Coin Of The Day

1967 QUARTER DOLLAR

2009-12-18T08:05:00.000-08:00

Circulation strikes: 1,524,031,848
Special Mint Set: 1,863,344
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: None
Value: $1.00 (MS-63) up to $6.00 (MS-65)

1977-D ONE CENT

2009-12-15T07:24:00.000-08:00

Circulation strikes: 4,194,062,300

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: $0.25 (MS-65)

1971 FIVE CENTS

2009-12-14T07:19:00.000-08:00

Circulation strikes: 106, 884,000
Designer: Felix Schlag
Diameter: +/- 21.20 millimeters
Metal Content: Copper - 75% Nickel - 25%
Weight: +/- 5 grams
Edge: Plain
Mintmark: None
Value:

1976 QUARTER DOLLAR

2009-12-11T08:39:00.000-08:00

Circulation strikes: 860,118,839

Designer: Obverse by John Flanagan

Reverse by Jack L. Ahr

Diameter: ±24.3 millimeters

Metal content: Outer layers - 75% Copper, 25% Nickel

Center - 100% Copper

Weight: ±88 grains (±5.7 grams)

Edge: Reeded

Mintmark: "D" on the obverse just right of the ribbon

Value: $1.00 (MS-63) up to $6.00 (MS-65)

Still one of my favorites, and probably a big part of why I’m not a fan of the constantly changing designs we have on our quarters now. I was six when these were released, and from then on finding a bicentennial quarter was always a big deal to me. All the other quarters I saw looked the same, but Bicentennial quarters were clearly special. Now, with four quarter designs every year every quarter is different, and none of them seem particularly special.

1968-D TEN CENTS

2009-12-10T08:30:00.000-08:00

Circulation strikes: 2,886,269,600

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: None

Value: $0.15 (MS-63) up to $0.40 (MS-65)

2009-D American Samoa Quarter Dollar

2009-12-04T07:30:00.000-08:00

Circulation strikes: 39,600,000
Designer: Obverse: John Flanagan Modified by William Cousins
Reverse: Stephen Clark
Diameter: ±24.26 millimeters
Metal content: Copper – 91.67% Nickel – 8.33%
Weight: ±5.67 grams
Edge: Reeded
Mintmark: "D" (for Denver)

The first American Samoa Quarter to pass my way.

The overall mintage for the American Samoa Quarter is a notable dip for quarter production. Just over 82 million quarters were produce for circulation across both the Philadelphia and Denver mints making it the lowest mintage quarter since 1956.

1980-D ONE CENT

2009-12-02T07:51:00.000-08:00

Circulation strikes: 5,140,098,660

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: $0.20 (PF-65)

Just this once the angle of the coin image is not due to rushed/sloppy/lazy imaging on my part. The faces of the coin are actually rotationally offset. And since I use a flatbed scanner to take pictures of the coins I align them in the scanner based on the side facing up… i.e. not the side being imaged the result is angled coin pics.

1988-D QUARTER DOLLAR

2009-12-01T06:54:00.000-08:00

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)

2005-D ONE CENT

2009-11-30T07:17:00.000-08:00

Designer: Obverse by Victor David Brenner

reverse by Frank Gasparro

Diameter: 19 millimeters

Metal content: Pure Copper plating

over: Zinc - 99.2% Copper - 0.8%

Weight: 39 grains (2.5 grams)

Edge: Plain

Mintmark: "D" below the date

Value: $0.25 (MS-65)

Made a quick trip yesterday morning to pick up some cash from the ATM and a much needed cup of coffee... I get out of the car and spot a penny on the ground. Okay, no big deal, but it reminded me that I needed to get my butt back in gear and post some more. So today we have the weekend 'found' penny.

Hope everyone had a good Thanksgiving weekend and survived 'Black Friday'.

