1988-D ONE CENT

Circulation strikes: 5,253,740,443
Designer:
Obverse by Victor David Brenner
Reverse by Frank Gasparro
Diameter: ±19.05 millimeters
Thickness: ±1.55 millimeters
Metal content:
Pure Copper plating over:
Zinc - 99.2%
Copper - 0.8%
Weight: ±2.50 grams
Edge: Plain
Mintmark: "D" (for Denver) below the date
Value: $0.25 (MS-65)

The last coin of the year. Nothing exciting, just another Cent collected over the weekend.

1887 DOLLAR

The Weekly Vintage Coin

Circulation strikes: 20,290,000
Proofs: 710
Designer: George T. Morgan
Diameter: 38.1 millimeters
Metal content:
Silver - 90%
Copper - 10%
Weight: 26.73 grams
Edge: Reeded
Mintmark: None
Value: $20.00 (VF-20) up to $2,650.00 (PF-63)

Just barely got this done before the weekend ended… This is the second Morgan I purchased for my little collection. I wasn't really looking to start collecting Morgan Dollars… But I just couldn’t resist. And thus began a pattern… Every time I hit a coin show I pick up at least one Dollar coin. Lets see how many more Morgan's I can pick up in 2008!

1962 FIVE CENTS

Circulation strikes: 97,384,000
Proofs: 3,218,019
Designer: Felix Schlag
Diameter: ±21.21 millimeters
Thickness: ±1.95 millimeters
Metal content:
Copper - 75%
Nickel - 25%
Weight: ±5 grams
Edge: Plain
Mintmark: None
Value: $0.25 (MS-60) up to $1.25 (PF-65)

Two things I enjoy… coins older than myself, and a short work week. Nice to get them both at the same time.

1988-P QUARTER DOLLAR

Circulation strikes: 562,052,000
Designer: John Flanagan
Diameter: ±24.3 millimeters
Thickness: ±1.75 millimeters
Metal content:
Outer layers - 75% Copper, 25% Nickel
Center - 100% Copper
Weight: ±5.67 grams
Edge: Reeded
Mintmark: "P" (for Philadelphia) on the obverse just right of the ribbon

Really not much to say… Back at the office… got lunch… got change… it's a quarter.

1972-D QUARTER

Circulation strikes: 311,067,732
Designer: John Flanagan
Diameter: ±24.3 millimeters
Metal content:
Outer layers - 75% Copper, 25% Nickel
Center - 100% Copper
Weight: ±5.7 grams
Edge: Reeded
Mintmark: "D" (for Denver, CO) on the obverse just right of the ribbon

As one might expect I didn't collect much change on Christmas. Actually I did collect a little, one dime and one cent, from a run to the corner 7-11 to pick up some apple juice on the way home from celebrating with the family. I also got a handful of coin from the wife's purse… including today's coin.

2008 American Eagle Silver Proof Coin Available January 3

For those of you who didn't max out your credit cards buying Christmas gifts this year, the U.S. mint will begin selling the 2008 American Eagle silver proof coin on January 3rd.

WASHINGTON -Sales of the 2008 American Eagle Silver Proof Coin will open at 12:00 noon (ET) on January 3, 2008, the United States Mint announced today. This year's coin is offered at $31.95. There is no production limit for this product, or mintage limit for this coin.

Title link takes you to the full press release

1930 ONE CENT

Circulation strikes: 157,415,000
Designer: Victor David Brenner
Diameter: ±19 millimeters
Metal content:
Copper - ±95%
Zinc - ±5%
Weight: ±3.11 grams
Edge: Plain
Mintmark: None
Value: $0.15 (G-4) up to $11.00 (MS-63)

First, a Merry Christmas to everyone! No Change yesterday… Not being one for last minute shopping, or dealing with the crowds of people who are, I tend not to end up out spending money and collecting change the last few days before Christmas. However, since we don't have any children in the house I still have time to dig through the box of 'almost interesting' coins to find something to share.

1972-S ONE CENT

Circulation strikes: 376,939,108
Proofs: 3,260,996
Designer:
Obverse by Victor David Brenner
Reverse by Frank Gasparro
Diameter: ±19 millimeters
Metal content:
Copper - ±95%
Zinc - ±5%
Weight: ±3.11 grams
Edge: Plain
Mintmark: "S" (for San Francisco) below the date
Value: $0.35 (MS-65) up to $1.00 (PF-65)

I was just about ready to post the daily coin. Selected the most interesting from the weekend, typed up the statistics and such and got ready to take a picture… Left the camera battery plugged in to charge downstairs… So off I go in search of my camera battery. And then my wife interrupts to give me change from her purse. Good thing too, because while neither of us had collected anything exceptional, she had a better change than I did… like this 1972 cent from San Francisco.

