Coin Collectors Blog

Not Your Ordinary Change Purse Find

Apr 18, 2019 | cents, coins | 1 Comment

Although I am still searching for a quarter with a W mintmark in my change, it does not mean I am not finding anything. Today’s find was not in change but from the bottom of a box.

Peering inside the little purse we see the coin

Little Pink Doll Purse found in a box

I picked up a box that someone used to bring in a consignment, dumped the packing peanuts into another box, and began to prepare to fill the box for shipping. When I checked the box, I found a little pink purse stuck to the bottom.

A few months ago, a client delivered dolls and other collectibles they did not want to take on their move across the country. We sold most of the collectibles and moved on. But this little purse found something in the box to attach itself to and stayed behind.

I opened the purse to find a little handkerchief and a penny. How cute, I thought, they put a penny in the doll’s handbag. The edge of the coin showed a distinctive red color and wondered about the year. Considering that most of the toys were from the 1990s, I was expecting to see a period coin.

Imagine my surprise when I removed the coin and found it was a 1907 Indian Head cent. The red colored coin has signs of toning on the obverse, likely from being stored in the purse with a little cotton hankie. The coin looks like it has never been in circulation.

I am not a fan of toned coins, but this one is light enough to enhance the red coloring of the coin rather than being a different color.

The images of the coin do not do it justice. I should have taken the picture on a white background and away from fluorescent lights. But I wanted to send the picture to someone who might be interested in the coin.

If that person does not buy the coin, I may take the chance to send it to a grading service. I think it could probably grade MS64-RD. It is such a pretty coin that it is worth the risk. After all, mint state Indian Head cents graded as red-brown start at $40. I cannot lose!

Heroes of WWII Are Honored Today

Mar 29, 2007 | medals, US Mint | 0 Comments

Numismatics are used by nations to represent history. They honor important people, significant events, and celebrate the principles that guide a nation to a successful history. Those of us who collect legal tender items have seen this in the coinage and currency that marks United States history. One area of this celebration that goes under reported and under appreciated are medals.

Like everything else the US Mint produces, the Mint produces medals as they are legislated by congress and signed by the President. As part of the Mint’s medal programs, they produce medals copies of the official medal for each president as well as the Secretaries of the Treasury and Directors of the US Mint. Other medals the Mint is requested to produce are copies of the special medals that are awarded by congress to citizens for their extraordinary service to the nation.

Today, March 29, congress will honor the Tuskegee Airmen with the Congressional Gold Medal. Formed in 1942, the Tuskegee Airmen were African-American fighter pilots who the Army Air Corps considered “not intelligent enough” to be fighter pilots. These brave men went onto fight in successful campaigns against the Axis powers in the skies over Europe. They went on to dispel the racist preconceptions of the military that lead to General Dwight Eisenhower to integrate the armed forces.

Although it has been more than 60 years since their heroism, it is appropriate that these heroes are honored with the country’s highest award. A ceremony will be held today in the Capital Rotunda to award the Tuskegee Airmen with the specially designed medal. President George W. Bush and former Secretary of State Colin L. Powell, a 1991 medal recipient, will deliver speeches at the event.

This award was authorized under Public Law 109-213 (GPO: [text]/[PDF]). It also specifies that a bronze version of the medal be offered for sale to the public. As of noon today, the Mint is offering bronze 3-inch and 1½-inch versions of the medal that will be awarded today. It is a beautiful medal and a wonderful tribute to real heroes.

Image from the US Mint

On Deck: John Adams

Mar 27, 2007 | coins, dollar | 0 Comments

John Adams was the second President of the United States, the first to be a father of a future president, and the first president to occupy the White House. Adams was a career diplomat serving in France and Holland during the Revolutionary War. On his return to the new country, he became the first Vice President of the United States.

Adams will be featured on the second coin in the Presidential Dollar program. His coin is scheduled to be released in May. In the mean time, the US Mint is preparing for the release of this new coin. If you want to read about the creating of this coin, this article from the Patriot Ledger of Quincy, Massachusetts has a very good article. You may want to see the slide show that shows Mint Engraver Charles Vickers engraving the master plaster cast, rolls of coin metals, and other interesting pictures.