2009-D ONE CENT

2009-09-30T08:00:00.000-07:00

Circulation strikes: 363,600,000
Designer: Obverse Victor David Brenner
Reverse by : Charles Vickers
Diameter: ±17.91 millimeters
Thickness: ±1.35 millimeters
Metal content: 2.5% Copper 97.5% Zinc
Weight: ±2.268 grams
Edge: Plain
Mintmark: "D" (for Denver) below the date

Only the third 2009 coin to find its way into my pocket, and the first of the Lincoln cents. And now that I’ve had a chance to see one up close and in person I find that I like it just as much as I expected… which is to say, not at all. I’m not a fan of having a bust/portrait on the obverse of our coins, but so what right? We’ve been doing that for a hundred years now, but the reverse… It used to symbolize something. As in, it was a symbol, not an illustration. Even the Lincoln Memorial that has been on our Cents since 1959 was at least stylized. Straight on, no perspective, no surrounding landscape, etc. But the new Lincoln Formative Years Cent? The reverse look like it should be an illustration in an elementary school history book (at best) giving the entire coin the appearance of something you might find in a box of sugar coated kids cereal. Thumbs down! Two thumbs down!! I would say even more thumbs down, but two is all I have.

1993-D QUARTER DOLLAR

2009-09-24T07:19:00.000-07:00

Circulation strikes: 645,476,128
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) on the obverse just right of the ribbon
Value: $1.00 (MS-63) up to $6.00 (MS-65)

1965 TEN CENT

2009-09-22T06:50:00.000-07:00

Circulation strikes: 1,652,140,570
Special Mint Sets: 2,360,000
Designer: John R. Sinnock
Diameter: ±17.9 millimeters
Thickness: ±1.35 millimeters
Metal content: Outer layers: 75% Copper, 25% Nickel
Center: 100% Copper
Weight: ±2.27 grams
Edge: Reeded
Mintmark: None
Value: $1.50 (MS-65)

1974-D ONE CENT

2009-09-21T07:30:00.000-07:00

Circulation strikes: 4,235,098,000
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: $0.25 (MS-65)

1965 QUARTER DOLLAR

2009-09-17T07:51:00.000-07:00

1966 ONE CENT

2009-09-16T11:00:00.000-07:00

Circulation strikes: 2,188,147,783
Proofs: 2,261,583
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: None
Value: $0.20 (MS-63) up to $0.50 (MS-65)

1976-D ONE CENT

2009-09-15T08:30:00.000-07:00

Circulation strikes: 4,221,592,455
Designer: Obverse by Victor David Brenner
Reverse by Frank Gasparro
Diameter: ±19.05 millimeters
Thickness: ±1.55 millimeters
Metal content: Copper - 95% Tin and Zinc - 5%
Weight: ±3.11 grams
Edge: Plain
Mintmark: "D" (for Denver) below the date
Value: $0.25 (MS-65)

1965 QUARTER DOLLAR

2009-09-14T22:02:00.000-07:00

2009-D DC QUARTER DOLLAR

2009-09-11T08:10:00.000-07:00

Designer: John Flanagan
Modified by Don Everhart
Diameter: ±24.2 millimeters
Metal content: Outer layers - 75% Copper, 25% Nickel
Center - 100% Copper
Weight: ±5.67 grams
Thickness: ±1.75 mm
Edge: Reeded
Mintmark: "P" (for Philadelphia) on the obverse just right of the ribbon

1976-D QUARTER DOLLAR

2009-09-10T07:36:00.000-07:00

Circulation strikes: 860,118,839
Designer:
Obverse by John Flanagan
Reverse by Jack L. Ahr
Diameter: ±24.3 millimeters
Metal content: Outer layers - 75% Copper, 25% Nickel
Center - 100% Copper
Weight: ±88 grains (±5.7 grams)
Edge: Reeded
Mintmark: "D" on the obverse just right of the ribbon
Value: $1.00 (MS-63) up to $6.00 (MS-65)

1947 FIVE CENTS

2009-09-09T07:33:00.000-07:00

Circulation strikes: 95,000,000
Designer: Felix Schlag
Diameter: 21.2 millimeters
Metal content: Copper - 75% Nickel - 25%
Weight: 5 grams
Edge: Plain
Mintmark: none
Value: $0.25 (VF-20) up to $3.50 (MS-65)