1887 ONE CENT

The Weekly Vintage Coin

Circulation strikes: 45,223,523
Proofs: 2,960
Designer: James B. Longacre
Diameter: ±19 millimeters
Metal content:
Copper - ±95%
Zinc - ±5%
Weight: ±3.11 grams
Edge: Plain
Mintmark: None
Value: $3.00 (G-4) up to $325.00 (PF-63)

Because everyone needs a few Indian Head cents in their collection. This one is in a rather poor state… But we'll just say it has more character then quality.

1988-D QUARTER DOLLAR

Circulation strikes: 596,810,688
Designer: John Flanagan
Diameter: ±24.3 millimeters
Thickness: ±1.75 millimeters
Metal content:
Outer layers - 75% Copper, 25% Nickel
Center - 100% Copper
Weight: ±5.67 grams
Edge: Reeded
Mintmark: "D" (for Denver) on the obverse just right of the ribbon
Value: $0.50 (MS-63) up to $10.00 (MS-65)

Finally a bit of change. Though still nothing exciting. After work it was off to dinner with a friend, then to the comic/toy shop and a local music store. A little spending makes for a little change.

2003-D DIME

Circulation strikes: 5986,500,000
Designer: John R. Sinnock
Diameter: ±17.91 millimeters
Thickness: ±1.35 millimeters
Metal content:
Outer layers - 75% Copper, 25% Nickel
Center - 100% Copper
Weight: ±2.268 grams
Edge: Reeded
Mintmark: D" (for Denver) above the date
Value: $0.75 (MS-65)

Yet another day of limited change… I present to you another dime from the local café. The coffee was good… the change, not so much. I need to train those guys to stock the register with better coins!

1979 FIVE CENTS

Circulation strikes: 463,188,000
Designer: Felix Schlag
Diameter: ±21.21 millimeters
Thickness: ±1.95 millimeters
Metal content:
Copper - 75%
Nickel - 25%
Weight: ±5 grams
Edge: Plain
Mintmark: None
Value: $0.25 (MS-63) up to $1.00 (MS-65)

Here it is… all the change collected over the entire day. If it weren't for the morning coffee I would not have had anything to post at all. Couple that with inhumanly long hours at work recently and I not only have very little change to choose from, but very little time and energy to write about it as well...

1945-S ONE CENT

Circulation strikes: 181,770,000
Designer: Victor David Brenner
Diameter: ±19.05 millimeters
Thickness: ±1.55 millimeters
Metal content:
Copper - ±95%
Zinc - ±5%
Weight: ±3.10 grams
Edge: Plain
Mintmark: "S" (for San Francisco) below the date
Value: $0.15 (VF-20) up to $6.00 (MS-65)

Behold the power of the Cheese Steak Torta! Well… sorta. This coin was a co-worker contribution, change from his lunch (a cheese steak torta purchased at the local taqueria)

2007-D UTAH QUARTER DOLLAR

Designer:
Obverse: John Flanagan - Modified by William Cousins
Diameter: ±24.26 millimeters
Thickness: ±1.75 millimeters
Metal content:
Outer layers - 75% Copper, 25% Nickel
Center - 100% Copper
Weight: ±5.67 grams
Edge: Reeded
Mintmark: "D" (for Denver) on the obverse just right of the ribbon

Today we have the Utah State Quarter. First one I've seen in my change. But I'm not interested in writing about a new quarter today, instead I have a bit of a rant to share...

Ever see something in the news that makes you wonder what the hell our politicians are doing? The Friday's story from CoinNews.net got that sort of reaction from me. Our federal budget is in the red somewhere in the neighborhood of $200 Billion and our national debt runs at, what?, $9 trillion plus, and these clowns want to waste additional taxpayer money squabbling over the placement of "In god We Trust" on Presidential Dollars?

