Monday, October 31, 2011

1976 Canada Cent

Do you have Canadian cent and want to know its value? Leave a comment

Oh the horror!
Look at that monstrosity! It's...it's...another Canadian cent. Nooooooooooo!

 

Lacking any redeeming qualities, at least in the U.S., this coin haunts my change and probably will forever.

Type/Country: 1 Cent / Canada
Year: 1976
Mintage: 701,122,890
Metal: 98% Copper, 0.5% Tin, and 1.5% Zinc
Value: $0.02 in F

Happy Halloween

Do you have a Canada coin and want to know its value? Leave a comment/question and I will do my best to find out the price and history for you

Friday, October 28, 2011

1989 Barbados Dollar

Do you have a Barbados coin and want to know its value? Leave a comment

Back to the vaults since I have been sick and unable to use or find money outside. One of the reasons I like this coin is that it is seven sided. Not the most popular shape for a coin but not uncommon. By giving a high denomination coin an odd shape you can keep it small and distinct.

Flying fish above ONE DOLLAR, above the fish are cool stylized clouds, I like small details like that.

Split 19 89 around coat of arms above BARBADOS
Normally these coins would weigh 9.90 grams but between 1988 and 1998 they reduced the weight. At 6.30 grams this thinner coin looks and works the same, just a bit lighter. For some reason they went back to the thicker and heavier planchet in 2000. I can only assume it had to do with metal values.

Here are the stats for this Barbados coin...
Type/Country: 1 Dollar / Barbados
Year: 1989
Mintage: Not known.
Metal: Copper-Nickel
Value: $0.75 in XF(Extra Fine although this one look less.)

Do you have a Barbadian coin and want to know its value? Leave a comment/question and I will do my best to find out the price and history for you.

Wednesday, October 26, 2011

1961 U.S. Nickel

Do you have a nickel and want to know its value? Leave a comment

This is one of those common coins that was so elusive to find in change, at least for me. Since I started to seriously start collecting coins from my change back in 1998 it has been a breeze to get the most common coins. Then there are a few older ones that escape your grasp. This 1961 nickel was one.

As you may know 2009s with their low mintage and hoarders out there is also not in my possession. Next two nickels I have to get are 1957-D and 1997-D everything in the middle has been found in my change.


50 years of wear and tear has done little to harm this coin. I would add that if I find the same coin in better condition I will upgrade and toss the lesser coin back in my change.

Here's the stats...
Type/Country: 5 Cents / United States of America
Year: 1961
Mintage: 73,640,100
Metal: 75% copper 25% nickel
Value: $0.10 in VF-20

Do you have an oldish nickel and want to find out its value? Leave a comment and I will do my best to find out the price and history for you.

Monday, October 24, 2011

1953 Wheat Cent

Do you have a wheat cent and want to know its value? Leave a comment

Got this in my change while Halloween costume shopping.

 

Here's the stats for the coin pictured...
Type/Country: 1 Cent / United States
Year: 1953
Mintage: 256,755,000
Metal: 95% Copper 5% Tin & Zinc
Value: $0.05 in F-12

Do you have an old cent and want to know its value? Leave a comment

Friday, October 21, 2011

1982 Bangladesh Taka

Do you have Bangladesh note and want to know its value? Leave a comment

The only money I own from Bangladesh is this note. I think I got it out of a Cheerios box back in the 1980s. I can vaguely recall getting this note because at the time certain cereals gave world currency wrapped in plastic in the box. At the time each note was worth less than a penny in currency exchange.

Like most small denomination notes this Taka is not used in Bangladesh much instead they use one Taka coins. Taka coins are issued in 1, 2, and 5 varieties all of which are quickly replacing the currency versions. America will not follow this trend any time soon.

 


This is a multicolor note printed with purple ink designs. Two hidden items come up when you hold it to the light. A watermark bust of a tiger in the empty white space and a dark security thread on the right under the coat of arms.

There are six signature varieties, all the same value. More importantly there are 3 varieties for this year. 


Looking at the corner of the white space you can make out a signature and underneath a title in Bengali. This is a short title অর্থসচিব (FINANCE SECRETARY) means this not the longer titled PRINCIPAL FINANCE SECRETARY = মুখ্য অর্থসচিব.

So that narrows it down to two possibilities, now look at that third picture and the security thread is solid. This means it is the least common variety which is about $1.50 in uncirculated. This is compared to thread that has micro-printing and is segmented which is only $1.00 in uncirculated.

