Collecting coins has been popular throughout the world and history. Some people collect coins as an investment others such as myself collect coins as a hobby and I started collecting coins many years ago. My interest was more in the coins itself and not so much as to the grade of the coins, though I always looked for the best grade possible within my budget. For people who collect anything; coins, stamps, art work or even rocks for a hobby, one thing that makes the hobby worth while, other than the ownership of the object, is to be able to display and show them to others.
Seated Liberty Half Dimes were minted from 1837 to 1873, with some variations in design. The obverse depicts Liberty seated upon a large rock, holding a pole with a Liberty cap atop the pole and the date below from (1837-38), other variations include 13 stars added around the seated Liberty (1838-59), arrows at the date (1853-55) and the legend “United States of America” replacing the 13 stars (1860-73). The reverse on the half dimes from 1837 to 1859 features the denomination “Half Dime” circled by a laurel wreath, which is encircled by “United States of America“. The coins are 90% silver and 10% copper with a diameter of 15.9 mm, weighting 1.2 grams.
The Nickel Three cent piece was minted at the Philadelphia Mint from1865 to 1889. This coin was designed by James B. Longacre. The obverse features the head of Liberty facing left wearing a beaded coronet with “Liberty” written upon it. Around the out-side edge are the words “United States of America”. The reverse has in the center, the Roman numeral III surrounded by a wreath. These coins are made up of 75% copper and 25% nickel.
The two-cent piece was designed by James B. Longacre and was minted in the U.S. from 1864 to 1873. The obverse shows a shield with a ribbon above, with the motto “In God We Trust” and was the first coin of the U.S. to bear this motto. Behind the shield are two arrows. The reverse has a wreath surrounding “2 Cents” and is circled by the words “United States of America”. This coin is made of 95% copper with 5% tin and zinc.
These 2008 first year issue Silver Philharmonic Coins are minted in one troy ounce of .999 pure Silver. The obverse of each Silver coin has the caption “1 Unze Feinsilber,” meaning “1 ounce pure silver,” positioned beneath the “Great Pipe Organ” of Vienna’s Golden Concert Hall, home of the Philharmonic. Republic of Austria, “Republik Oesterreich,” the year, 2008 and face value of €1.5 Euros are also shown.
The reverse shows the bouquet of Philharmonic instruments with the word “Silber” above.
The Silver Kookaburra bullions are minted at the Australian Perth Mint. The obverse features Queen Elizabeth II. The reverse is a Kookaburra, which is the name of four species of birds living in Australia. The design of the Kookaburra is changed every year. These coins are .999 fine silver and are one Troy ounce.
In 1943, to help with the war time requirements of copper, the U.S. cent was made out of steel and zinc coated. Through World War II, copper was needed for military equipment and ammunition. The design was the same Lincoln (wheat penny) by Victor D. Brenner, showing a portrait of Abraham Lincoln on the obverse and “One Cent” “United States of America” with two Wheat Ears on the reverse. The cent was made at three mints, Philadelphia , Denver and San Francisco.
This Eight Reale Spanish silver coin was recovered from the shipwreck “El Cazador”. The “El Cazador” was a Spanish warship that was sunk during a storm in the Gulf of Mexico, while sailing to the Louisiana Territory starting in January 1784. Hundreds of these coins were found in 1993, by a fisherman. The obverse is a portrait of Carlos III, King of Spain, who sent the ship to Vera Cruz, Mexico to be loaded with the coins. The reverse pictures Loins and Castles.
The U.S. Morgan Silver Dollar coins were minted from 1878 through 1904 and again in 1921. The Morgan Dollar is named after George T. Morgan, who designed both sides of the coin. The Morgan obverse portrays Miss Liberty facing left, modeled by Anna Willess Williams, a teacher. The reverse depicts an eagle with seven tail feathers, but the original design had eight feathers and was changed during 1878, making variations of the tail feathers: seven, eight and seven-over-eight for that year. The coins’ composition is 90% silver and 10% copper. It has a 38.1 diameter and weights 26.73 grams.