For seventy one years our currency worked just fine without any mention of god. That is until Secretary of the Treasury Salmon P. Chase was prompted to act in response to a letter from Rev. M.R. Watkinson. Chase instructed the director of the mint to prepare a motto stating that "No nation can be strong except in the strength of god, or safe except in his defense." It turns out that the Act of Congress dated January 18, 1837 prevented the mint from making any changes to the mottoes and devices on our coins. At least not without additional congressional legislation. Then Congress passed the Act of April 22, 1864 resulting in "IN GOD WE TRUST" appearing for the first time on the 1864 two cent coin. On March 3, 1865 Congress passed an act allowing the mint director to place the motto on all gold and silver coins that "shall admit the inscription thereon" and later, the Coinage Act of February 12, 1873 which said that the Secretary "may cause the motto IN GOD WE TRUST to be inscribed on such coins as shall admit of such motto" Even then it hasn't been on all of our coins. The Liberty Head Nickel and Indian Head Nickel (1883-193) did not have the motto. It wasn't until the Congressional Act of May 18, 1908 that it became mandatory for the motto to appear on all coins upon which it had previously appeared, and not until July 30, 1956 that a Joint Resolution of the 84th Congress declared IN GOD WE TRUST the national motto of the United States.

And now we have Presidential Dollar coins. Does the motto appear on them? Yes, Were there some error coins that got out without the motto? Yes. But so what? Were talking about a few rare mint error coins. And when we consider the process a new coin goes through before it is ever struck… if the placement of the motto was really that significant how did it get past all the bureaucratic hurdles without anyone noticing? I had planned to spend some time this weekend researching all the bills that have been introduced that attempt to move the motto on the Presidential Dollars, unfortunately we had a bit of a crisis at the office and I spent the weekend working with no spare time to devote to the process, so I don't have a good list for us all to look at and contemplate exactly how much time and money has been wasted on the this "issue"

1867 FIVE CENTS

The Weekly Vintage Coin
TYPE TWO - NO RAYS ON REVERSE
Circulation strikes: 28,890,500
Proofs: est. 600
Designer: James B. Longacre
Diameter: ±20.50 millimeters
Metal content:
Copper - 75%
Nickel - 25%
Weight: ±5 grams
Edge: Plain
Mintmark: None
Value: $18.00 (G-4) up to $425.00 (PF-63)

My first Shield Nickel. I picked this one up a while back for no special reason other than not already having one. These coins always remind me of the gaming tokens that we used to get at the arcade when I was young, primarily due to the prominent "5" on the reverse, but also because I am so used to seeing a portrait on the obverse of coins, as apposed to game tokens which usually had an emblem representing the local establishment. Regardless, I think the Shield Nickel is a beautiful coin, now I just need to get my hands on a 1866...

1986-D ONE CENT

Circulation strikes: 4,442,866,698
Designer:
Obverse: Victor David Brenner
Reverse: Grank Gasparro
Diameter: ±19.05 millimeters
Thickness: ±1.55 millimeters
Metal content:
Pure Copper plating over:
Zinc - 99.2%
Copper - 0.8%
Weight: ±2.50 grams
Edge: Plain
Mintmark: "D" (for Denver) below the date
Value: $0.25 (MS-65)

It's Friday! (which is just a more cheerful way of pointing out that there are only three more days until Monday) So I don't have much of anything to say about a 1986 Cent in particular,, but 1986 was a good coin year in that it was the first year of the Silver and Gold American Eagle coins. Now I'm not much for gold coins (especially given the current cost of gold) but I've got it in my mind to complete a set of the Silver Eagles. I think these are the best looking of the coins currently in production, and am particularly fond of the aesthetic of silver coins.

American Eagle 10th Anniversary Platinum Coin Set

If you've got an extra $2,000 to spend check out the American Eagle 10th Anniversary Platinum Coin Set

To help commemorate the occasion of the 10th anniversary of the American Eagle Platinum Coin Program, the United States Mint is pleased to offer a limited-edition two-coin set!

Title link takes you to the full press release

1975 DIME

Circulation strikes: 583,673,900
Designer: John R. Sinnock
Diameter: ±17.91 millimeters
Thickness: ±1.35 millimeters
Metal content:
Outer layers - 75% Copper, 25% Nickel
Center - 100% Copper
Weight: ±2.268 grams
Edge: Reeded
Mintmark: None
Value: $1.00 (MS-65)

A dime just shouldn't look like this… at least not without a really good reason like maybe some kind of acid related chemistry set explosion! Because it would make for an entertaining anecdote that someone could share. Or a particularly nasty zombie virus that affects coins! Or maybe it was in the pocket of Melvin Ferd when he took a dive into a drum of toxic waste and became the Toxic Avenger!
Then again, I suppose it is possible that none of these things happened and it's just a particularly corroded dime, and while I might easily have selected this coin based solely on its zombie like visage it was also the oldest coin in the days change.

