Patrick M. writes Hello..I have six silver dollars and I was wondering if you’d be able to give me a ball park figure of their worth. I have 5 Morgan dollars, the dates are: 1879, 1881, 1902, and two 1921’s. I also have one from 1922..I believe it is called the peace dollar? Would you tell me how to know what constitutes good condition on these coins and any other valuable information I may need. Thank You–PatrickÂ
Morgan and Peace dollars were minted at several mints. Besides condition, the mint mark adds or subtracts from the value depending on the rarity of that mint’s issue. If all of the above dates are from the most common mints and are in average circulated condition they would be considered common and are worth between $15-20 each. Common date silver dollars are sold in $1,000 face value bags in the market.
If you are interested in learning more about grading, you might start with our article on U.S. Coin Grading.
Rich P. writes:Â Hello, My wife found a 1959 Lincoln cent that appears to be lead or zinc. I have seen plenty of the 1943 vintage like this, but never 1959. What can you tell me? Thanks for the help, Rich.
There are no zinc pennies made in 1959. All are brass with a weight of 3.11 grams. If your 1959 cent weighs this amount or a tiny bit more, it has been plated. If it weighs considerably more or less than it is counterfeit. I have seen lead copies of cents made from a copy die of a real cent. It’s possible it was practice for some more ambitious project. If you want to, you can send your coin to the American Numismatic Association for certification. You can go to their web site  for more information about their services and to request an application.
Michael O. writes:Â I have a 1963 1 dollar bill, what is it worth?
The 1963 Federal Reserve note is the the first year of the small size one dollar Federal Reserve notes. U.S. Currency is not dated like coins. A series will be printed regardless of series date until the signatories change or the there is a change in design. When a new Treasurer or Secretary is appointed the series takes on a letter next to the date. For example the 1963 one dollar FRN has the signature combination of Granahan-Dillon. The 1963A series shows Granahan-Fowler and the 1963B series shows Granahan-Barr. In 1969 the wording in the Green Treasury seal was changed from Latin to English prompting a new series date.
The value of any collectible paper money depends on the criteria that the market dictates. For example, for some series, there may be large numbers of notes that are in heavily circulated condition but only a small number remaining in crisp new condition. Since collectors value quality, the fewer crisp notes may be scarce enough to drive up the price. Though modern notes are mostly face value, they are a good place to start a collection. Attrition alone will almost guarantee that someday a future collector will pay a premium for today’s notes.
Jace H. writes:Â I’m just starting to get interested in US coin collecting. I have read many books on coin collecting, grading, buying and selling. I even started keeping all my pocket change dated earlier than 1970. My problem is that I want to start collecting US coins that are not expensive yet have some value. Which set of US coins would you suggest I start off with? (I have been allowed to spend about $20.00 a month.) Would you suggest pennies, nickels, dimes, quarters or half-dollars? Combinations of these or for example buying all pennies starting with a certain date?
There’s no limit about how to collect. For instance, you could start a 20th Century “type” set of U.S. silver, nickel and copper coins. Some coins are very inexpensive in average circulated condition and some even are reasonable in uncirculated grades. For instance, the last few years of the Buffalo Nickel were heavily saved. You can probably buy an uncirculated example for less that $20.
Most coin dealers sell bullion related items such as silver dimes, quarters and half dollars. These date prior to 1965 and can be had for between 14 and 16 times face value. That means you can buy silver dimes for less than $1.60. These are not going to be uncirculated gems but it’s a great way to put together an historic collection inexpensively.
Darla B. writes:Â While my daughter was playing with some change, my husband noticed that President Lincoln is the only President facing to the right of all the coins (quarter, dime, nickle (sic), penny). Is there any history or special meaning behind this?
This is a question of heraldry, nothing more. In Europe, post middle ages, when a new monarch was installed, his head or bust faced the opposite direction of the preceding monarch. I guess it made it more obvious that a new monarch was ruling, especially when there were family resemblances. Alternating the facing direction on coins was a sure way of getting people to notice the change. That long lasting English tradition was broken in the 20th century. King George V, Edward VIII (abdicated), and George VI all faced to the left. When Queen Elizabeth II was coronated the tradition was resumed. Her bust faces to the right.
Though the United States isn’t a “royalist” country, we did bring some European traditions to U.S. coinage. From the very beginnings of U.S. coinage in 1793, the alternating head design loosely prevailed, even though the portraits on coins were of an allegorical Liberty instead of an actual person. Mint workers here were very much aware of the coinage practices in other countries. Until the 20th century, the pattern of reversing busts when coinage designs changed was roughly adhered to. For example, the Draped Bust type dimes of 1796-1797 show a bust of Liberty facing right. When the design was replaced by the Capped Bust type in 1809 the new bust faced left.
