1943 Tombac Canada Nickel with or without Gold

Have Canadian nickel and want to know its value? Leave a comment

War nickels were made out of Tombac, a combination of copper and zinc, because the nickel in nickels had to be reallocated for steel in war materials. They lasted only for two years in 1942 and 1943, a 1944 Tombac found is unique, but the copper was need so they changed composition again in 1944. Still these coins are common and 1943 is the most common with over 24 million minted.

The V (5 in Roman numbers) on the reverse  was inspired by the "V" Churchill through up during the World War II and by the older U.S. 1883-1912 nickels that had V symbol. The torch is known as a vitory torch seen around the western world for many reason. The front has GEORGIVS VI D : G : REX ET IND : IMP : with a protrait of King George VI.

Secret code
Look on the reverse the border near the rim is a Morse code message, "We win when working willingly."

This one was plated in gold but not by the Canadian government. Plating coins is considered damage by collectors since the surface of the coin is permanently altered.As for the silver, gold, or platinum used in  coin plating they have little to no value. The reason is that it is usually low quality and also very thinly layered. As you see above the gold is so thin after a few years it begins flaking or scraping off. As far as I know there is no efficient way to salvage this gold.

Side by side you can see the difference but I prefer the way the original Tombac looks. Although the luster is gone a high grade Tombac coin looks more like the plated version except a bit less yellow.

Here's the stats...
Type/Country: 5 Cents / Canada
Year: 1943
Mintage: 24,760,256
Metal: 88% Copper, 12% Zinc
Value: $0.30 in Very-Fine

Do you have a coin 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.

1996 $20 Bill, AD-C

Have any $20 bill and want to know its value? Leave a comment

The first of major design change on U.S. currency in decades happened for the 1996 series. By comparison the current multicolor design is almost the same just more colorful. The older design from 1928-1995 had  smaller portraits, more symmetry, and less security features.

The design change was a first and lasted through three series 1996, 1999, and 2001. Still they are common and still circulating so they really have no extra value unless perfect. To slowdown counterfeiters the government suggest a redesign every five years or so. The smaller value the note the less often it needs to be changed except for the one dollar bill that has no major redesigns pending.

Here's the stats for this bill...
Type/Federal Bank: $20 Note - D.C. / Cleveland
Year: 1996
Printings: 364,000,000
Printed: May 1999
Run: 8th of 15 from AD51200001C - AD57600000C
Value: $20.00 in VF 

Do you have currency 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.

Coined For Money: Round-Up Oct.23-30, 2012

Went to some Halloween/Pre-Storm parties so little time to read articles this week. I'll just drop what I found that I need to read later.

PCGS Collector's Universe has certified 25 million coins, I suspect many are redo coins or attempts to upgrade but I will read more later.

The guy who stole the not yet circulated $100 bills was busted and none of the bills were used. It is a good article but the last sentence is out of place.

I want to read this article about coin collectors throughout history.

2006 British Penny

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

Yes I am still finding British coins in my change. I think it is because the Olympics but it always has been a common foreign find. This is one has the previous design of the gate on the reverse. It is two years before they stated the puzzle pieces that are currently issued.

 

Soon the holiday season will start which means, hopefully, more finds. After Halloween until Valentines is when a rush of spenders come out. They are quick to buy things and "accidentally" use foreign coins. Most cashiers are quick to pass it forward so it is a good idea to keep an eye out. British coins look and feel quite different from American coins. Most Euros also are different but Canadians and many Asians are very similar to our coins in weight and feel.

Here's the stats...
Type/Country: 1 Penny / Great Britain
Year: 2006
Mintage: 524,605,000
Metal: Copper-Plated Steel
Value: $0.02 in VF (very-fine)

Do you have a coin from Great Britain 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.

1983 Canada Nickel

Have Canadian nickel and want to know its value? Leave a comment

This is why I am not too worried that the Canada cent has stopped being minted. Just found a Canadian nickel in my change and of course it was not the first time. So the possibility of finding Canadian coins will continue just the denomination will change. The nickel will become the most common coin used and found until they either stop production or go completely electronic.

 
This on is a bit beat up but still holds up well. It is just shy of thirty years old and will get a rest sitting in my collection.

Here's the stats...
Type/Country: 5 Cents / Canada
Year: 1983
Mintage: 72,596,000
Metal: 75% Copper, 25% Nickel
Value: $0.05 in Fine

Do you have a coin 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.

1996 $20 Stare Note, AG-*

Have a star note and want to know its value? Leave a comment

This $20 bill is kind of dingy and folded but it still has that star at the end of the serial number.The ink stain on one of the corners is also not good. It may have been done at the bank or in someone's pocket but it is common and does little to the value unless on a perfect bill.

The 1996 series marks the fist time they placed the double letters on the serial number. The first letter indicates the series year and the second letter indicates the Federal district bank. In this case A = 1996 and G = Chicago.

Each new series year will follow the alphabet with the exception of O which is never used. The letter O and the number 0 are too similar and may cause confusion. The removal of the district seal is why they added the district letter to the serial number.