Type/Country: 1 Taka / Bangladesh
Year: 1982
Printings: Unknown
Run: Unknown
Value: $0.75 in XF, it is mostly crisp but the corners are bent

Do you have bills from Bangladesh and want to know their value? Leave a comment/question and I will do my best to find out the price and history for you.

Wednesday, October 19, 2011

1970 Switzerland 20 Rappen

Do you have Swiss coin and want to know its value? Leave a comment

Years have passed since I found a Switzerland coin in my change then I got this one last week. I have been waiting to talk about these coins since they cause lots of confusion and questions among non-collectors.

Confusion
It has no recognizable country name, symbols, or denomination. Why the vagueness? Well Switzerland has four official languages (German, French, Italian, Romansh) and they like to keep coins language neutral so they use Latin and abbreviations as much as possible.

CONFŒDERATIO HELVETICA (CONFEDERATION SWISS) 1970 around Lady Liberty with LIBERTAS in hair band.
Flower wreath and ribbon around 20

The Helvetic Confederation is the national symbol of Switzerland usually represented by a woman holding a Swiss shield and spear. It is the same as saying Swiss Confederation in case you are not sure.

Here's the stats...
Type/Country: 20 Rappen / Switzerland
Year: 1970
Mintage: 45,605,000
Metal: Copper-Nickel
Value: $0.25 in Very-Fine

Swiss money has been in the news recently. Since the Swiss never adopted the euro it has become a safe haven for investors as the dollar and euro fall in value. Switzerland has relatively strong economy and they want to keep it that way so they purposely are using methods to make their francs less valuable. By lowering interest rates and other small steps they hope that Swiss money stays secure in shadows.This is being done because as the Swiss Franc rising and the Swiss are shopping in neighboring countries.

Do you have a coin from Switzerland and want to know its value? Leave a comment/question and I will do my best to find out the price and history for you. 

Monday, October 17, 2011

Is This How You Collect?

Got this 2010-D dime in my change and it has no extra value. It also looks bad compared to the one that comes in an official mint set. So why bother? Simply it is how I collect.

Got this comment today...
I might be the only 12 year old that does this...I sort Copper at 12.
Well if that is how this kid decides to collect it is great.

I collect by trying to get every unique coin from my change. Yes that means every penny, nickel, dime, or whatever. It does not matter if they are circulated or recent or dirty. Start getting one of each I dare you. Just with post-1965 coins you should have a several hundred coins to try and find.


You do not need any prior knowledge of coins or currency to eventually see patterns. Like U.S. cents and some older coins do not have the mint mark P. Also some coins are harder to find. Even that getting sharper newer-looking coins are better than dirty worn coins.

 

I will add that the possibility are not limited because they are circulating coins. People have found ancient, world, silver, obsolete, errors, promotional, and even gold coins while collecting circulating coins. Value should be a secondary thought, this is the hobby of kings and should be enjoyable.

Here's the stats...
Type/Country: 10 Cents / United States
Year: 2010 D
Mintage: 562,000,000 (estimated so far)
Metal: 91.67% Copper, 8.33% Nickel
Value: $0.10  in XF-40

Challenge Yourself 
From now until the New Year try and get one of every uniquely common coin from your change. If at the end you find no pleasure in owning 100 quarters from different states or parks or pennies ranging from 1944 to 2011 or getting a weird token or foreign coin then cash them in. No loss and it is a good way to save for after Christmas bills.

I still have not found a 2009 nickel of any mintmark. Although along with this dime I did find a 1941 nickel, again.

Do you have a U.S. dime and want to know its value? Leave a comment / question and I will do my best to find out the price and history for you.

Friday, October 14, 2011

1987 Canada Cent

Do you have Canadian cent and want to know its value? Leave a comment

Found three Canadian cents in short span but two were repeats so I just showcased this one. Eventually there will be a point that there are no more unique Canadian cents to post. Since I will not do reruns most Canada posts will slowly go away. Luckily Canada makes dozens of new coin types each year. So maybe there is hope.


The other two finds not pictured.
1967 Canada cent very green found in my change.
2011 Canada Cent found across the street from Occupy Wall St. I guess non-U.S. money is not a priority.

Here's the stats...
Type / Country: 1 Cent / Canada
Year: 1987
Mintage: 774,549,000
Metal: 98% Copper, 1.5% Zinc, 0.5% Tin
Value: $0.03 in G-4

Do you have a cent form Canada and want to know its value? Leave a comment/question and I will do my best to find out the price and history for you.

Wednesday, October 12, 2011

2003 Spain 2 Euro Cent

Do you have a Spanish euro and want to know its value? Leave a comment

Almost a year since my last Spanish euro find. The second least common of the Spanish 2 euro cents only the 2002 had a lower mintage. Once again like most euros they are still very common.

