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

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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.