Jill writes: I have a coin dated 1807, inscribed with: Hudson River – Henry Hudson. Flip side: Robert Fulton 1765-1815  First use of steam navigation in Hudson River
This has been a keepsake…but I’ve always wondered why it was produced..if any other reason but commemorative, and also if there was any value to it. If not…this is fine, I’ve just always been curious and when I wandered onto this site..I was doing some checking around and thought it would be a good place to inquire. Thank you for your assistance. Jill
There were many medals produced for the Hudson-Fulton celebration in 1909. The New York State Legislature created the program in 1906“to re-stimulate interest in the important roles New York City and New York State played in American History, to inculcate in the vast immigrant population of the state pride in their new Homeland and to promote international friendship.”
New York City played the dominant role in the Festivities and communities all along the Hudson River also participated. The Festival was held from September 25 to October 11, 1909.
There is a great deal of interest in medals from this event and there are designs that were struck in gold, gilt, bronze, silver, white metal and aluminum. The date 1807 was the Robert Fulton’s first launch. Approximate values from $35 – $600.
K.T. writes: I found a huge dollar bill from 1917 with Washington on it. What can you tell me about it?
Your note is a one dollar “United States Note”, also known as a “Legal Tender Note”. It was issued from 1874-1917. The 1917 United States $1 Note features a portrait of Washington in the center. An engraving of Charles Schussele’s famous painting, Columbus Discovery of Land appears at left. The note is valued by condition and signature combinations. Star notes (replacements for damaged or destroyed notes) also exist and are more valuable. There were just under one billion 1917 United States $1 notes printed and many survived as souvenirs when U.S. banknotes were radically changed in 1928.
Collectors try to collect these notes in the highest grades available. Supplies of low grade notes are plentiful but notes about uncirculated (AU) or uncirculated are scarce. Choice or gem examples are worth far more than the prices listed here. Value Range depending on grade: $20 – $200+.
Kinah writes: I have a silver certificate 1899 Lincoln &? My grandfather gave it to me, what kind of value does it have? Thank-you.
The series 1899 One Dollar Silver Certificate, called affectionately, The Black Eagle, is the second most common large size note. The Eagle of the Capitol shelters the portraits of Lincoln and Grant. The Lincoln portrait is taken from a photograph by Anthony Berger. The note was printed from 1899 into the 1920’s and was replaced by the 1923 series note.
Because of the long run, there are many notes available. There were various small design changes during the life of this series but the easiest way to date the note is by the signature combinations. There are no real major rarities among the signature pairs but the first issue, signed by Lyons-Roberts and the Napier-Thompson signature pair are scarce.
About 3.2 billion notes were printed. Many uncirculated examples exist and are regularly offered for sale at shows. It is a popular design both now and at the time the notes were issued. That may be the reason that so many survive. Values range from: $15 to about $750, depending on condition, type and signature combination. Star notes exist but are very rare.
Mark J. R. writes: I have 9 medals given to me by my grandfather from the US space missions. Each coin has Spacecraft Medals, inc struck on the very bottom. They include medals from the Apollo, Mercury, and Gemini programs. I am wondering if they have any value or where I could learn more about them. They all appear to be of silver and are a little larger in size than an Eisenhower dollar. Any help would be appreciated, Thanks.Â
I think these were minted by the Danbury or Franklin Mint. They contain about an ounce of silver each but I think these wonderful medals have much more value than that. Space memorabilia is popular and I think these medals had some official sanction. Save these for the future and enjoy.
B.B.P. asks: What is a Bar Cent? Â
The period from 1652 to the American Revolution in 1776 saw many different and creative attempts to supply coinage for commerce in the Americas. Though English coins circulated when available, the Crown never made a effort to provide coinage for the colonies.
Of the first group of Colonial coins were the Massachusetts pieces. Among them, the silver Oak Tree coinage exists in 2 pence, 3 pence, 6 pence and shilling denominations, all dated 1652.
The first attempt at some sort of American Union was the Confederation. Each State attempted to create a State coinage. The copper pieces by William Moulton (WM) for New Hampshire were essentially a pattern coinage and never circulated.
The New York copper “Bar” cent was probably privately made in England for use in New York. It shows 13 parallel and unconnected bars on one side (representing the 13 original colonies) and the monogram “USA” on the other. These coins are known to have circulated in New York during November of 1785. The simple but elegant design is exactly the same as that used on the uniforms of Continental Army soldiers.
There is also a struck copy made by J.A. Bolen in the early 1860’s. In the Bolen copy, the “A” passes under, instead of over, the “S” in USA. The copies are worth much less than the originals.
Bar cents have been reproduced by museums and others for educational purposes. Replicas made after the U.S. Congress passed the Hobby Protection Act of 1973, must show the word “copy” or “replica” somewhere on the coin though replicas made outside of the U.S. often do not show this. Replicas have no monetary value.
Value depends on grade: $400 – $4,000.
Greg M. writes: I have an 1891 Morgan Dollar that has a distinct discoloration. I have been told that this could be part of a certain collection from which all coins were discolored by some means or another but have been unable to find any specifics. Thanks for your time.
Toning, or to use another term, patina, is the result of coin metal combining with oxygen in the air. The depth of the oxidation and the type of chemicals that might have been in the air in the presence of the coins, determine what the patina will show. Silver coins kept in the same environment for a long period of time will most likely show similar patterns of patina.
A good example are coins that have been kept in cardboard albums for years. Albums like this contain high quantities of sulfur that was used in its manufacture. Sulfur combines easily with coinage metals like silver, copper or nickel and is capable of creating a multicolored patina on each coin.
Experienced numismatists might give an educated guess on what caused a particular type of toning. Identification by patina only works if the coins are very rare and can be traced back to an original auction sale.
David S. writes: Recently I acquired an 1879 2 1/2D. Gold liberty Coronet type. I submitted it for grading and was told it was “no grade due to cleaning”. I did not detect this at all, is there a way to have it valued even though its been cleaned and/or is just a collectible of no real value?
Until recently, with the introduction of the “details” holders for problem coins, most of the grading services were reluctant to grade coins that have been cleaned. The general definition of cleaning is that the coin’s metal has been disturbed by artificial means. Abrasive cleaning leaves surface marks that are regular but contrary to the flow lines that are created when the coin is struck. Chemical cleaning removes flow lines and gives a coin an unnatural brightness.
The purpose of cleaning is always deception, that is making the coin appear in a higher grade than it really is. This has nothing to do with wear which appear as random marks from circulation and in its beginnings, the wearing down of the highest parts of the design.
This doesn’t make your coin worthless, but it is worth less than one in the same grade that hasn’t been cleaned. Many new collectors may seek out cleaned coins as a way of acquiring examples of coins that they couldn’t otherwise afford.
Frank H. asks: What is the percentage amount of worn out or mutilated coins destroyed by the Federal reserve each year? How long is the average use for say, a quarter?
I don’t know the statistics of the amount of redeemed mutilated coinage, but I know that the Fed does redeem them for cash at a discount. The lifetime of a coin is great, maybe between 20 to 50 years or more.
In the 1950’s Barber coinage and “V” nickels were still circulating as well as Morgan Dollars from the 19th century. Only the coin upheaval brought on by the elimination of silver in 1965 caused almost the entire coinage system to be pulled out of circulation. The proponents of a dollar coin point out the fact that coins last for years but a one dollar note only lasts about 18 months.