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U.S. Coins & Currency 447
Were any buffalo nickels minted using copper?
Rick B.writes: My brother unearthed a buffalo nickel from a dig at a construction site. It is dated 1917, no mint mark, and is rather well worn. What is interesting is that it appears to be made of copper. I suggested that this is a discoloration due to being buried in the soil, but he insists the coin is copper. I suggested scratching the coin to reveal it’s true color, but then retracted my suggestion not wanting to devalue the coin. My question is this: Were there any buffalo nickels minted using copper?
Nickels are minted from an alloy of 75% copper and 25% nickel, weigh 5 grams and have a diameter of 21.2 mm. The 25% nickel is enough to give this coin its silvery color. There are nickels that were minted in error on copper cent flans by mistake and these are popular with collectors. The error nickel would only weigh 3.11 grams and the diameter would be that of a copper cent, 19mm. Value: $35 and up. How did you determine that the coin was copper, considering that both metals would look similar having oxidized in the ground for a long period of time? Of course, you can check to see if you have a nickel struck on a copper cent blank simply by weighing the coin.
Was there a change in the way cents are manufactured in 1994?
Bob A. writes: I write instructional stuff for middle school and high school math-science. I’ll write several units about pennies, pre-1982, 1982, and post-1982. My measurements indicate that pennies from 1994 to now are slightly thinner than earlier pennies, but have the same mass. Can you enlighten me? Was there a change in the way pennies are manufactured in 1994?
Not officially. The current cent is minted from zinc with a plating of pure copper. The total content is 97.5% zinc and 2.5% copper, at least that is what it is supposed to be. The United States went off the silver standard in 1964 and subsequently the Assay Commission was abolished. So the body that used to check the specifications of the “coins of the realm” no longer exists. It doesn’t matter since the coins are now essentially tokens and used for convenience only (note that coins are no longer legal tender). Other researchers have also found discrepancies in the weights of current coins. This never would have be tolerated in the days when coins were real money.
The story behind the $ symbol
Monty E. writes: I seem to remember the dollar symbol $ with two bars going through it instead of one. Which is the proper use of the symbol and what countries use it on their coins?
The proper way – the single line. (Check your computer keyboard). Along with the United States, Mexico, Portugal, the British Virgin Islands and Hong Kong use the dollar symbol. Note: some countries that use “$” only use this symbol on coins.
The origin of the dollar symbol originates with the 16th century Portuguese “Cifrao” that was used like we use a comma in thousands. This symbol used two perpendicular strokes over an “S”. The Spanish version of this symbol was called the “calderon”. There was also a stylized “P” and “s” that represented pesos, pesetas or Spanish 8 reales.
The Portuguese used the symbol “$” but with two lines in the same way as we use the comma as a separator when we write a number in thousands. For example: 1,000 would have been written 1$000.
By the late 18th century, correspondence expressing accounts in pesos or Spanish 8 Reales show that the peso symbol had melded with the calderon. When there is a conversion to dollars both the single line and double line “S” appear to be interchangeable (the U.S. dollar = 1 Spanish 8 Reales). The U.S. dollar is currently usually expressed as an “S” with one perpendicular line but note that Mexican Pesos are still expressed with the old peso symbol with two perpendicular lines.
Also note that U.S. and Mexico never use the “$” symbol on their respective currencies, probably because the symbol is ambiguous.
John F. Kennedy Inaugural Medal
Rodney writes: I have an inaugural medal commemorating the inauguration of John F. Kennedy as the 35th president of the USA. It is a bronze medal. The designer was Paul Manship. The manufacturer was Medallic Art Co. of NY. I would like to know if it has any value.
This particular piece was produced in large numbers (53,331) but it is the “official” authorized medal. Value: about $25. A silver version exists (7,500 minted) also. There is a unique gold medal that is housed at the John F. Kennedy Library in Boston.
Is the value of a U.S. bill affected by the autograph of the Treasurer?
Jane D.S. writes: How is the value of a U.S. bill affected by the autograph of the Treasurer, for instance, above his/her signature? I am especially wondering about a $1 bill, 1935D silver certificate, signed by Georgia Neese Clark and John W. Snyder, and autographed by Georgia Neese Clark above her signature.
It was quite usual in the period between 1934 to the late 50’s for The Treasurer of the United States to autograph notes above the printed signature. The position is honorary. It seems that the honorary treasurers get a kick out of autographing notes so there is a good number of them out there.
Does the autograph add numismatic value? It depends on who you talk to. Paper money purists hate autographs and consider autographed notes to be damaged goods. Other collectors find the autograph to be historically interesting and are willing to pay a small premium above what ever the value was without the autograph.
I once came across a Federal Reserve Note with Henry H. Fowlers autograph. It was an Number 1 note, first note printed for that Federal Reserve Bank and series. The note brought a good price but probably would have brought more if it hadn’t been autographed. Fowler used a dark black pen with a broad stroke to sign his name, obliterating most of the right side of the note.
Info on a 1923 Monroe/Adams half-dollar
Jason writes: I inadvertently got a 1923 Monroe/Adams half-dollar. I can’t find any information on it whatsoever. Could you help me? Jason
The Monroe Doctrine Centennial half dollar is part of the commemorative half dollar series that began with the Columbian half dollar dated 1892. Most of the commemorative half dollars were sponsored by various special interest groups through a petition to Congress. The Monroe coin was promoted by the Movie Industry and was issued in conjunction to a movie exposition in June of 1923.
The obverse shows the busts of James Monroe and John Quincy Adams, the reverse shows North and South America as two female figures. The designer was Chester Beach.
Only 274,077 coins were struck making Monroe half dollars rather scarce. Since many recipients were not coin collectors, many examples show damage from cleaning or as use as pocket pieces. Undamaged examples with wear bring $15-$25. Uncirculated pieces are worth much more depending on grade ($40-$2,000+).
Are my 1884 dollars counterfeit?
Maggie F. writes: My father-in law dug up 6 counterfeit 1 dollar coins on our property. They were all together in on spot. They are all dated 1884. At least so far we’ve been told they are counterfeit. i can not find a mint marking of any kind. Also, on the bust where she wears the liberty crown there are leaves adoring the crown. Any info would be appreciated. Thank you, Maggie
What makes you think they are counterfeit? Lack of a mint mark in this era would only indicate that the coins were minted in Philadelphia. 1884-P Morgan Dollars are not rare. More than 14 million were struck and most resided in government vaults until the early 1960’s. Also, it is not unusual for people to have buried money as a means of hiding or saving it. The only benefit to a counterfeiter would be to fudge on the silver content. You can weigh the coins on a gram scale, the gross weight should be 26.73 grams and the diameter of the coin should be 38.1mm.
1847 Masonic token
Theresa C. writes: I have found a token that I am having a difficult time identifying. Can you help? It is a 1847 St. Louis, Mo token. On the obverse side it reads: Chartered October 16 1847 – ONE PENNY. On the reverse side it reads- St. Louis R.A. Chapter No.8 St. Louis Mo. in the center it has a bible that reads Holyness to the Lord. In small print under bible it reads R.C. Nurtze Chicago
Your piece is an Masonic token, the R.A. stands for “Royal Arch”. The Masons have their roots in the Middle Ages when various Christian organizations were formed to shepherd pilgrims to and from the Holy Land. The Masons exist today in every corner of the world as a Christian, philanthropic organization. R. C. Nurtze was the manufacturer of your token. Value: approximately $10.