Basic Information on How to Determine the Value of your Pocket Change
So where do you start in determining the value of your pocket change? Here is a great article I found that is easy to understand. It lays out some basic things you can do right now!
One of the tips were to get a copy of the Blue Book. So, I just picked one up a few weeks ago. You can click on the link below to grab your copy.
A Quick Look at the Reverse of the Northern Mariana Islands Quarter
Take time to look at the artistic design of your money. Okay, lets peek at the last of the quarters in the quarter series. It is the Northern Mariana Quarter. Each quarter tells a historical story but there is also a work of art.
The Reverse of the coin is the side opposite the Obverse. I call the obverse side the “Head” because that is usually where you see the picture of someone famous.
The Northern Mariana Islands Quarter was released in November, 2009. Now the mintage was very low for this quarter. There were 37,600,000 coins minted in Denver. And there were 35,200.00 made in Philadelphia. So when you look at your coins and you see D that means Denver and the P means Philadelphia.
It was sculpted by Phebe Hemphill and designed by Richard Masters. You really want to see some of the other designs done by the sculpter and engraver at the US Mint. Perhaps later I will do a series for those interested in the engaging artistic side of coins.
The Northern Mariana Islands quarter reverse design represents the wealth of the islands in its natural resources of land, air and sea. A large limestone Latte (an architectural structure from ancient Chamorro times) stands near the shore. A canoe is present to represents the people’s excellent seafaring skills. Two white fairy tern birds fly overhead while a Carolinian mwar (head lei) borders the bottom of the design near the inscription, NORTHERN MARIANA ISLANDS. The mwar is present as a symbol of the virtues of honor and respect.
Now isn’t that interesting?
Checkout the reverse of the northern mariana island quarters
Want to See a Kennedy Proof Coin in Circulation?
Here is one of five (5) Kennedy Proof Half Dollars I found in circulation last week.
Someone probably opened some proof sets and spent them.
These coins look great. Notice the details that show because the strike is not a BUSINESS STRIKE but a PROOF STRIKE.
Notice that the mint mark is an S. That means it was minted in San Francisco.
New State Quarter is a Piece of History
There is a State Quarter that will show up in your pocket change. When you see one in good condition hold on to it!
This quarter is the sixth and final quarter in the DC & US Territories Quarters Program was first released into circulation on November 30, 2009.
You can purchase a set of the coins online.
Read more about the Northern Mariana State Quarter
Keep your eyes open for those quarters!
Did You Look at Your Pocket Change Today?
This is just a short note to encourage you to look closely at your pocket change every time you leave the store.
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If the coin looks funny-put it aside
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If the coin is really old, early 60’s- put it aside
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If the coin is really, really old like something you seldom see in pocket change-put it aside
and
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If the coin is shiny and brand new-put it aside.
Grab one of the books featured on this site and read about the coins you just put aside. Ok?
Coin Grading-The Professional Coin Grading Service
If you really, I mean really want to be able to understand the many coin magazines or books you need to know more about grading. I presented some terms to you in an earlier post.
I want to share a site that belongs to The Professional Coin Grading Service
Please book mark and study the wealth of information. Below, also, is one of the video updates provided by the service. Don’t worry if you do not understand it all the idea is to listen, learn and ask questions.
Here is a video update that was done in September, 2009 on providing an great update for coin collectors by the Professional Coin Grading Service.
Coin Terms You Might See on Ebay-What is Extra Fine?
If you ever visit Ebay to purchase or sell coins you will see a lot of different coin terms. Now, especially if you are buying a coin you should become familiar with some of the coin terms.
So this series will share definitions of some of the terms often seen in the headlines of an Ebay Sale. So to get the ball rolling here is a title on Ebay. Let’s examine it as closely as possible.
1892 COLOMBIAN HALF DOLLAR COMMORATIVE EXTRA FINE
Wikipedia states the following :
The Columbian Exposition half dollar commemorative coin, commonly referred to as the Columbian half dollar, was minted for the Columbian Exposition1892 to 1893. It honors the 400th anniversary of Columbus’ discovery of America.