Here's the stats for this bill...
Type/Federal Bank: $20 Note- Fort Worth / Chicago
Year: 1996
Printings: 12,800,000
Printed: July 1998
Run: 2nd of 4 from AG03200001* - AG06400000*
Value: $22.00 in VF 

Do you have currency 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.

Coined For Money: Round-Up Oct.15-22, 2012

You can hoard you coins very well but sometimes too well. Here are some recent articles about people who hoard money and never end up using it.

A novice metal detector hunter in the U.K. found a cache of gold coins. This is likely a stash that the ancieny Romans left for the gods to secure a safe journey, if the person came back they would dig up the coins. Apparently the person never came back.

Modern digital coins are also being hoarded. Technically most are just not being used but assuming some of owners will not come back these coins are as good as lost.

I found a British 20 Pence and yes I will put it aside and never use it. Carrying these to the U.K. is not on my vacation list.

2012-D Lincoln Shield Cent

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

It is only October and I just found the Denver version of our penny. These new one cent coins are circulating well despite the call to have them removed from our monetary system. Still it is not that special and with over two billion in circulation they are not that valuable.

According to Mint News Blog, a great blog about everything U.S. Mint related, the production is on the upswing for all U.S. coins. The increase is very noticeable if you still use money. The new cents make up the majority of all the minted coins followed up by nickels. Large coins are still not a priority for the mint or the public.

Here's the stats...
Type/Country: 1 Cent  / United States
Year: 2012-D
Mintage: 2,241,200,000 (estimated to date)
Metal: 97.5% Zinc, 2.5% Copper
Value: $0.01 in EF-40

Do you have a cent 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.

2010 British Twenty Pence

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

Found the third piece in the British money jigsaw puzzle hunt. Back in 2011 I found the puzzle penny and the puzzle ten pence. To complete the shield you need six coins (1 pence, 2 pence, 5 pence, 10 pence, 20 pence, and 50 pence) plus the pound coin that has the completed shield. You win nothing if you complete the shield except for pride, maybe.

I do enjoy the design. It is a seven sided coin with a thick rim that has incused designs. On the front is the queen and the rim says ELIZABETH·II·D·G·REG·F·D·. While the back has TWENTY PENCE on the rim as well as part of the shield design incuse while the field of the coin has the rest of the design normal.

Here's the stats...
Type/Country: 20 Pence / Great Britain
Year: 2010
Mintage: 91,700,500
Metal: 84% Copper, 16% Nickel
Value: $0.33 in VF (very-fine)

Do you have a coin from Great Britain 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.

2009 Canada Cent, Steel

Have a Canadian penny and want to know its value? Leave a comment

As usual there are two versions of this Canadian cent and I found in my change the most common, again. There is a zinc type that is not magnetic but it is scarcer.

The year is over half over and I am still getting the same amount of Canadian coins as in previous years. I suspect I will not see a shortage until 2014. There will be several silver and a gold pennies released this year and I hope that a few will end up in my change but I will not hold my breath.

Here's the stats for this coin...
Type/Country: 1 Cent / Canada
Year: 2009
Mintage: 419,105,000
Metal: 94% Steel, 4.5% Copper, and 1.5% Nickel
Value: $0.01 in F

Do you have a Canada cent 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.

1999 $20 Star Note, BL-*

Have a star note and want to know its value? Leave a comment

The non-colorized $20 bills for 1999 are normal. I understand that they are old enough to be pulled from circulation and some people are starting to forget they were around. Like all U.S. notes they are still legal and plenty are still circulating.

Despite the fact they lack the familiar rainbow sherbert coloring they still have most of the same security features. The Jefferson watermark is visible on the right and the plastic security strip is on the left.

This one is also a star note and in pretty great shape. This is because it was one of the last 1999 bills printed. The final run of all the 1999 series $20 bills it was printed in November of 2002. I probably got it in early 2003 so it stayed crisp although it is a bit ruffled on the edges. The printing of the 2001 series did overlap with the 1999 printings mainly for the replacement star notes.

Here's the stats for this bill...
Type/Federal Bank: $20 Note- Fort Worth / San Fransisco
Year: 1999
Printings: 3,200,000
Printed: November 2002
Run: 1st and only from BL00000001* - BL03200000*
Value:  $30.00 in CU 

Do you have currency 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.

Coined For Money: Round-Up Oct.7-14, 2012

It is all about the newness. New coins, new $100 bills, and a new find for me.

The new Alice Paul gold coin celebrates the suffragist movement all for as little as $1,054.

2013 is when the new $100 bills are to be released but some airport workers could not wait and stole about $20,000 worth of these new bills. Trying to use them will be tricky even if they wait until New Year's Day.

I was given a 2005 Chinese 10 Yuan bill which is new to my collection.

2005 China 10 Yuan Bill

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

Trade with China must be good. Just a couple months after finding a 2012 Chinese coin I have now was given a 10 Yuan bill by a happy Chinese tourist. I work close to a tourist trap in New York City and during lunch I keep my eye out for foreigners who may need help. After helping some guy from China I noticed his 10 Yuan and said it was cool. Yes, he was nice enough to let me have it.