2007 Commemorative Coin Programs

The United States Mint 2007 commemorative coin programs: The Little Rock Central High School Desegregation Coins and the Jamestown 400th Anniversary Coins must be delivered by December 31st, 2007. This includes the American Legacy CollectionTM. To accommodate these orders, the United States Mint must receive all orders no later than 5:00 p.m. (ET) Friday, December 14th!


Title link takes you to the full press release

1977 DIME

Circulation strikes: 796,930,000
Designer: John R. Sinnock
Diameter: ±17.91 millimeters
Thickness: ±1.35 millimeters
Metal content:
Outer layers - 75% Copper, 25% Nickel
Center - 100% Copper
Weight: ±2.268 grams
Edge: Reeded
Mintmark: None
Value: $1.00 (MS-65)

When I was young I always thought dimes were odd… They just didn't fit in with the rest of the coins. The way I figured it was that coins start at dollars with a large diameter and large face value and as the denomination gets smaller so does the coin. …and then there is the dime. Larger in face value than both the cent and the nickel, but smaller than either of them. At the time it never crossed my mind that metal content had anything to do with it. It was just odd. Just this strange diminutive coin that refused to conform to the logical progression of all the others.

2001-D NEW YORK QUARTER DOLLAR

Circulation strikes: 619,640,000
Designer:
Obverse: John Flanagan - Modified by William Cousins
Reverse: Alfred Maletsky
Diameter: ±24.26 millimeters
Thickness: ±1.75 millimeters
Metal content:
Outer layers - 75% Copper, 25% Nickel
Center - 100% Copper
Weight: ±5.67 grams
Edge: Reeded
Mintmark: "D" (for Denver) on the obverse just right of the ribbon
Value: $0.35 (AU-50) up to $1.25 (MS-65)

Once I've selected a coin I almost always do a quick Google search just to see if there are any interesting angles or blurbs or any such that might direct my comments. There usually isn't. What there is, however, is… well… crap. And lot's of it. It being a 'quick' search I seldom look past the first one or two pages of results. I'm not writing a term paper or anything, just looking for ideas. State Quarters return even worse results… consider the first 10 results from searching today's coin… Three items were not about coins at all, and two others, while about state quarters, were not about the one I was looking for. As for the other five… they all contained the exact same text, or segments there-of… One of those was the original source, and of the other four only one of them credited the original source, The U.S. Mint.

The next page of results wasn't any better… Two pages about the State Quarter program, Three about parody quarters, two for sites selling Quarters, One news story (not about the coin in question) and the rest totally unrelated. So out of twenty results five were actually relevant, and only one of those actually had anything original to say. Sad.

Citizens Coinage Advisory Committee Seeks New Members

WASHINGTON - The United States Mint is seeking applicants for appointment to the Citizens Coinage Advisory Committee (CCAC). The terms of two CCAC members will expire in February 2008 -- one for a member representing the interests of the general public, and one for a qualified numismatic specialist. The application deadline is January 31, 2008. The United States Mint will review all applications and will forward recommendations to the Secretary of the Treasury for appointment consideration.

Title link takes you to the full press release

1989-P DIME

Circulation strikes: 1,298,400,000
Designer: John R. Sinnock
Diameter: ±17.9 millimeters
Metal content:
Outer layers - 75% Copper, 25% Nickel
Center - 100% Copper
Weight: ±2.27 grams
Edge: Reeded
Mintmark: "P" (for Philadelphia) above the date
Value: $0.75 (MS-65)

It wasn't a particularly good weekend for interesting coins. Went the whole weekend without finding anything of note. And then I dug through the change my wife had collected… At first glance a 1989 Philadelphia dime isn't all that interesting. I chose this one because the obverse is just a wee bit off center at about 3 o'clock. The reverse, on the other hand, is centered just fine. This isn't the first time I've noticed a coin like this, and it always seems odd to me when I see one. My expectation, perhaps incorrectly, is that a coin would be off center on both sides, after all, how can the planchet be incorrectly aligned with only one die?