Now it is important to know that the better condition the coin is in the better the collectability. This is additional info I found on Wikipedia:
Most coins can be had in mint state grades, and can be had for a nominal sum. Due to creditors dumping many half dollars used as collateral for loans, some coins are sometimes encountered with signs of circulation wear.
So what condition is this coin in according to the title? Extra Fine
What is the Extra Fine Grade?
The definitions below are according to the Professional Grading Association.
Extra Fine
Alternate form of Extremely Fine.
Extremely Fine
The grades EF40 and 45. This grade has nearly full detail with only the high points worn, the fields rubbed often with luster still clinging in protected areas.
Of course if you would like to add to this discussion it is more than welcomed!
2009 Lincoln Penny Errors
As I sit down at the table with a magnifying class examining a 2009 Lincoln penny, found in my pocket change, I am in total awe. I have a few pennies that are the Lincoln Professional.
Coin errors are not easy.I usually refer to a few error books like the Cherrypickers’ Guide
I also simply love Strike It Rich with Pocket Change
Be sure to get a magnifier with at least 7x up to see some of this errors. It can be relaxing to look at each coin. So come along with me on this journey of learning. Remember, I am using this site to share some of the things I am learning. I hope it is helpful.
Now get out those new Lincoln pennies. If you don’t have any yet you can get them at your local coin dealer, Ebay or directly from the mint. As of this writing some of the rolls are sold out but you can get them in the 2009 Proof set.
The Mint News Blog has an insightful article about possible double die errors on the 2009 Lincoln Formative years cent. The Lincoln Formative Years cent is the second in the four new coins released this year. Be sure to read the engaging comments at the end of the post.
A bootstrap error has been reported on the Lincoln Formative Years Series. This was featured on a CoinLink. It appears that you may not need a high magnification to see this error.
I will revisit this later I am sure. Meanwhile, I will keep learning so if I see one in pocket change I will know what I am looking at. Please share anything you might know with this babyboomer. Thanks
What is a Double Die Coin Error?
I recently saw this error coin being sold on Ebay. It is for one of the new Lincoln pennies. The error shown is a double die. Ok, if you are new at this, like I am, you want to know what a double die error really is right?
Well according to coin expert, Susan Headly
A doubled die coin is a coin that was struck from a die that had a partial or full doubled image on it. The doubling comes from mistakes in the die hubbing process, where more than one image is transferred from the hub to the coin die. The 1955 doubled die Lincoln Cent (see photo) is the classic example of a doubled die, and sparked the start of the error coin collecting hobby in the U.S. Although no other doubled die types exhibiting the remarkable degree of doubling seen on the 1955 cent have emerged from the U.S. Mint, noteworthy doubling has also been found on 1972 and 1995 Lincoln Cents.
I also checked out a great resource site for double die coin errors. So I will be referring to it. The site is called Wexlers Die Varieties .
I especially like this site because it shows and explains die errors for current coins like the Lincoln penny and others that came out in 2009.
So keep looking at that pocket change.
Stop! Don’t Throw Silver Into Those Automatic Coin Machines
Many folks are using automated coin machine to flip their coins into cash. I am hoping that there are coin collectors helping to count the change that comes out of those machines.
I wish I could get a part time job counting that change. I would find a way to purchase all the old quarters and dimes that contain silver. The only point I want to make is to look through your coins before you dump them into those machines.
Ok, here is a very quick short list of coins to look for before you dump that are worth the value of silver. Of course how much you get is based on the value of silver that day. I have a page tabbed on this site that will give you the price.
- Nickels-1942-1945 (They have 35% silver
- Dimes 1946-1964 have 90% silver
- Quarters 1032-1964 have 90% silver.
I heard about someone who had 290 dimes with silver in them.They were planning to dump them into the coin machine and did not feel fooling around with rolling or looking at them. A friend convinced them to go to a local coin dealer. They were able to get $320 dollars that day based on the price of silver. You do the math.
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