The Lincoln cent was the first United States regular issue coin to show a president. It replaced the “Indian” cent, an allegorical figure of Liberty, facing left. To follow the “tradition”, Lincoln’s head faces right. The reversal of the bust position holds true on the other early 20th century coins. The Winged Liberty dime, bust facing left, replaced the Barber dime, Liberty facing right. The tradition breaks here as the Roosevelt dime faces left also.
The Barber quarter, bust facing right, was replaced with the Standing Liberty design but when Washington is placed on the quarter in 1932 the bust faces left. After the Barber design was discarded in 1916, there were no busts on half dollars until the Franklin half in 1948 and that bust faced right. When J.F. Kennedy’s bust replaced Franklin’s in 1964, it followed the tradition and his bust faces left.
There may be heraldic meaning why coin designers decide to “break” with tradition. The direction of faces, arrangement of shields, use of allegorical figures and architectural devices all have meaning and are a short hand way to communicate an idea or sentiment on a coin or medal.
There is no law that demands this, just tradition. Note that the tradition was broken with the Morgan Dollar (facing left) and the successor, the Peace Dollar (also facing left) and that successor the Eisenhower dollar (left) and then restored on the SBA dollar (right).
To learn more about symbolism on coins and medals start with the study of Heraldry. You can get more information from your Public Library, or the Numismatic Links Page on this site. A good inexpensive book on the subject is the reprint of the Stanley Paul & Co. book first published in 1915. The 1994 edition is available in paperback by the name of Concise Encyclopedia of Heraldry by Guy Cadogan Rothery, published by Senate, London.
Chris J. writes: I’m looking for information on a 1861 confederate penny with a picture of an indian on front and says 1861 and confederate states of america, the back simply has 1 CENT. I cannot find any info on this coin. Can you please help?
The New Orleans Mint was seized by the Confederacy in 1861 but they had no engraver to create new coin designs for the new political entity. The story of the confederate cent goes something like this:
Secret agents of the Confederacy approached Philadelphia engraver Robert Lovett through a contact at the jewelry firm of Bailey, Banks & Biddle and asked if he would be willing to create a design for a Confederate cent. Though Lovett actually went ahead with the project and even struck about a dozen specimens he never delivered the dies as he feared prosecution for treason. He hid the dies and sample coins in his basement where they remained hidden until 1873.
He kept one coin as a pocket piece and in 1873 accidentally spent it in a bar in West Philadelphia. The coin eventually came to the attention of collector Capt. John W. Haseltine who tracked down Lovett and talked him into selling him the dies and remaining coins. Haseltine restruck the coins in gold, silver and copper but no one knows how many he actually made. The Haseltine copper restrikes have a proof finish (mirror fields and struck more than one time). About 55 pieces were struck.
Other collectors subsequently owned the dies and eventually they were defaced with chisel and hammer marks. The dies were displayed by Judson Brenner at the American Numismatic Convention in 1911. The dies showed up again in 1961 and were in the possession of Robert Bashlow who made copies of the dies, damage and all, and struck copies for the Confederate centenary in 1961-62. The original Lovett dies now reside in the Smithsonian Institution.
All Confederate Cents show a bust of Liberty facing left wearing a Liberty Cap, the date 1861 is below, the legend around is CONFEDERATE STATES OF AMERICA. The reverse shows a wreath of corn, cotton, maple, tobacco and wheat, two barrels and a bale of cotton showing “L” for Lovett. 1 CENT is at center.
According to Walter Breen, other strikes on other materials exist, including a few uniface impressions in gold and silver. Note that there have been many advertising copies and “confederate cent” fantasy pieces as well. These are of nominal value.
If you believe you have one of the above varieties you will want to have your coin authenticated and attributed. For more information see the listing for Grading Services on the Coinsite Links page.
Eric S. writes:Â This may sound silly, but do you know how much a nickel weighs? It’s for a class (chem) assignment. Thanks
A current United States nickel weighs 5 grams and consists of .750 copper and .250 nickel. Do I get an A?
David B. writes: Many years ago while out on the old family farm, my grandfather told me that he and his 3 brothers had hidden coins in leather bags in the three trunks around the yard. We decided to go looking and found several of the old bags most of them deteriorated, but many coins. He said I could have them. Long story short, I kept some and he put the rest in a lock box. Most of them being early 1900 dimes and virtually 1000’s of 1901 Indian head pennies. Question, are these worth anything, possibly for my great grandchildren? My grandfather is longer here and grandmother insists I wait until she dies to look in the lock-box! Thanks. P.S. The farm has been sold but the old trees are still there
Condition is everything with coins, but the dimes, even if deteriorated, are silver and would be worth at least $1.20 each at the present silver price. High grade circulated pieces would bring from several dollars to as much as $35 dollars each. Of course, an uncirculated coin could bring a great deal more. The Indian cents, if original and uncleaned and at least just average condition, could bring from 25 cents to 80 cents each. Again uncirculated pieces are worth a good deal more. Take them to a reputable dealer, sell them and enjoy the money.