It felt like a long dry spell since the last interesting coin... But then yesterday's trip to the deli for a sandwich resulted in a single Nickle in change. A single 1947 Nickel! And all is right with the world again. (Okay, maybe not ALL is right, but it was a bit of happiness to find a 60+ year old coin)

1972-D FIVE CENT

2009-09-08T07:29:00.000-07:00

Circulation strikes: 351,694,600
Designer: Felix Schlag
Diameter: 21.2 millimeters
Metal content: Copper - 75% Nickel - 25%
Weight: 5 grams
Edge: Plain
Mintmark: Small "D" (for Denver) below the date on the lower right obverse
Value: $0.25 (MS-63) up to $1.00 (MS-65)

After being stuck in bed sick for five days I finally felt well enough, and restless, to make a trip to the cafe yesterday. It was nice to get out of the house, see the sun and the sky, get some fresh air, and... get a bit of change. Nothing interesting, but better than being home sick.

1977 FIVE CENTS

2009-08-28T09:45:00.000-07:00

Circulation strikes: 585,376,000
Designer: Felix Schlag
Diameter: ±21.2 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)

1973-D QUARTER DOLLAR

2009-08-27T08:14:00.000-07:00

Circulation strikes: 232,977,400
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

1976-D FIVE CENTS

2009-08-26T08:32:00.000-07:00

Circulation strikes: 563,964,147
Designer: Felix Schlag
Diameter: ±21.21 millimeters
Thickness: ±1.95 millimeters
Metal content: Copper - 75% Nickel - 25%
Weight: ±5 grams
Edge: Plain
Mintmark: "D" (for Denver)
Value: $0.34 (MS-63) up to $1.00 (MS-65)

1967 TEN CENTS

2009-08-25T07:30:00.000-07:00

Circulation strikes: 2,244,007,320
Designer: John R. Sinnock
Diameter: ±17.9 millimeters
Metal content: Outer layers - 75% Copper, 25% Nickel
Center - 100% Copper
Weight: ±35 grains (±2.27 grams)
Edge: Reeded
Mintmark: None (for Philadelphia) just to the left of the base of the torch on the reverse
Value: $1.00 (MS-65)

1977-D ONE CENT

2009-08-24T08:02:00.000-07:00

Circulation strikes: 4,194,062,300
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: $0.25 (MS-65)

This barely identifiable lump of copper was found found in the yard while doing a bit of gardening. Initially I could just make out the Lincoln Memorial on the reverse so I knew it was a US coin and no older than 1959. I decided to do a little coin cleaning so I could actually see the date... knowing that the house was built in 1982, I reasoned the the coin had been droped sometime between then and when I bought the house. In other words, not only was the coin nearly worthless due to it's condition, but the odds of it being anything even remotely interesting were near zero. It's still a mess, but then I was only interested in cleaning enough to make out the date/mintmark.

1993-D FIVE CENTS

2009-08-19T07:45:00.000-07:00

Circulation strikes: 406,084,135
Designer: Felix Schlag
Diameter: ±21.20 millimeters
Metal content: Copper - 75% Nickel - 25%
Weight: ±5 grams
Edge: Plain
Mintmark: "D" (for Denver) below the date on the lower right obverse
Value: $0.25 (MS-63) up to $1.00 (MS-65)

1968-S FIVE CENT

2009-08-17T07:00:00.000-07:00

Circulation strikes: 100,396,004
Proofs: 3,041,506
Designer: Felix Schlag
Diameter: ±21.2 millimeters
Metal content: Copper - 56% Nickel - 25%
Weight: ±5 grams
Edge: Plain
Mintmark: "S" (for San Francisco) below the date on the obverse
Value: $0.25 (MS-63) up to $1.00 (PF-65)

As always, I love me a good San Francisco mint coin. It doesn't have to be old, or pretty, or valuable. As I see it the simple fact that "S" mint mark circulation coins havent' been produced in 34 years makes them an increasingly uncommon find, and an increasingly worthwile one.

