2017-P Shield Cent

A Philadelphia mint mark on a cent! What?

Surprise the United States Mint added the P on the cent for the first time ever to honor the 225th Anniversary, April, 2 1792-2017, of the mint and to honor the staff at Philadelphia Mint.

So who suggested this small but huge change? 
It was the mint employees themselves, that must be the coolest suggestion box in our government. The follow through was done by the mints officials without any laws. Why? Because a minor change like mint marks does not need any federal approval. Designs, compositions, and inscriptions do need approval so everything that is not under those rules is up to the mint officials.

More surprises are expected some will be by law but some may just pop up so keep up that change hunting. (Of course they have no extra value but it is a cool collectors item.)

Here's the stats...
Type/Country: 1 Cent  / United States
Year: 2017-P
Mintage: Not Yet Known
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.

1990 Japan 10 Yen

This is a very dark coin that I got as a penny. On closer look it was actually a 10 yen coin from Japan. Not rare but seldom seen in my change I believe because the distance from here to Japan makes travel something only the wealthier population enjoys.

The design of this coin has gone unchanged since 1951. The biggest change from previous issues is the date. This one is Year 2 which is a Heisei era coin under the emperor Akihito. The previous was Emperor Hirohito whose coinage bears the Shōwa era symbols. Upon the emperor's death it will change again starting from year 1 and counting up until death.

Here are the stats...
Type/Country: 10 Yen / Japan
Year: 1990 (Year 2)
Mintage: 754,753,000
Metal: Bronze
Value: $0.15 in Extra-Fine

Exchange rate is also about $0.09.

Do you have a coin from Japan 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.