1912 BARBER DIME

The Weekly Vintage Coin

Circulation strikes: 19,349,300
Proofs: 700
Designer: Charles E. Barber
Diameter: 17.9 millimeters
Metal content:
Silver - 90%
Copper - 10%
Weight: 2.50 grams
Edge: Reeded
Mintmark: None
Value: $2.50 (G-4) up to $450.00 (PF-63)

More from 1912. This time a low grade dime. This one so worn that poor liberty is reduced to a silhouette. The up-side is that this coin doesn't need to be sealed away in a slab. It's one of the things that makes common lower grade circulation coins so appealing… you can hold them, turn the over in your fingers, and appreciate the feel of them without worrying that you may somehow ruin the coin by touching it.

-1912- 'A few useless facts' - also known as 'the amusing results of a quick Google search'
Absinth is outlawed in the U.S. while sodomy becomes legal in France.
The first military airship goes up in Italy and the Titanic goes down in the Atlantic.

2007-D DIME

Circulation strikes: 1,012,000,000 (through October 2007)
Designer: John R. Sinnock
Diameter: ±17.91 millimeters
Thickness: ±1.35 millimeters
Metal content:
Outer layers - 75% Copper, 25% Nickel
Center - 100% Copper
Weight: ±2.268 grams
Edge: Reeded
Mintmark: "D" (for Denver) above the date
Value: $0.75 (MS-65)

More shiny things! Which is good, because I like shiny things. It's also good because I got very little change… and none of it exceptional for any reason other than shininess. So here it is, the 7-UP of Dimes, Crisp and Clean (anyone else remember that old commercial?)

2006-D DIME

Circulation strikes: 1,447,000,000
Designer: John R. Sinnock
Diameter: ±17.91 millimeters
Thickness: ±1.35 millimeters
Metal content:
Outer layers - 75% Copper, 25% Nickel
Center - 100% Copper
Weight: ±2.268 grams
Edge: Reeded
Mintmark: "D" (for Denver) above the date
Value: $0.75 (MS-65)

One of the nice things about newer coins is how nice and shiny they sometimes are when you find them. We're not talking about Mint State or Uncirculated. Just bright and shiny.

United States Mint Offers New Presidential $1 Coin Products

WASHINGTON - The United States Mint is announcing a stunning new array of 2007 Presidential $1 Coin products featuring the coins that honor George Washington, John Adams, Thomas Jefferson and James Madison. The new products were offered for the first time this week and customers may receive their brochures as early as today.

In addition to the United States Mint Presidential $1 Coin Proof SetTM, released earlier this year, the brochure includes the following new products:

Title link takes you to the full press release

Mint Unveils Designs for American Bald Eagle Recovery and National Emblem Commemorative Coins

WASHINGTON - The United States Mint released today the coin designs for the 2008 American Bald Eagle Recovery and National Emblem Commemorative Coin Program. Public Law 108-486, the American Bald Eagle Recovery and National Emblem Commemorative Coin Act, authorizes the United States Mint to mint and issue three commemorative coins in honor of the recovery of the Bald Eagle species, the 35th anniversary of the Endangered Species Act of 1973, and the Bald Eagle's importance as a national symbol.

Title link takes you to the full press release

1987-D QUARTER DOLLAR

Circulation strikes: 645,476,128
Designer: John Flanagan
Diameter: ±24.26 millimeters
Thickness: ±1.75 millimeters
Metal content:
Outer layers - 75% Copper, 25% Nickel
Center - 100% Copper
Weight: ±5.67 grams
Edge: Reeded
Mintmark: "D" (for Denver) on the obverse just right of the ribbon
Value: $0.50 (MS-63) up to $5.00 (MS-65)

We finally got a bit of rain around here, and the perfect thing for a cold rainy day? Beef Stew for lunch, and with that comes a bit of change. While pondering what else to say I noticed a press release from the US Mint… The designs for the 2008 American Bald Eagle Recovery and National Emblem Commemorative coins were just released. So, of course, I cruise over to the Mint website and take a look. My apologies to anyone who likes these coin designs… maybe I was just expecting too much, but what the heck happened? These designs look better suited to a set of commemorative plates from the Franklin Mint! Especially the Half Dollar! The reverse of the $5 Gold and the Silver Dollar are a nice nod to early U.S. coins. But the Half Dollar reverse seems to have forgotten the National Emblem part of the commemorative. And the obverse of the coins? The Silver Dollar is the only one that comes close to looking like a coin, though it could benefit from the removal of the landscape to the right of the eagle. Maybe I'm just being grumpy on account of not having had enough sleep last night, but right now I'm thinking that the Mint needs to get itself a new group of "Master Designers" and loose the whole "Artistic Infusion Program"! Lets get back to coin designs that are a little more classic and dignified. Our coins are, among other things, a representation of our nation, they shouldn't look like cheap baubles!