1962-D ONE CENT

2009-08-14T08:57:00.000-07:00

Circulation strikes: 1,793,148,140
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-64) up to $0.30 (MS-65)

This one isn't going to win any beauty contests

1969-D TEN CENT

2009-08-13T11:05:00.000-07:00

Circulation strikes: 563,323,870
Designer: John R. Sinnock
Diameter: ±17.91 millimeters
Thickness: ±1.35 millimeters
Metal content: Outer layers - 75% Copper, 25% Nickel
Center - 100% Copper
Weight: ±2.26 grams
Edge: Reeded
Mintmark: D" (for Denver) above the date
Value: $1.00 (MS-65)

So, I may have been wrong when I commented that I expected to see an increase in older coins in circulation with the downturn in the economy. Either that or I'm getting my change in the wrong places. It could be both. Most of my change comes from the small shops that cater to the office workers in downtown… and that means that the majority of their customers are working in the surrounding office buildings. That is to say, still employed. I'm wondering if I were to keep track, if I would find a larger number of older coins at the local shops closer to home (out in the boondocks residential area).

1960-D FIVE CENT

2009-08-12T10:34:00.000-07:00

Circulation strikes: 192,582,180
Designer: Felix Schlag
Diameter: ±21.21 millimeters
Thickness: ±1.95 millimeters
Metal content: Copper - 75% Nickel - 25%
Weight: ±5 grams
Edge: Plain
Mintmark: "D" (for Denver) to the right of the building on the reverse
Value: $0.25 (MS-60) up to $1 (MS-65)

I'ts been what... two years since the last 1960-D Nickel found it's way into my pocket change? At first it seemed a long time, till I considered that it's a 49 year old coin.

1965 QUARTER DOLLAR

2009-08-11T10:49:00.000-07:00

1962-D ONE CENT

2009-07-19T21:05:00.000-07:00

2009-P DC Quarter Dollar

2009-07-15T22:11:00.000-07:00

Designer: John Flanagan
Modified by Don Everhart
Diameter: ±24.2 millimeters
Metal content: Outer layers - 75% Copper, 25% Nickel
Center - 100% Copper
Weight: ±5.67 grams
Thickness: ±1.75 mm
Edge: Reeded
Mintmark: "P" (for Philadelphia) on the obverse just right of the ribbon

I have been neglectful. All the same boring excuses that no one wants to know about, and then it happened. I found my first 2009 coin in circulation. A pleasant surprise, and more so since it’s a Philadelphia coin. Usually it’s the Denver’s I find first and the Philadelphia’s that can be harder to come by. So I made a point of finding some time to take pictures and post. And to wonder how long it will take to find the other 2009 coins in circulation.

1981 ONE CENT

2009-06-17T08:12:00.000-07:00

Circulation strikes: 7,491,750,000
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: None
Value: $0.20 (MS-65)

While I may not be seeing the 2009 cents in circulation there are at least older 95% copper cents to be found.

1966 QUARTER DOLLAR

2009-06-15T11:11:00.000-07:00

Circulation strikes: 821,101,500
Proofs: 2,261,583
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: None
Value: $1.00 (MS-63) up to $7.00 (MS-65)

1993-D TEN CENTS

2009-06-12T10:06:00.000-07:00

Circulation strikes: 750,110,166
Designer: John R. Sinnock
Diameter: ±17.9 millimeters
Thickness: ±1.35 millimeters
Metal content:Outer layers - 75% Copper, 25% Nickel
Center - 100% Copper
Weight: ±2.27 grams
Edge: Reeded
Mintmark: "D" (for Denver) above the date
Value: $0.75 (MS-65)

1970-D QUARTER DOLLAR

2009-06-11T11:15:00.000-07:00

Circulation strikes: 417,341,364
Designer: John Flanagan
Diameter: ±24.3 millimeters
Metal content: Outer layers - 75% Copper, 25% Nickel
Center - 100% Copper
Weight: ±88 grains (±5.7 grams)
Edge: Reeded
Mintmark: "D" (for Denver, CO) on the obverse just right of the ribbon
Value: $1.00 (MS-63) up to $6.00 (MS-65)

Still no sign of the 2009 coins here. I never kept track, but now I find myself wondering... how long, on average, does it take for the current years coins to turn up in circulation?