The American Silver Eagle was first released by the United States Mint in 1986. It is struck with one troy ounce of (.999) pure silver and has a face value of one dollar. The Silver Eagle has been struck at three mints: the Philadelphia Mint, San Francisco Mint where proof were earlier struck and the mint at West Point, New York where proofs were later struck. The obverse features Adolph A. Weinman’s “Walking Liberty” design which was originally used on U.S. half dollar coins dating from 1916 through 1947. The reverse depicts a heraldic eagle and shield designed by John Mercanti.
1944 Wing Liberty Head Dime
The Winged Liberty Head Dime was designed by Adolph A. Weinman. The dimes’ composition is 90% silver and 10% copper with a 17.9 mm diameter. The obverse has a portrait of Liberty facing left, wearing a Phrygian cap, (symbolizing liberty and freedom) and wings (symbolizing freedom of thought). The coin is referred to as the Mercury Head dime due to its’ likeness to the Roman god Mercury. The reverse has an olive branch and a fasces, (which is a bundle of rods tied together with an axe attached). The dime was minted from 1916 through 1945 but no dimes were dated 1922, 1932 or 1933.
The Barber dimes’ obverse, pictures Liberty facing to the right wearing a Phrygian cap with a laurel wreath and ribbon, also a headband with the word “liberty” written on it. The portrait is encircled by the words “United States of America”. The reverse has the words “One Dime” surrounded by a wreath. The coin was designed by Charles E. Barber in which the coin is named after. The coin was minted from 1892 to 1916. It is 90% silver, 10% copper with a 17.9 mm diameter.
The Franklin Half Dollar was minted from 1948 to 1963. It was designed by John R. Sinnock. The obverse pictures Benjamin Franklin facing towards the right and the reverse shows the Liberty Bell and an eagle to the right of the bell. The Franklin Half Dollar weights 12.5 grams with a diameter if 30.6 mm. The composition is 90% silver and 10% copper. These coins were minted at the Philadelphia Mint from 1948 to 1963, at the Denver Mint in 1948-54, 57-63, and at The San Francisco Mint in 1949, 51-54.
The American Eagle Proof is one troy ounce of 99.9% silver. The obverse features Adolph A. Weinman design “Walking Liberty” used on the half dollar coins from 1916 to 1947. The body of Liberty is covered in the America flag, extending her right hand outward and holding laurel and oak branches in her left hand. The word “Liberty” encircles the top with the sun in the backdrop to the bottom left and the motto “In God We Trust” on the lower right side. The reverse design is by John Mercanti. It depicts a heraldic eagle and shield. The eagle is holding an olive branch in his right talon and arrows in the left talon. He has a ribbon in his beak with the motto “E Pluribus Unum” which is Latin for "Out of Many, One." Above the eagle is a triangular pattern of 13 stars. Encircling the top is the words “United States of America and encircling the bottom is the words “1 oz Fine Silver- One Dollar”.
The Peace Dollars were first struck in 1921 through 1928 to commemorate the end of
World War I and struck again in 1934-35. The coin was also minted in a limited number in 1965 with a 1964 date, but the coins for that year were melted down and never released for circulation. The obverse features a profile of Miss Liberty, the reverse depicts a perched American eagle on a rock, while standing on a olive branch (symbolizing peace). The coin was designed by Anthony de Francisci. It was minted at the Philadelphia Mint from 1921 to 1935, the San Francisco Mint from 1922 to 1935 and the Denver Mint in 1922-23, 26-27, 34 and 1965 (w/64 dates). The Peace Dollar was the last silver dollar struck for public circulation in the U.S.
The U.S. Morgan Silver Dollar coins were minted from 1878 through 1904 and again in 1921. The Morgan Dollar is named after George T. Morgan, who designed both sides of the coin. The Morgan obverse portrays Miss Liberty facing left, modeled by Anna Willess Williams, a teacher. The reverse depicts an eagle with seven tail feathers, but the original design had eight feathers and was changed during 1878, making variations of the tail feathers: seven, eight, and seven-over-eight for that one year. The coins’ composition is 90% silver and 10% copper. It has a 38.1 diameter and weights 26.73 grams.