2002-D TENNESSEE QUARTER DOLLAR

Circulation strikes: 286,468,000
Designer:
Obverse: John Flanagan
Reverse: Donna Weaver
Diameter: ±24.26 millimeters
Thickness: ±1.75 millimeters
Metal content:
Outer layers - 75% Copper, 25% Nickel
Center - 100% Copper
Weight: ±5.67 grams
Edge: Reeded
Mintmark: "D" (for Denver) on the obverse just right of the ribbon
Value: $0.75 (AU-50) up to $3.00 (MS-65)

I don't usually post a whole lot of State Quarters. When I get them in my change I glance at them to see if any are from Philadelphia, since those are less common here, and then I mostly ignore them. They just don't get me all that excited. They are current, which in my book equates to less interesting, and they are common, seldom does a day go by without a state quarter. And then there are those days when I don't have much, or anything, else to chose from and I am forced to overcome my prejudice and look at the state quarters a bit more closely. And that brings us to today's coin. Tennessee, one of those state quarters who's design appears not to have suffered too badly from its review by the Citizens Commemorative Coin Advisory Committee.

Calling all 1968 Cents

1968pennies.com… I have no idea what they will do with them… but the site asks that people send in 1968 pennies to be added to their collection.

According to the web site, the current total is 9,887

-clipped from 1968pennies.com:

1968pennies.com invites you to be a part of the world's largest collection of 1968 pennies by donating your spare 1968 pennies to this collaborative effort.

The 1968 penny collection began on September 27th, 1999 with just a single 1968 penny, and over the years it has steadily grown both in size and the number of contributors.
The goal of this website is to keep the collection growing indefinitely by soliciting 1968 pennies from as many people as possible. This is a group effort.
Everybody who contributes pennies to the 1968 penny collection will be featured on this website.
Quality and condition of pennies is unimportant, as all certifiable 1968 pennies (whether uncirculated & shiny, or well-worn & grimy) are accepted and added to the collection equally.
All pennies are 100% 1968 guaranteed, and this collection is never to be cashed in, as its value as a collector's item is greater than its monetary value.
Of the 4,858,503,583 pennies minted in 1968, an untold number have been forever lost to history, which is why it is important to save the remaining 1968 pennies NOW while they are still relatively easy to find. If every American donated just one 1968 penny, the collection would number in the hundreds of millions.

1960-D ONE CENTS

Circulation strikes: 1,793,148,400
Designer:
Obverse: Victor David Brenner
Reverse: Frank Gasparro
Diameter: ±19 millimeters
Metal content:
Copper - 95%
Tin and Zinc - 5%
Weight: ±3.11 grams
Edge: Plain
Mintmark: "D" (for Denver) below the date
Value: $0.15 (MS-63) up to $0.30 (MS-65)

Choosing a coin for today was a bit of a challenge. Between the change I collected myself, and what I inherited from the wife I had quite a few 'older than me' coins, but nothing of truly significant age. I think I had the entire 1960s represented in coin over the weekend. I eventually settled on a cent from the wife… the 1960-D.

1879 DOLLAR

The Weekly Vintage Coin

Circulation strikes: 14,806,000
Proof strikes: 1,100
Designer: George T. Morgan
Diameter: 38.1 millimeters
Metal content:
Silver - 90%
Copper - 10%
Weight: 26.73 grams
Edge: Reeded
Mintmark: None (for Philadelphia)
Value: $20.00 (VF-20) up to $2,650.00 (PF-63)

The weekend coin happened a bit later than usual this time around… Life intrudes on blogging and all that. Finally fond a chance to stop in at the local coffee shop after a trip to the hardware store that is oh-so-conveniently located across the street. I picked this one up for no particular reason, other than my affinity for Morgan dollars. Well, that, and it is an earlier minting than the Morgans I already had. This one is not in particularly exceptional condition, surface scratches and some discoloration, but the details stand out very well, especially viewed in person, making it a happy addition to my little collection.