Ewww George

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This is the third Where's George? dollar I found. It is also one of the dirtiest bills I ever got. I have said before how much I dislike the over-stamping of money. Especially the Where's George? community who become obsessive and ruin hundred of thousand of notes. Often these notes are handled so much that they break down faster and get grimy.

TRACK

ME AT

WWW.

WHERES

GEORGE

.COM

Track this bill at www.WheresGeorge.com

This bill was first defaced on September 10, 2011 in Cranford, NJ. I was the first person to report this bill at the site. The person who defaced this note is a bit obsessed with stamping notes as many others on the site. Here's the stats:

Bills Entered:	11,569	Hit Rate:	10.07%
Bills with Hits:	1,165	Total Hits:	1,315
Days of Inactivity:	3	George Score:	1,024.11
Wilds Found:	42	Overall Rank:	1,919
State Rank (New Jersey)	59	State Percentile :	98.60

The person is an older guy and I will not show the serial number. Although I do not like this game I will not ruin it for others.

Here's the original stats...
Type/Country: 1 Dollar / United States
Year: 2006
Date Printed: September 2009
Printings: 96,000,000
Run: 3rd from B12800000M -B19199999M
Value: $1.00 in this shape

P.S. If I ever find a rare note that was stamped I will release all the covered serial numbers this way the game is ruined.

P.P.S. My experiment with using cash to pay a bill instead of e-pay resulted only in the ugly note above.

Do you have a currency note 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.

1998 East Caribbean States Dollar

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Going to change my habits for a while. I will take out some money from the ATM and use it to pay bills in person. Let us see if the ups my chances of finding more coins of interest.

Until then back to the vault with this East Caribbean States dollar. While most of their are not unusual to find in U.S. change the dollar has an odd shape and was from a coin lot.

QUEEN ELIZABETH THE SECOND

EAST CARIBBEAN STATES 1998 1 ONE DOLLAR 1 (Sir Francis Drake’s Golden Hind at sea)

Decagonal Coin
This is a ten-sided coin which is kind of unusual for circulating coin. The more sides you put on a coin the more difficult it becomes to mint. Coin blanks should flow smoothly in a radial pattern when pressed but if slightly uneven a circular collar will keep the coins shape. Not as true for other coins.

Coins of lower denominations are almost always circles since they are hardly ever faked. For large denominations like one dollar or more having difficult and odd shape helps prevent counterfeiting. For added security this East Caribbean States dollar also has a fully reeded edge.

Here are the stats for this coin...
Type / Country: 1 Dollar / East Caribbean States
Year: 1998
Mintage:  Not known.
Metal: Copper-Nickel
Value: $0.50 in VF (it has a big dent on the Queen's neck)

Do you have an East Caribbean States 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.

1997 Dominican Republic 5 Pesos

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Back in the day finding Dominican coins in my change was common. Unfortunately in the last few years it has become more difficult. While New York still has a large Dominican community it is not to the levels of the 1980s.

On the seedier side people use to buy Dominican quarters for a few cents a piece and then use them in parking meters. I guess the new meters do not have the same loop hole.

REPUBLICA DOMINICANA (Dominican Republic) 1997  center 5 PESOS///// 50 ANIVERSARIO BANCO CENTRAL 1947-1997 (50th Anniversary - Central Bank) center SANCHEZ

Note the edge is segmented or partial reeded. This is common way of reeding in many countries use it to both stop counterfeiting and help for the visually impaired.

Here's the stats...
Type/Country: 5 Pesos / Dominican Republic
Year: 1997
Mintage: Unknown
Metal: Bi-Metallic: Stainless Steel Center, Brass Outer Ring
Value: $0.75 in Very-Fine

Do you have coin from the Dominican Republic 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.

1995 Denmark 10 Kroner

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It is so close to Valentine's Day and I just realized this coin I had for years has hearts, ♥ ❤ ❥. This is the first time I noticed a common symbol like this on any coin. 

1995 MARGRETHE II ♥ DAMARKS DRONNING  LG JP

10 KRONER Lions surrounded by 9 hearts with a crown.

The heart on the obverse was a traditional mint mark used to identify the Royal Danish Mint. While all the coins are know minted in the same place they still place this special mark on coins. It is more sentimental then practical and so sweet...♥, ♥, ♥.

Here's the stats...
Type/Country: 10 Kroner / Denmark
Year: 1995
Mintage: 9,461,000
Metal: Aluminum-Bronze
Value: $1.00 in Very-Fine

Do you have coin from Denmark 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.

2004-P Peace Medal Nickel

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Needed to take a break from the foreign vault. This coin was found at the work cafeteria I took it from someone else but they did not mind, really. Most of my people know I collect. The reason I took it is because most people do not realize or care they made circulating-commemorative nickels.