This note is mainly slate blue but also has many multicolored parts. Mao Tse-tung is on the front with his lifespan of 1893-1976. A flower is near the center and also serves as a watermark.

The back has the Three gorges of Yangtze river. The entire bill has the typical security features like micro printing, watermarks, metal security strip, back and front matching images, texture, and more.

In this very used shape all the value will come from currency exchange and seeing how China likes changing that it may change a lot over the coming years.

Here's the stats for this note...
Type/Country: 10 Yuan / People's Republic of China
Year: 2005
Printings: Unknown
Value: $1.60 in Good

Do you have Chinese money 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.

2006 Canada Cent, RCM Logo Zinc

Have a Canadian penny and want to know its value? Leave a comment

Of the six varieties of 2006 Canadian pennies I have two with this recent find. Four of them are common and two are scarce and carry extra value. As usual the ones I own are very common and hold no extra value.

The six varieties are:

• 2006 - Copper Plated Zinc 
• 2006 - Copper Plated Steel
• 2006 RCM Logo - Copper Plated Zinc
• 2006 RCM Logo - Copper Plated Steel
• 2006 P - Copper Plated Zinc    
• 2006 P - Copper Plated Steel

The easy way of telling zinc from steel is using a magnet. Steel is magnetic while zinc is not magnetic. Any common magnet will do even the refrigerator magnets. RCM stand for Royal Canadian Mint which started using the little circled maple leaf on the front of cents in 2006 if I am correct.

2006 - Copper Plated Steel and 2006 P - Copper Plated Zinc are the ones with the most value about $75.00 and $100.00 in mint state respectively. They were made in much lower numbers but I hope to find all of them in my change.

Here's the stats...
Type/Country: 1 Cent / Canada
Year: 2006 RCM Logo
Mintage: 176,000,000
Metal: 98.4% Zinc, 1.6% Copper
Value: $0.01 in AU

Do you have a cent 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

2004 $20 Star Note, EA-*

Have a star note and want to know its value? Leave a comment

The other day I went to the bank with someone and they took out a large sum of money in twenty dollar bills. I had the opportunity to search most of them and there was no star notes. They are not as common but throughout the years I have found a few like the one below.

No need to show the whole thing because I featured several 2004 bills before. This one has a lower run of 320,000 but the Boston notes had a few stars so it is not as valuable.

Always take the time to flip through any stack of money that you have in hand. The star tends to pop out as the small shape is not commonly seen. It may just bring a few dollars premium but at least it is something.

Here's the stats for this bill...
Type/Federal Bank: $20 Note- D.C. / Boston
Year: 2004
Printings: 320,000
Printed: October 2004
Run: 2nd of 4 from EA03200001* - EA03520000*
Value:  $25.00 in CU 

Do you have currency 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.

Coined For Money: Round-Up Sept. 24-Oct. 6, 2012

Let us see what is new in this lost week. After a week of no internet I decided to scale back on daily postings because the cable service is not reliable and it is birthday season among my friends and that means less time on the web. Back to the coin news not much around so I will showcase the odd.

New Zealand is making expensive Hobbit gold coins just in time for the movie premiere.

Have not played Super Mario Bros. in years but their newest offering seems to be a gold coin frenzy. I still remember that sound of getting a coin in that game.

The Tuscarawas County Coin Club will be issuing wooden "coins" to promote their club. Nice to see they ae still be made.

Found a Double Clip Planchet error in my change and finally got to show it off.

1964-D Nickel, Double Clip Planchet

Have an error and want to know its value? Leave a comment

A double clipped planchet is a coin the has two missing sections. The clips are made before the coin is pressed. When the sheets of metal are cut during the coining process they try to make each circle as close as possible for efficiency. Sometimes if the rolled sheets skip, bend, or gets stuck the cutting overlaps. So a cut section gets cut again and you have an error known as a clipped planchet.

These are very small clips and usually only those that are missing 10% or more carry high values. Not that these are common but among clipped planchet errors these are not as collectable.

Here are two great links discussing the error in detail. First from a Coin Talk forum page and another from a Fluer-DeCoin article. Found this error in my change and the only surprise is that it lasted that long without anyone else taking it. I am guessing it is such a minor error that it stayed unnoticed.

Value is going to be pretty low since it well circulated and less than a 10% clip. Still a double clip is neat and not my first but probably the most obvious. Straight clips and ragged clips are also found in change but when less than 10%  they are difficult to verify.

Here's the stats for this error coin...
Type/Country: 5 Cents / United States
Year: 1964-D
Metal: 75% copper 25% nickel
Mintage: 1,787,297,160
Value: $5.00 in VF-20

Do you have a 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.

Interruption Over

Many pardons for my lack of post as my internet has been out for the last week. I completely understand Patrick Stewart's rant against cable companies as Brooklyn is not the best place for pushing a button and getting cable.

I will start updating soon. Many cool finds were made this past week.