “punch on breast” example (graded NGC MS63) is currently valued for over ten million dollars. The same piece, originally from the Garrett collection via John Hopkins University brought $430,000 in the early 1980′s (then a record price for a coin).
Counterfeits are imitative and therefore would have been struck on a gold flan. If not, it is a brass copy. There are no known contemporary counterfeits. There would not have been any gain from such an activity. At the time, the coin was not a circulating media and its only value was its gold content. Brass museum copies abound and are not intended to fool anyone as they are the wrong metal and weight and the die work is different that that of the originals.
All the genuine pieces of which only a few exist, are 28.6mm in diameter and weigh about 26.6 grams. The composition is .917 fine gold. If you believe you have a genuine Brasher Doubloon, you should certainly have it authenticated. See the Links page under Coin Grading Services.
Question: I have a South Carolina No. 640 five shillings lawful money dated the tenth day of April 1778 certificate. Can you tell me how much it would be worth? Thank you.
Your South Carolina note is the 2nd South Carolina State issue (1778). The 5 Shillings note features a Phoenix and, depending on grade, trades between $25 – $300.
Peter M. writes: A friend has a gold coin half dollar size with the name Kellogg on it. I haven’t seen it. Is it worth looking at??
Certainly is. Kellogg & Company $20 gold pieces are quite valuable. They were one of the private minters that helped fill the need for coins in commerce in California when the United States Assay Office was being established. There are two designs that imitate the U.S. Liberty $20 gold coin. They have the date 1854 or 1855 and the legend SAN FRANCISCO CALIFORNIA TWENTY D. appears around an eagle with outstretched wings and a shield on its breast. Sun rays with stars are above the eagle’s head. Kellogg & Company dissolved in 1854 but was reestablished as Kellogg & Humbert at which time a $50 gold coin was produced.
These neat coins do show up at auctions and at major coin shows. Values depend on grade and type. Values for the $20 coins depend on grade and type but trade between $1,000 and $10,000. A proof version of the Amon Carter Jr. specimen of the $50 Kellogg-Humbert brought $154,000 in 1984. See: Territorial Gold Coins – California Issuers and 1854 Kellogg & Company $20 Gold – Ex. Garrett
Mike B. asks: Hello, what is the weight in ounces for the Morgan and Peace dollars? What about the Walking liberty and Franklin halves? Thanks Mike
After reading many messages from our visitors I get the impression that many people believe that coins are struck on blanks that are only approximate weight. This is not true. When coins were made of precious metal the coin’s weight was critical to its value. In the early days of the Mint, there were rooms filled with employees whose job was to weigh newly minted coins to ascertain their weight was correct. Heavy coins were scored with a file and the metal dust was gathered and melted. “Adjustment” marks are common on early U.S. precious metal coins. Light weight coins were remelted.
Morgan and Peace Dollars weigh exactly the same, 26.73 grams. The coins are 90% silver and 10% copper. The actual pure silver content is .77344 troy ounces. Walking Liberty and Franklin half dollars weigh 12.5 grams are 90% silver and 10% copper and contain .36169 troy ounces pure silver.
Bethany B. writes: I have an Eisenhower Silver dollar dated 1971 that has what looks like a bird stamped into the coin right behind Eisenhower’s head. Could you please tell me something about it. Thanks.
This kind of alteration is called “punching” or “re-engraving”. It is an alteration that was done after a coin has left the Mint and therefore has no official connection to the issuing body.
Altering coins for fun or profit has been around for many years. For example, during the epoch between the turn of the 19th century and the beginning of WW II, talented hobos and others, would artistically alter the Indian or Liberty head on a nickel and trade their art work for food and shelter. A whole genre of collecting was established for “hobo nickels” and for other coins with messages or symbols punched into the coin’s surface.
I can’t tell you what the specific meaning of the stylized bird is but punched and reengraved coins have been used for advertising, membership cards, awards and security devices. Discovering the meaning of the alteration is the fun part of collecting these interesting coins. Let me know if you find the meaning of this symbol. See: Re-engraved Cents
S.W. writes: I have become very interested in Southern state currency–not state bank or confederate. I have purchased several reference books, but I can’t find a price guide. Do you know of one? Thanks!
There are State issues from 1776 – the Civil War. The latest price guide though not complete but a good general reference is the Standard Catalog of World Paper Money, Specialized Issues. This is the famous Pick Specialized catalog. The 12th edition recently was released and will at least give you a general idea of prices.
You will also be interested in private bank issues of the Jacksonian era and beyond (1830’s to the Civil War and after). These issues are under the heading of Broken Bank Notes. The best way of getting current prices is to subscribe to auction houses that sell U.S. and obsolete paper money. See the Bank Note Reporter for lists of current auctions and whom to contact.
Mike Q. writes: I’ve found a 1939 Mercury Dime but the mint mark is on the front next to the neck. I am confused as according to this site the mint mark is supposed to be on the back. Thanks in advance for any help/suggestions.
The “W” to the right of Ms. Liberty’s neck is the initial of the coin’s designer, Adolph Alexander Weinman. The mint mark on a Mercury dime always appears near the rim at about 6:30 on the reverse. Philadelphia Mint issues have no mint mark.
This confusion about mint marks and the designer’s initials is common to many other U.S. coins, particularly when the designer’s initials are large or in a conspicuous position. The Saint Gaudens $20 gold piece is a perfect example: the stylized ASG (for Augustus Saint Gaudens) sits right below the date. The mint mark (if any) is just above the date.
See: Mint Marks