1964 FIVE CENTS

2009-06-09T10:50:00.000-07:00

Circulation strikes: 1,028,622,762
Proofs: 3,950,672
Designer: Felix Schlag
Diameter: 21.2 millimeters
Metal content: Copper - 75% Nickel - 25%
Weight: 5 grams
Edge: Plain
Mintmark: None
Value: $0.25 (MS-60) up to $1.50 (PF-65)

2008-D ALASKA QUARTER DOLLAR

2009-06-08T10:55:00.000-07:00

Designer: John Flanagan
Modified by Don Everhart
Diameter: ±24.2 millimeters
Metal content:
Outer layers - 75% Copper, 25% Nickel
Center - 100% Copper
Weight: ±5.67 grams
Thickness: ±1.75 mm
Edge: Reeded
Mintmark: "D" (for Denver) on the obverse just right of the ribbon

1965 QUARTER

2009-05-14T08:30:00.000-07:00

Circulation strikes: 1,819,717,540
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: None
Value: $1.00 (MS-63) up to $6.00 (MS-65)

Yesterday's lunch... one hot pastrami sandwich, one mango yogurt shower, and a handful of change. The sandwich was the high point, the yogurt shower, the unexpected result of an employee accident with the yogurt machine while I was ordering my lunch, was the low point. The change included, yet another, 1965 quarter. Now maybe it is because I am looking. But it seems that these things are like cockroaches. Yes, it makes sense that 1965 represents a floor for common quarters in circulation. Anything older is likely to be pulled out of circulation due to its silver content. Even so. At 44 years old it's mildly surprising how many ’65 quarters are still in circulation.

1978 QUARTER

2009-05-13T07:55:00.000-07:00

Circulation strikes: 521,452,000
Designer: John Flanagan
Diameter: ±24.26 millimeters
Metal content:
Outer layers - 75% Copper, 25% Nickel
Center - 100% Copper
Weight: ±5.67 grams
Thickness: ±1.75 mm
Edge: Reeded
Mintmark: "P" (for Philadelphia) on the obverse just right of the ribbon
Value: $1.00 (MS-63) up to $5.00 (MS-65)

Since I had a handful of change and an empty house I took a few moments to sort through coins and found… nothing. Well, nothing interesting at least. I was a bit disappointed. Between change from lunch, change from picking up dinner, and a half dozen ‘found’ pennies I had been hopeful that I would at least have something in the ‘older then me’ category. Still, 1978 isn’t a bad find. While not particularly notable it is a 31 year old coin making it older than the 25 year* life span that the US mint claims for coins.

I would have sworn that, not all that long ago, the Mint estimated a 30 year life span for coins… either I am / was confused or this changed recently.

1961-D FIVE CENT

2009-05-06T07:32:00.000-07:00

Circulation strikes: 229,342,760
Designer: Felix Schlag
Diameter: ±21.2 millimeters
Metal content: Copper - 75% Nickel - 25%
Weight: ±5 grams
Edge: Plain
Mintmark: "D" (for Denver) to the right of the building on the reverse
Value: $0.25 (MS-60) up to $1.00 (MS-65)

Looks like the Mint will be processing subscription Proof orders in about four weeks... now if they would only hurry up and take care of the uncircluated sets... especially sinces it's starting to look like 2009 coins from circulation are going to be very few and very far between.

1954-D FIVE CENTS

2009-04-23T10:58:00.000-07:00

1965 ONE CENT

2009-04-13T08:00:00.000-07:00

Circulation strikes: 1,497,224,900
Proofs: 2,360,000
Designer:
Obverse by Victor David Brenner
Reverse by Frank Gasparro
Diameter: ±19 millimeters
Metal content: Copper - 95%
Tin and Zinc - 5%
Weight: ±3.11 grams
Edge: Plain
Mintmark: None
Value: $0.20 (MS-63) up to $0.50 (MS-65)

There just hasn't been much of interest in my change lately. Nothing earlier than the mid 60’s, nothing newer than 2008. Combine that with limited free time, and what time is available for hobby pursuits being split between multiple interests… But for some reason I smiled a little when I got this ‘slightly abused’ penny in my change and it reminded me that I really needed to find time to keep up with posting.