The American Silver Eagle was first released by the United States Mint in 1986. It is struck with one troy ounce of (.999) pure silver and has a face value of one dollar. The Silver Eagle has been struck at three mints: the Philadelphia Mint, the San Francisco Mint where proofs were earlier struck and the mint at West Point, New York where proofs were later struck. The obverse features Adolph A. Weinman’s “Walking Liberty” design which was originally used on U.S. half dollar coins dating from 1916 through 1947. The reverse depicts a heraldic eagle and shield designed by John Mercanti.
The Canadian Silver Maple Leafs is struck every year, starting in 1988. The Silver Maple Leafs are one troy ounce silver and are minted with 99.99% pure silver. The Maple Leaf coins have a Canadian five dollar face value and are minted by the Royal Canadian Mint. The obverse portrays Queen Elizabeth II and the reverse pictures a maple leaf that is symbolic of Canada.
The Silver Mexican Libertad is a one troy ounce (.999) fine silver bullion coin minted at the Mexican Mint “La Casa de Moneda de Mexico”, with a face value of one onza (ounce). It weights 31.63 grams and has a diameter of 40.60 mm. The obverse depicts the Independence Angel in the foreground which is the primary historic monument in Mexico and viewed as the symbol of Mexico City. The background has two volcanoes called Iztaccihuatl and Popocatepetl in the native nahuatl language. The reverse shows the National Emblem of Mexico; a golden eagle perched on a cactus, devouring a snake.
The Chinese Silver Panda shows on the reverse a panda that is portrayed differently each year. The obverse shows the Chinese characters Zhonghua Renmin Gongheguo, which means Peoples Republic of China, above a picture of the Temple of Heaven. This coin is 1 Troy oz. and weights 31.1 grams with a diameter of 39 mm.
The Silver Kookaburra bullions are minted at the Australian Perth Mint. The obverse features Queen Elizabeth II. The reverse is a Kookaburra, which is the name of four species of birds living in Australia. The design of the Kookaburra is changed every year.
These bullions were issued from 1990 till present.
1953 Coronation Commemorative Coin Queen Elizabeth II
This commemorative coin was struck in 1953 to commemorate the coronation of Elizabeth II on June 2nd at Westminster Abbey in the United Kingdom .It is a five shilling piece or crown. The design is by Edgar Fuller which show on the obverse, the queen upon a horse. The reverse has four shields showing the arms of England, Ireland and Scotland, with a crown in the center, also a rose, leek, thistle and shamrock are between the shields.
1999 $100 Franklin Quarter Pound
Silver Proof Bullion
The $100 Franklin Silver Proof design is a version of the $100 Franklin Federal Reserve Note. The obverse shows a portrait of Benjamin Franklin that appeared in 1928 on the $100 Federal Reserve Note, though larger and off centered to the left. The Reverse pictures Independence Hall in Philadelphia. It is .999 Pure Silver Proof, weighting ¼ pound (4 oz. Troy), and is 6” X 2 ½”. There were 100,000 of these Proof Bullions produced at the Washington Mint that year.
This 1994 Chinese 1 oz. Unicorn Silver Uncirculated Coin was minted by
the China Mint Company.
The coin is 10 yuan in face value, is one troy ounce of pure silver and 40 mm in diameter.
The quantity minted in 1994 was 50,000.
This 1992 Mint Proof set was minted at the San Francisco Mint. The set consist of a Lincoln cent, Jefferson nickel, Roosevelt dime, Washington quarter and a Kennedy Half Dollar.
In the earlier days proof coins were called Master Coins at the Mint. They were struck to prove the correctness of the dies, used to manufacture the coins. The coins were then kept for the Mints Cabinet of Coins Collection and for presentations. Around 1858 proofs were offered for sale to the public.
The Stone Mountain Commemorative was struck in 1925. The money received from the sales of this coin went to the cost of a sculpture on Stone Mountain in Georgia, for a Confederate Memorial. The obverse depicts General Stonewall Jackson and General Robert E. Lee on their horses. The reverse depicts a Bald Eagle on a cliff. The commemorative is a 90% silver and 10% copper half dollar.
The Liberty Head nickel, is also called the V nickel due to the Roman numeral V on the reverse side. Liberty Head Nickels were minted from 1883 to 1912. Though, an mint official did produced some V Nickels dated 1913. There are only five 1913 V nickels known. The Liberty Head nickels were minted at Philadelphia, except for a small quantity minted in 1912 from Denver and San Francisco. The first type of this coin in 1883 did not have the word CENTS on the reverse, but was added on later that year. The coins was designed by Charles E. Barber. The composition is 75% copper and 25% nickel, with a 21.2 mm diameter. It weights 5 grams and has a plain edge.
Draped Bust Type, Large Cent 1796-1807
This is a Draped Bust Large cent from 1797, with a Gripped Edge. It was designed by Robert Scot. The Obverse shows the head of Ms. Liberty, believed to have been taken from a portrait of a socialite. The reverse has the words ONE CENT, surrounded by a wreath, the words UNITED STATES OF AMERICA encircling the wreath, and the fraction 1/100 beneath the wreath. These cents weighted 10.89 grams with a diameter of 29mm and were made of copper.
2005 United States Mint Proof Set
Roosevelt Dime, Jefferson Nickel
(Ocean In View), Lincoln Cent
Kennedy Half Dollar, Jefferson Nickel
(American Bison),
Sacagawea Dollar
2005 State Quarters Proof Set
California, Minnesota ,Oregon
Kansas, West Virginia
Proofs and Proof sets
Proofs are specially manufactured coins using polished dies and selected planchets, to give the coin a mirror effect. The dies for making current U.S. proofs are often treated with chemicals to make particular parts of the design have a frosted appearance. Generally, proof coins are double struck. Starting in 1936, the U.S. Mint began producing proof sets. These sets are the highest quality issues of coins. The term proof is a reference to a type of coin and not the grade of the coin. The proof issues are struck for collectors and not for circulation.
The Buffalo nickel was designed by James Earle Fraser. The obverse of
the coin has a profile of a Native American. Fraser used three models for the coin; Iron Tail, who was a Oglala Sioux, Two Moons, a Cheyenne chief and John Big Tree from the Seneca Nation. Underneath the date is his initial F. On the reverse side, a bison named Black Diamond was used as a model for the coin. The Buffalo nickels were minted from 1913 to 1938. In 1937 too much polishing on some of the coins at the Denver Mint caused the right foreleg on the bison to be removed creating the three legged variety. There is also a 3 ½ variety from 1936 also from the Denver Mint. The coins were minted at three mints; Philadelphia, Denver and San Francisco. The coins are also know as Bison or Indian Head nickels. The coins weight 5 grams are are made of 75% copper and 25% nickel with a diameter of 21.2 mm.
The Flying Eagle Cent 1856-1858
The Flying Eagle cent that was first struck in 1856 was a pattern coin made to show to congress and some proof coins were struck to sell to collectors. An estimate of about 2,000 coins were struck for the year 1856, there were 17,450,000 Flying Eagles minted in 1857 and 24,600,000 in 1858.
1944 Wing Liberty Head Dime
The Franklin Half Dollar was minted from 1948 to 1963. It was designed by John R. Sinnock. The obverse pictures Benjamin Franklin facing towards the right and the reverse shows the Liberty Bell and an eagle to the right of the bell. The Franklin Half Dollar weights 12.5 grams with a diameter if 30.6 mm. The composition is 90% silver and 10% copper. These coins were minted at the Philadelphia Mint from 1948 to 1963, at the Denver Mint in 1948-54, 57-63, and at The San Francisco Mint in 1949, 51-54.
The American Silver Eagle was first released by the United States Mint in 1986. It is struck with one troy ounce of (.999) pure silver and has a face value of one dollar. The Silver Eagle has been struck at three mints: the Philadelphia Mint, the San Francisco Mint where proofs were earlier struck and the mint at West Point, New York where proofs were later struck. The obverse features Adolph A. Weinman’s “Walking Liberty” design which was originally used on U.S. half dollar coins dating from 1916 through 1947. The reverse depicts a heraldic eagle and shield designed by John Mercanti.
2005 State Quarters Proof Set
The Buffalo nickel was designed by James Earle Fraser. The obverse of
The Flying Eagle Cent 1856-1858