Jim K. writes: Several years ago I found a 1928 $2.50 gold Indian head coin mounted in a gold ring. I never had it appraised and gave it to my mom for safe keeping. What is the coin worth today. Thanks.
Since grade is everything to the numismatic collector, coins used in jewelry are considered damaged goods and trade at a small premium above the gold content (.12094 oz pure gold for the Indian head quarter eagle). If they are heavily defaced (scratches, gouges, heavily polished, etc.), they will bring somewhat less than their gold value.
Mike F. writes: I have a coin/token/medallion that I would like to know if people collect.
A copper coin slightly larger than a quarter: front side inscription ‘NOVA CAESAREA’ with what appears to be a horse head near the center. Reverse inscription ‘E PLURIBUS UNUM’ with a shield in the center with horizontal lines on the top and vertical lines on the bottom. Date appears to be 1780 something.
The Nova Caesarea is a New Jersey copper issued in 1786 and 1787 and is State coinage minted before the United States Government built a Mint in Philadelphia. U.S. coinage didn’t officially begin until 1793. The obverse shows a horse’s head with a plow and the legend NOVA CAESAREA, which represented New Jersey. The reverse shows a United States Shield and the legend E PLURIBUS UNUM (one composed of many). There are lots of varieties but values can be from about $35 to several $1000 dollars depending on the state of preservation, the variety and the date.
Brendon B. asks: Historically – when did people start to collect/or pay for old coins?
People have been collecting coins since coins were invented (c.700 BC). Some hoards of Ancient Roman coins, at first were thought to be accumulations of money but under closer inspection consisted of coin types of various eras. These were actually coin collections. Even in Ancient Rome, Greek coins could have been hundreds of years old.
The source of these ‘collectibles’ could have been the money changers, that prowled the waterfronts and municipal buildings of Rome and its provinces performing the service of changing “foreign” coins to the familiar Roman ones. These people who performed foreign exchange services, would often trade for old coins (it was the weight of precious metal that was important for money) and then offer these “curiosities” to interested collectors. I guess that they were the first coin dealers. The Ancient Greek coins often exhibited exquisite designs and carefully minted and preserved pieces would certainly have drawn interest.
Coin collecting in the United States really took hold around 1858, after the old large cents were retired and replaced by the new Flying Eagle small cents. Many sought to acquire different dates of the old, much-maligned “coppers” before they completely disappeared from circulation. It was in 1858 that the U.S. Mint first started offering proof coins for sale directly to collectors.
The popularity of U.S. coin collecting had a major resurgence in the 1930’s with the introduction of the first “penny-boards” which had a hole to be filled for each date and mint mark in a series. During this Depression era, many people who otherwise might be engaged in some other pursuit if they had the money, found great pleasure (and economy) in seeking out that next coin for their collection. The draw of those unfilled holes became quite compelling for many enthusiastic young kids (as well as many of their elders). Anyone could participate. After -it’s only a penny!
A.K. asks: Are Morgan dollars worth collecting? I’ve seen them recommended on the Internet as the best coin to collect. Can u tell me more about it.
Morgan dollars are certainly worth collecting. They span the years from 1878-1904 and then again in 1921. The big, heavy silver coin has always been a favorite among coin collectors. The common date issues, many more than a century old, are inexpensive, even in uncirculated condition, because only a small percentage of the mintage was ever really used by the public.  In the Eastern United States, they were thought of as being less than convenient. The coin owes its existence to the Silver Lobby that convinced Congress in 1878, to mandate the minting of silver dollars as a method of propping up the market price of silver.
Many Morgan dollars were stored in government vaults in Washington until they were released to all takers in the 1960’s. Original uncirculated bags of 1000 coins were sold at face value. The best condition coins were removed and the remainder were sold at small premiums or even returned to banks to be redeemed at face value. Some dates and mint marks were never found to be in the government’s possession. Some dates were melted at various times when the government needed the silver for other purposes, that’s why the 1893 issues are scarce or rare
Today most uncirculated Morgan Dollars are encapsulated and graded by either PCGS, NGC or ANACS. A market has developed that prices these coins according to the grade listed on the holder. Some dates, 1884-S for example, are so difficult to find in uncirculated condition that small increments in the numerical grade can command vastly different prices.
It surprises many people that many Morgan dollar dates can be found in nice condition. Some of the scarcer dates can be found fairly easily in circulated condition as well.
Byron P. writes: I was looking through some coins and paper money that was given to me by my father. included are some military payment certificates for $1 , $0.10 $0.25 and $0.10. These are from the late 60’s – early 70’s from when he was in the army. All of the payment certificates are paper. The 10 cent certificate is in perfect condition (no creases in the paper from being folded. I was wondering if they are worth anything.