1999-P DELAWARE

2009-04-01T07:20:00.000-07:00

Designer:
Obverse: John Flanagan
Reverse: William Cousins
Modified by Don Everhart
Diameter: ±24.2 millimeters
Metal content:
Outer layers - 75% Copper, 25% Nickel
Center - 100% Copper
Weight: ±5.67 grams
Thickness: ±1.75 mm
Edge: Reeded
Mintmark: "P" (for Philadelphia) on the obverse just right of the ribbon
Value: $0.50 (AU-50) up to $3.00 (MS-65)

The upside of the (economic) downturn. More ‘State’ Quarters finding there way back into circulation. And so, today’s coin. The 1999-P Delaware Quarter. The last quarter needed to complete my set of circulation State Quarters. Ten years after its release and I finally find one. No longer will that empty hole in the coin album mock me, no longer will I consider giving up and buying one from the coin shop. Now we all know that I'm no big fan of the 50 State Quarter series, but the Delaware quarter is still significant in that it represents the begining of new coin series that not only changed the way our Quarters look, but also brought a lot of new people into the world of coin collecting.

1974-D TEN CENT

2009-03-31T07:14:00.000-07:00

Circulation strikes: 571,083,000
Designer: John R. Sinnock
Diameter: ±17.9 millimeters
Thickness: ±1.35 millimeters
Metal content: Outer layers - 75% Copper, 25% Nickel
Center - 100% Copper
Weight: ±2.27 grams
Edge: Reeded
Mintmark: "D" (for Denver) above the date
Value: $1.00 (MS-65)

My sons still don't leave me with much time for playing with my coins, but at five months I can sit one in my lap while I go through the day's change and prepare the morning post while my wife is with the other boy. Now the real question is, how long till I can drag the boys with me to coin shows…

1965 TEN CENTS

2009-03-30T06:55:00.000-07:00

Circulation strikes: 1,652,140,570
Special Mint Sets: 2,360,000
Designer: John R. Sinnock
Diameter: ±17.9 millimeters
Thickness: ±1.35 millimeters
Metal content: Outer layers: 75% Copper, 25% Nickel
Center: 100% Copper
Weight: ±2.27 grams Edge:
Reeded Mintmark: None
Value: $1.50 (MS-65)

Posting a dimenking about quarters...

I have two piggy banks at home, one for each of my sons (Okay, they aren’t actually ‘piggy’ banks I just don’t know what else to call them) Each day since my sons were born (Nov 1st 2008) I’ve put a quarter into each bank, always a ‘State Quarter’. This isn’t an ‘allowance’ thing it’s just me planning ahead to share my love of coins with my kids. Allowance, when the boys are old enough for it, will be separate and in addition to the quarter collection. Just the other day I realized that there are already a lot of quarters in those banks. 150 in each. I briefly considered going through all my state quarters (I have every single one that has ever found it’s way into my change) and ensuring that each bank has a full set. And then I though ‘well that’s no fun’ better to let the coins collect however they will. Someday the boys can sort through them all and see if they have a complete set. Odds are they will at least be very close, they can trade with each other as needed or ask to search through my box-o-quarters if they are missing anything. Of course there are still the DC/Territories. I’ll probably treat those the same as I do the State quarters. Once I have my obligatory sample of a given coin duplicates will go into the quarter box and some of those will find there way into the boys’ banks.
Regardless, by the time my boys are old enough to care they should each have a complete, or nearly complete, set of State/Territorial quarters, and at a quarter a day ($91 per year) even if they keep a complete set they’ll have a lot left over.

