1983 Canadian Cent, Far Beads

There are two varieties of 1983 Canadian cents, the far beads and near beads. Both are relatively common but the near beads seemed to have been minted less and holds a slightly better value.

By 1982 the Royal Canadian Mint made design changes to the one cent coin changing them from round to twelve-sided as well as changing the denticles around the rim to beads. A minor adjustment to the beads in 1983 lead to varieties for that year.

Far Beads: The more common variety has what appears to be a larger gap between the rim and the beads, enough to fit three or more beads inline between that empty space.

Near Beads: Less common has a smaller gap between the rim and the bead, enough to fit 2 or less beads in that same space.

Again due to the imprecision of mass coin production often it is not possible to tell which variety that any 1983 Canadian cent may actually be. Some rims are thicker, some beads are bigger, and just plain dirt at the rim will make identification more difficult. 60-80% of these cents appear to be Far Beads.

Here's the stats...
Type/Country: 1 Cent / Canada
Year: 1983 Far Beads
Mintage: 975,510,000 (includes both varieties)
Metal: 98% Copper, 0.5% Tin, 1.5% Zinc
Value: $0.03 in Very-Good

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

New Historical Figures on U.S. Cash

Some quick coin and currency news.

First New Hampshire senators have proposed a bill to make a commemorative coin featuring Astronaut/Teacher Christa McAuliffe who died in 1986 on the space shuttle Challenger. Proceeds for the sale would support Science, Technology, Engineering, and Math (STEM) causes.

Second there are changes coming to the $20, $10, and $5 bills. Notable the addition to Harriet Tubman to the front of the $20 bill and moving Andrew Jackson to the back.

On the $10 bill the back will feature Susan B. Anthony, Elizabeth Cady Stanton, Lucretia Coffin Mott, Alice Paul, and Isabella "Sojourner Truth" Baumfree.

On the back of $5 bill will be Marian Anderson, Eleanor Roosevelt, and Rev. Dr. Martin Luther King Jr.

With the exception of Marian Anderson I see these all as great historical figures to ass alongside of the founding fathers. Of course like the founding fathers none of them were perfect but they all made America a greater country.

Nothing against Marian Anderson but I think it sets a precedent for entertainers to be on regular currency. it then becomes a popularity contest.

2013 South Africa 20 Cents, Venda Legend

Got this African coin at the same time I got the last coin. Not in the best shape it has strike damage and is a bit worn. 

Afurika Tshipembe is South Africa in the Venda language. About 2% of the population of South Africa speaks this language but that is enough to make it an official language. There are 11 official languages in all.

On the other side of coin is a King Protea flower which looks as fantastical in person.

Here's the stats for this coin...
Type/Country: 20 Cents / South Africa
Year: 2012
Mintage: Unknown
Metal: Bronze Plated Steel
Value: $0.40 in VF (very-fine)

Do you have a South African 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.

2005 Kenya 10 Shillings

Not the best 10 shillings but it is cool since it came all the way from Africa. Again African coins are not rare but they are some of the most difficult to find in American change. European and South American coins seem to be the easiest to find.

On the front is THE FIRST PRESIDENT OF KENYA · MZEE JOMO KENYATTA · with his bust in the center.

On the back is REPUBLIC OF KENYA 10 HARAMBEE · TEN SHILLINGS 2005 · is has the national seal under the 10.

Here are the stats...
Type/Country: 10 Shillings / Kenya
Year: 2005
Mintage: Unknown
Metal: Bi-Metallic: Copper-Nickel Center, Aluminium-Bronze Ring
Value: $0.90 in Extra-Fine

Do you have a coin from Kenya 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.

2016 Shield Cent

Found my first 2016 coins a week ago. They were 2016 Lincoln/Shield cents and this early find may indicate many more are being produced...or not.

Nothing particularly special about these coins.

If you notice the blur it is my first attempt at coin photography using my new Canon 70D with a 60mm macro lens. No tripod and the sun is my light source. I need to figure out the camera a bit more but it seems like a good camera for coins. 

Here's the stats...
Type/Country: 1 Cent  / United States
Year: 2016
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.

1973 Netherlands 25 Cents

It has been a while since I found a non-Euro coin from the Netherlands. Pre-Euro coins have not gone up in value much, maybe a few cents, even though the are rare to find in your change. Still they were in the billions overall so they are common.

On the front of the coin you have former Queen Juliana of the Netherlands, it is written as JULIANA KONINGIN DER NEDERLANDEN. While on the back is 25 CENT is dividing the year 1973. There are two marks are privy and mint marks, a rooster and some other symbol I cannot identify.

Here's the stats...
Type/Country: 25 Cents / Netherlands
Year: 1973
Mintage: 45,000,000
Metal: Nickel
Value: $0.20 in Extra-Fine

Do you have a coin from the Netherlands 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.