Yes, there is a great deal of interest in US Military Payment Certificates. They were essentially emergency money and the life span of these notes was short. The notes were changed often and the old notes demonetized and destroyed. For soldiers in combat, they weren’t in much of a position to collect these notes as they were more interested in dodging bullets.
For example, an uncirculated 1961 10 cent note brings $50-$60 and may be worth even more in the future. Some of the higher denomination notes bring good prices as these were the hardest for people to save. A 1965 $10 MPC in uncirculated condition would bring close to $200 and the 1961 $10 would bring close to $2,000.
MPCs are very exciting and have lots of stories and history behind them. You can collect WWII and post WWII era notes as well as those from the Vietnam Conflict.
Watkins writes:  Doc, In 1907 there was slightly over 20,000 twenty dollar gold coins minted with the roman numeral dates. I believe there were actually two issued with roman numeral date. Is this true and if so was there any melt down and who ordered it.
The first prototypes (actually patterns) of the Standing Liberty Double Eagle were by St. Gaudens and are known as Ultra-High Relief, Roman Numeral Date. There were only about twenty-four of these minted as proofs, one of which became President Theodore Roosevelt’s private example. Other varieties of the High Relief $20 exist and are either unique or were made in very small numbers.
There is also a “Regular” High Relief that was supposed to be the circulating version of this coin. About 12,000 of these were minted. Mint employees could purchase this coin for face value and some of these still exist in the original mint boxes.
After the death of Augustus St. Gaudens, Charles Barber, the Mint’s Engraver, developed a practical version of the St. Gaudens design, with a much lower relief and with Arabic numerals replacing the Roman numerals of the original design. (1907 mintage less than 362,000).
The original High Relief design was very difficult to strike and many test examples ended up in the melting pot. Recycling is typical when experimenting with a new die design. There were no mass meltings of issued pieces in 1907.
Roy and Susan D. ask: We have a paper document (measuring approximately 3 inches by 3 3/4 inches) which purports to be a $20 bill issued by the United States of America, dated 1778, and printed by Hall and Sellers. It has a hand-written number 270350 (could be 270360) in the upper right corner.
Actual wording is as follows: This bill entitles the bearer to receive twenty Spanish milled dollars or the value thereof in gold or silver according to a resolution passed by Congress at Philadelphia, September 26, 1778.
Continental Currency was authorized by the Continental Congress to finance the American Revolution but also was to serve as a convenient medium of exchange. Continental paper money was a financial disaster and by 1780 was devalued, by inflation, to about 1/100th of its face value. (Thomas Jefferson reported that it took a wagon full of this money to buy a suit. He may also have coined the phrase “Not worth a Continental”) . It was also the first decimal currency in the Americas and was the transition to a single, viable monetary system.
The “dollar” was based on Spanish Milled dollar or 8 reales. During the late colonial and confederation period a confusing array of coins circulated in the Thirteen colonies:
One dollar = 6 New England Shillings=8 New York Shillings=7 1/2 Middle States Shillings=6 Virginia Shillings=8 Carolina Shillings=32.5 Georgia Shillings.
After 1789, when the United States Treasury was established, a decimal monetary system was in place but was still based on the Spanish 8 Reales (still legal tender in the United States up to about 1858):
There were eleven issues of Continental Currency and all were printed by Hall & Sellers in Philadelphia. The first issue was dated May 10, 1775 and the last shows the date January 14, 1779. Purportedly, $241,552,780 worth of Continental Currency was issued. Your note is from the 10th issue of September 26, 1778 which consisted of the denominations of 5,7,8,20,30,40,50 and 60 dollars.
The $20 note was printed on thin white paper with black ink. The front of the note shows the Latin motto VI CONCITATE (Driven by Force) on an emblem showing the wind blowing. Back: a Buttercup leaf
After the war, this fiat money issue became drastically devalued and at the end were worth only 1/100th of their face value. The term “Not worth a Continental” remained a catch phrase for something worthless far into the 19th century.
Value depends on grade (condition). Approximate range: $15 – $120 (replicas exist printed on fake, yellowed parchment,- these are worthless).
Rick C. writes:Â I found a Pershing medal or token at a swap meet. It’s large – about 4″, and copper. On the front it has a bust of Pershing, with the words General John J. Pershing and on the reverse it says Columbus. it is not dated. What is it worth and wheres it from, Columbus Ohio, Columbus, GA or Columbus, NE?
Try Columbus, New Mexico. The medal commemorates U.S. General John Pershing chasing Pancho Villa into Mexico in 1916 after Villa attacked Columbus, New Mexico, killing 18 people and burning the town to the ground. Historic!