Another ANA Show Find–GSA Blue Softpack

Mar 24, 2007 | coins, dollar, GSA, shows | 0 Comments

While walking around the ANA National Money Show on Saturday with my father, I met a dealer who had a blue envelope that said “United States Silver Dollar” in a fancy script on the cover with a 1922 Peace Dollar in a shrink wrap next to the envelope. I was intrigued and asked the dealer about the coin. The dealer removed it from his case and told me that he bought as part of a lot with other items. The dealer did not know much about the coin except that it was sold as part of a “GSA Hoard Sale” that was offered after the sale of the well known Carson City Dollars.

I like Peace Dollars. Aside from being a classic beauty, the are the first non-modern set I put together—which includes the 1928 Peace Dollar my fiancée (now my wife) bought for me as a gift! Within the envelop was the dollar shrink wrapped with a special GSA token and two information cards. One card was about the coin and the other about the sale. The more I looked, the more interested I became.

With loupe in hand, I looked closely at the coin. Even though the cards say that the coin is circulated, the dealer and I agreed that if it was circulated, that it was very lightly handled. Some wearing on Liberty’s cheek and neck along with the nice luster had both of us agreeing that the coin should grade MS62/63. The dealer was asking for a modest price over the price he paid, so I made the purchase.

When I came home, I searched for more information and found this site that explained how the GSA sold what has been called the “GSA Hoard” that included the famed Carson City Dollars and over 100,000 additional circulated and uncirculated silver dollars. This report noted that there were “84,165 circulated and 27,980 uncirculated coins minted between 1859 and 1935.” The 84,165 circulated silver dollars were various types including Seated Liberty, Morgan and Peace Silver Dollars with mint marks from other US Mint branches.

The article reports that the GSA never published the number that they sold of the blue softpack dollar. It is estimated that there were 100,000 of these coins sold.

The ANA National Money Show in Charlotte was a lot of fun. Now it is time to go to Baltimore for the Whitman Baltimore Coin and Currency Convention.

BEP Print from National Money Show

Mar 23, 2007 | BEP, shows | 0 Comments

For every show the US Bureau of Engraving and Printing attends, they create special intaglio prints from the original dies in their vaults. BEP selects vignettes significant to the location and the image of one vintage note. For the 2007 ANA National Money Show held in Charlotte, the BEP created a plate that printed cards with the North Carolina State Shield in the upper left (from Miscellaneous Die #2458); portrait of James K. Polk (Miscellaneous Die #2524) 11th President of the United States Born in Mecklenberg County, North Carolina Engraved by L. J. Hatch; and the back of a $5 United States Note Series 1880 (Miscellaneous Die #2981).

James Knox Polk, was born on November 2, 1795, in an area of Mecklenburg County that is part of Pineville today. Pineville is a bustling suburb of to the southwest of Charlotte. Polk is the only former Speaker of the House to become President and was governor of Tennessee at the time of his election in 1844.

BEP offered this print for $20 at the show. Today, you can purchase it from the BEP online store for $22.50. The one pictured here was purchased at the show then taken to the USPS booth where I purchased a 39-cent stamp and was postmarked with a special stamp made for the show. Having it postmarked on the first day of issue is nice.

BEP was offering a limited edition of 100 intaglio prints made at the show that was autographed by the printer on site. In order to win, you had to write you name on a piece of paper and put it in a bowl. When they drew the names, you had to be there to claim the print. After watching the demonstration and listening to the discussions, I put my name into the bowl and waited for the 4pm drawing. After 16 were claimed and many were disqualified for not being present, my name was picked from the bowl. This gave me the ability to purchase print number 37.

Included with both prints is a card explaining the images on the intaglio print and the limited edition intaglio print included a card from the printer.

Click on the images to enlarge.

NGC Warns About Altered Washington Dollars

Mar 22, 2007 | counterfeit, dollar, errors, grading | 0 Comments

Numismatic Guarantee Corporation (NCG), published an article on their website warning about Washington Dollars with edges altered to resemble no-edge lettering errors. NGC said that “[less] than a month after their official release, Presidential $1 Coins with altered edges are being submitted to NGC for certification.” In the article, NGC provides detailed dimensions of the coins along with images of genuine and altered edges.

Collectors are urged to use the information to make informed decisions as to their purchase of these coins. Although it is popular to buy coins from online auction sites, collectors may want to ensure that the coins are certified from a reputable third party grading service. You may want to inquire as to the seller’s return policy should the coin be altered. Remember, a seven day return policy will not be enough time for a coin to be certified by most grading services. Here are some resources to learn more: