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.
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 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 Flying Eagle cent was minted for three years 1856, 1857 & 1858.
The obverse side shows an eagle in flight and the words “UNITED STATES OF AMERICA“. The reverse side has the words “ONE CENT” surrounded by a wreath.
It was the first Small cent issued being 19 mm in diameter, replacing the Large cent.
The Walking Liberty Half Dollar was designed by Adolph A. Weinman and was struck from 1916-21, 1923, 1927-29 and 1933-47
The obverse depicts Liberty walking in the direction of the rising sun, covered in the American flag and holding branches of laurel and oak. The reverse shows a bald eagle perched on a cliff. The composition of the coin is 90% silver and 10% copper
The Coronet Type large cent was minted from 1816 to 1857. The cent was redesigned in 1835 through 1839 by Christian Gobrecht. The design showed a slimmer Liberty Head surrounded by twelve stars on the obverse. The reverse has a the name United States of America surrounding a laurel wreath, which circles the word One Cent. There were minor changes up to 1843. The coins weight is 10.89 grams with a diameter of 27.5 mm and a plain edge. The composition is copper. All the coins were minted at the Philadelphia Mint. The design from 1839 to 1857 are referred to as, the Braided Hair Large Cent.
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.
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 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 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 Standing Liberty quarter was designed by Hermon A. MacNeil, who had won a competition to be the designer of the quarter. The obverse shows the front of Liberty with an olive branch in her right hand symbolizing peace and a shield in her left hand for protection. There are two varieties, Type 1 from 1916-17 “bare breast” and Type 2 from 1917-30, where the breast was covered with a chain mail. The reverse shows an American Eagle in flight. There were no Standing Liberty coins struck during 1922. The coins were struck at the Philadelphia, San Francisco, and Denver mints.
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.
1944 Wing Liberty Head Dime