Peace Medal nickels honor the 1803 Louisiana Purchase with a copy of the Indian Peace Medals made for the original expedition. It features a tobacco pipe, an axe, and hands shaking. This was the first of four new commemorative designs.

 

 

The obverse has the older design but for the second two-fourths of the Westward Journey nickels in 2005 they changed Jefferson. By 2006 when they returned to the Monticello nickels they again changed Jefferson's image.

Here's the stats for these coins...
Type/Country: 5 Cents / United States
Year: 2004-P / Peace Medal
Metal: 75% copper 25% nickel
Mintage: 361,440,000
Value: $0.05 at F-12

Do you have a recent 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.

1992 Czechoslovakia 10 Haleru

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Found a 1956-D wheat cent today but since I found many before I will not make a new post about it. Instead I will trot out another vault coin.

This is a Czechoslovakian coin or more accurately a Czech and Slovak Federal Republic coin. This was kind of a short issue from 1990 through 1993. Although it was a short lived union the coins are not extra special or rare.

ČSFR (CSFR=Czech Slovak Federal Republic) 1992

10 h (haleru)

The reason this coin is such rough shape is that it is aluminum. A common metal for coins under transitional governments because they do not last long. They made it a bit thicker than normal coins of the diameter to last a bit longer. Still with little pressure it can bend and scratch easily.

Here's the stats...
Type/Country: 10 Haleru / Czechoslovakia
Year: 1992
Mintage: 45,050,000
Metal: Aluminum
Value: $0.10 in Very-Fine

Also that wheat cent found on a couch in a store with three Lincoln Memorial cents. I tried to find a change tray or donation jar in store but none existed so they came home with me.

Do you have coin from the Czech Republic 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.

1998 Czech 20 Korun

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By using electronic banking I realize that it is not easy to get change and even less chances to find "funny" money. Until I can figure out more convenient ways to live on cash I will still be in the vaults.

This is a Czech Republic coin not to be confused with a Czechoslovakia or a Republic of Slovakia coin. It is sad to see break ups but that means twice as many coins for the kids.

20 KČ Saint on a horse SVATÝ VÁCLAVE, NEDEJ ZAHYNOUT NÁM I BUDOUCÍM (Saint Wenceslas, perish forbid us her future)

ČESKA REPUBLIKA 1998 (Czech Republic 1998)

There is no doubling on the coin the lettering is made with an outline font. A sharp version of this coin must look great. It would be golden and highly detailed with the outline font looking like a neon sign. There is a proof version and I can only imagine how it pops out.

Here's the stats...
Type/Country: 20 Korun / Czech Republic
Year: 1998
Mintage: 15,725,000 (Officially 41,786 were destroyed)
Metal: Brass Plated Steel
Value: $0.75 in Very-Fine

Update: From an anonymous comment: "the correct czech coin translation is "St Wenceslaus, don't let us or the future ones perish." "

I have yet to confirm this but it makes sense.


Do you have coin from the Czech Republic 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.

1963 Cyprus 5 Mils

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Back when I got this coin it took me a long time to identify it. The language was not familiar, the value is just a number 5, and there are no symbols are images that I associate with different regions of the world. The key is the word KIBRIS. A quick Google search shows that KIBRIS is Turkish and ΚΥΠΡΙΑΚΗ is Greek but most important is that in English it means Cyprus.

The second confusing part is the two dates, 1960 and 1963. Knowing the unofficial coin rule that the later date is the real date I can assume that the earlier date is something else important. Turns out 1960 is the year of Cyprus independence. 

ΚΥΠΡΙΑΚΗ ΔΗΕΜΟΚΡΑΤΙΑ· KIBRIS CUMHURYETI (CYPRUS REPUBLIC) 1963 over shielded 1960

5 with stylized ancient boat at sea

This is one of those coins I got from a lot buy and it happens to be the most common of this type. That is not a coincident and when buying coin lots expect to find the most common types, even if they are unsearched simple probability will always lean towards common types.

Here's the stats...
Type/Country: 5 Mils / Cyprus
Year: 1963
Mintage: 12,000,000
Metal: Bronze
Value: $0.05 in Very-Fine

Do you have coin from Cyprus 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.

1953 Cuba Centavo

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Still in the vaults showing off one of three Cuban coins I own. Almost a half a century old and not in sharpest condition. Brass coins often tarnish but this one just was not stuck well. Value jumps from $0.05 in fine to $40.00 in brilliant uncirculated because so few are found in high grade.

It is still very pleasing to have any Cuban coin since they are rarely seen in circulation in the U.S. because of embargo issues. Maybe closer to Florida they are more common but up here in the North they are not.
 