Cathedral of Santiago de Compostela
 

Not much to say about this one plus I am a bit tired so ask questions if got any.

Here's the stats...
Type/Country: 2 Euro Cent / Spain
Year: 2003
Mintage: 31,431,790
Metal: Copper Plated Steel: 94.35% Steel 5.65% Copper
Value: $0.10 in F

Do you have a coin from Spain and want to know its value? Leave a comment/question and I will do my best to find out the price and history for you.

Monday, October 10, 2011

1993 Argentina 25 Centavos (Cu-Ni)

Do you have an Argentinian coin and want to know its value? Leave a comment

This was a nice recent change find. Argentinian coins sometimes pop up in my change thanks to a healthy tourist trade. I can only assume that the big 25 confused someone into thinking it was a quarter. Although our quarters do not have a big 25 on them I can see how it can pass with little thought.

25 centavos (cents) 1993
· REPUBLICA ARGENTINA ·  EN UNION Y LIBERTAD (· REPUBLIC ARGENTINA ·  IN UNION AND LIBERTY)
This coin has two varieties.
First is the same design except made of brass, which I never seen and can only assume is brass colored. This type had a smaller minting of 80 million.
Second is the one pictured which is copper-nickel (Cu-Ni) and has a higher minting of 390 million.

Either type you have be aware they have the same value.

Here's the stats ...
Type/Country: 25 Centavos (Cu-Ni) / Argentina
Year: 1993
Mintage: 390,000,000
Metal: Copper-Nickel
Value: $0.30 in VF

Do you have a coin from Argentina and want to know its value? Leave a comment/question and I will do my best to find out the price and history for you.

Friday, October 07, 2011

2007 Canada Dime St7

Do you have a Canadian dime and want to know its value? Leave a comment
 
That St7 is not a secret code it stands for Straight 7. For the 2007 Canada dime two types were minted the first and most common is the straight leg 7. The second type, which I have yet to find, is a curved legged 7.  The curved variety was allegedly only for sets but as you know anything is possible in change finds.


Sorry for the blur but limited camera time did not allow for a re-shoot. Still you can see the 7 is very straight also the 00 is more rectangular. If this was a Curve 7 variety the 00 would be more oval shaped and of course the 7 would have a ( slant to the leg.

 

Here's the stats...
Type/Country: 10 Cents / Canada
Year: 2007 (St7)
Mintage: 304,110,000
Metal: 92% Steel, 5.5% Copper, and 2.5% Nickel
Value: $0.10 in Extra-Fine

Do you have ten cents from Canada and want to know its value? Leave a comment/question and I will do my best to find out the price and history for you.

Wednesday, October 05, 2011

1997 Canada Penny

Do you have a Canadian cent and want to know its value? Leave a comment

This cent is a recent change find and common. I cannot recall where I got it because finding Canadian money is becoming so common that I almost ignoring them. Sometimes I need a second look to make that I want to separate it from my normal change. 
 
 
Maple leaves for all I think Thanksgiving is next Monday in Canada. Will I find a Canadian coin on that day? Ooh fingers crossed.
 
Here's the stats...
Type/Country: 1 Cent / Canada
Year: 1997
Mintage: 549,868,000
Metal: Copper Plated Zinc
Value: $0.01 in F

Do you have a cent form Canada and want to know its value? Leave a comment/question and I will do my best to find out the price and history for you.

Monday, October 03, 2011

2002 Italy 5 Euro Cents

Do you have an Italian Euro and want to know its value? Leave a comment

Almost a year to the day I found my last Italian euro find. This one was found on the floor in front of a Coinstar machine. Apparently many people tried to pass it through until someone got so upset they threw it on the ground with furious anger. I may have exaggerated the details for effect.

The third most common euro coin behind the Italian 20 Cents and 1 Cent coins of the same year. I guess Italy wanted to go all in when they switched to euros. Recently I have read no one uses the 1, 2, or 5 euros cents much in Europe so it is getting rejected everywhere.

Colosseum
 

Notice a dark blob on the coin. Again this is guess but I think it is ink. People often carry pens and coins in the same place so it could possibly be a leaky pen. This is a case where pure acetone wold help since it is a low value coin it may be worth the experiment one day.

Here's the stats...
Type/Country: 5 Euro Cents / Italy
Year: 2002
Mintage: 1,341,742,204
Metal: Copper Plated Steel
Value: $0.06 in Fine

Do you have a Euro from Italy and want to know its value? Leave a comment/question and I will do my best to find out the price and history for you.