REPUBLICA DE CUBA, PATRIA Y LIBERTA (REPUBLIC OF CUBA, HOME AND FREEDOM) 2.3 G, 300 M, star in triangle 1 C.

1853 CENTENARIO DE MARTI 1953 (CENTENNIAL OF MARTI)

José Julián Martí Pérez was a national hero who led the Cubans against foreigners and wrote pretty poetry and other smart/heroic stuff. This coin was pre-Castro but even Castro era Cuban coins hold no extra special value in the U.S.. Enough Cuban coins make out of the country for collectors that they can be legally be bought for cheap.

Here's the stats...
Type/Country: 1 Centavo / Cuba
Year: 1953
Mintage: 50,000,000
Metal: Brass
Value: $0.15 in Very-Fine

Do you have coin from Cuba 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.

1997 Costa Rica 50 Colones

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One of ten Costa Rican coins that I own. They are not rare but the later coins lack proper production figures. So since it is unsure how many were minted it depends on the secondary grading market to determine value. So the more that are graded and sold the more common the coin and the lower the value.

The B.C.C.R. is an acronym for Banco Central de Costa Rica or Bank Central of Costar Rica. 

The coin has a very Russian feel to it because of its minimalist style and solid brass metal.

Here's the stats...
Type/Country: 50 Colones / Costa Rica
Year: 1997 (a) Minted at Armant Metalurgica, Santiago, Chile
Mintage: Unknown
Metal: Brass
Value: $1.50 in Extra-Fine

Do you have coin from Costa Rica 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.

1967 Congo 5 Makuta

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

Back to the vaults. This coin from The Democratic Republic of the Congo came with one of the coin lots I bought. The lot came with three Congolese coins but they were all the same year and type. This happens often with coin lots. Coins are not spread out evenly and you may get three to twenty of the identical coins. Of course some companies and sellers try better so read reviews to get the best lots.

                                   Obverse: BANQUE NATIONALE DU CONGO 5K                                                                        Reverse: CINQ MAKUTA 1967 (President Mobutu)

This was the only type and denomination of this coin made. There was a huge gap in coinage from 1971-1998. The reason being is they became Zaire for a not so brief period. They are back to Democratic Republic of the Congo after a brutal civil war.

The bust of the President Mobutu is very well done. The details and 3/4 pose is better than on most western coin. The 5K is also nice in its simplicity. Overall this is one of the nicer designs that is kept simple.

Here's the stats...
Type/Country: 5 Makuta / The Democratic Republic of the Congo
Year: 1967
Mintage: 2,470,000
Metal: Copper-Nickel
Value: $0.25 in Fine

Do you have coin from the Congo 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.

1928 Buffalo Nickel

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First find of 2012!

Got this slightly scratched old five cent coin in my change at a regular store. Also known as an Indian Head nickel but at this point finding any 84 year old coin is great.

 

This is the third buffalo nickel I found around the holidays. A 1927 nickel late in 2007 and a dateless buffalo in late 2008 are not a coincident. I said it before, the holidays always brings out some nice finds.

I imagine grandma giving a little grandchild the coin saying how special it was, telling a long story of her youth and recently passed grandpa. Then in a week later the kids goes to the local store and buys a bag chips with his change and use it without a second thought.

Since technically the holidays are over after Three Kings Day on January 6th I will keep looking for more old change finds. (For those who may not celebrate Three Kings Day or Epiphany it is generally celebrated with a reenactment of the Epiphany and giving gifts to children.)

Here's the stats...
Type/Country: 5 Cents / United States
Year: 1928
Mintage: 23,411,000
Metal: 75% Copper, 25% Nickel
Value: $1.25 in G-4

Do you have an old nickel 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.

1997 Colombia 200 Pesos

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One of many reasons to upgrade your old books is for the coins not listed. This 1997 Colombian 200 Pesos was not listed even in the 2010 World Coin book by Krause. It is nothing rare or special but occasional omissions are normal.

Another coin that has edge lettering which is common for coins with high denominations. It is a security feature to make counterfeiting more difficult.

 

 

 

 

 

Obverse: REPUBLICA DE COLOMBIA, 200 PESOS, 1997
Edge: *** 200 PESOS *** MOTIVO QUIMBAYA
Reverse:  Quimbaya artwork design

Attempted to take a picture of the entire edge. If I used the Stitch Assist feature or taken a video and stills it would look better. A continuous edge shot but that means a little more patience than I have. Especially when the Jets and Giants were playing on the same day. 

Here's the stats...
Type/Country: 200 Pesos / Colombia
Edge: Upside down ↑↓
Year: 1997
Mintage: 37,000,000
Metal: Copper-Zinc-Nickel
Value: $0.15 in Fine

Do you have a Colombian 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.