1963-D ONE CENT

2009-03-23T08:03:00.000-07:00

Circulation Strikes: 1,774,020,400
Designer: Obverse by Victor David Brenner
Reverse by 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)

1995-D FIVE CENT

2009-03-12T08:26:00.000-07:00

Circulation strikes: 888,112,000
Designer: Felix Schlag
Diameter: 21.2 millimeters
Metal content: Copper - 75% Nickel - 25%
Weight: 5 grams
Edge: Plain
Mintmark: Small "D" below the date on the lower right obverse
Value: $0.50 (MS-63) up to $1.00 (MS-65)

1965 FIVE CENT

2009-03-11T09:45:00.000-07:00

Circulation strikes: 136,131,380
Special Mint Sets: 2,360,000
Designer: Felix Schlag
Diameter: 21.2 millimeters
Metal content: Copper - 75%, Nickel - 25%
Weight: 5 grams
Edge: Plain
Mintmark: None
Value: $0.25 (MS-60) up to $1.00 (MS-65)

Fewer and fewer are the occasions when I get to post a coin from my change that I have not already posted. 1965 may be a fairly common year to find in circulation, but with less than one tenth the mintage numbers of either the Quarter or the Dime it's not wonder the '65 Nickel doesn't turn up quite as often. And while the Nickel didn't get a composition change in 1965 it was still an interesting year in that it was the last year that the coin was minted with out the initials F.S for Felix Schlag.

1976-D FIVE CENT

2009-03-10T09:16:00.000-07:00

Circulation strikes: 563,964,147

Designer: Felix Schlag

Diameter: ±21.21 millimeters

Thickness: ±1.95 millimeters

Metal content: Copper - 75% Nickel - 25%

Weight: ±5 grams

Edge: Plain

Mintmark: "D" (for Denver)

Value: $0.34 (MS-63) up to $1.00 (MS-65)

My wonderful wife came home from running some errands yesterday evening and promptly kicked me out of the house for a much needed break from fussy twin boys. I made it a point not to do anything productive while I was out. I did, however, manage to collect a small amount of change from a stop at the local coffee shop.

1980 ONE CENT

2009-03-09T17:19:00.001-07:00

Circulation strikes: 7,414,705,000

Designer: Obverse: Victor David Brenner

Reverse: Frank Gasparro

Diameter: ±19.05 millimeters

Thickness: ±1.55 millimeters

Metal content: Copper - 95% Tin and Zinc - 5%

Weight: ±3.11 grams

Edge: Plain

Mintmark: None

Value: $0.25 (MS-65)

Another day at home with the babies. Today's coin comes from the local Home Depot. It was either the trip to pick up PVC pipe and fittings, or the trip to pick up glass cutting drill bits. Not sure which.

1967 Quarter Dollar

2009-03-06T09:51:00.000-08:00

Circulation strikes: 1,524,031,848

Special Mint Set: 1,863,344

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: None

Value: $1.00 (MS-63) up to $6.00 (MS-65)

It's been a while since I posted... between work and babies I've been crazy busy. And with the wife and I both working and the boys going to daycare... well, they bring home a lot of colds and everyone keeps getting sick. No fun. The up side is that right now I'm home with a couple of sick boys (not majory, but keeping them out of daycare so they don't get the other children sick) and actually have time to dig through my change and post something. Who knew there even WAS an up side to sick babies?

1963-D ONE CENT

2009-02-25T06:50:00.000-08:00

Circulation Strikes: 1,774,020,400

Designer: Obverse by Victor David Brenner

Reverse by 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)

Today I'm taking one of the boys in for a doctors appointment... this means a chance to sleep in a bit, and time to do a coin post. A mindless - I have nothing to say because I'm not really awake and haven't had my coffee yet post… but a coin post none the less.

1820 TEN CENTS

2009-02-17T07:48:00.000-08:00

Circulation strikes: 942,587
Designer: John Reich
Diameter: ±18.9 millimeters
Metal Content: Silver - ±89.2% Copper - ±10.8%
Weight: ±2.7 grams
Edge: Reeded
Mintmark: None
Value: $35 (G-4) up to $2,250 (MS-63)

Another ‘not from circulation’ coin.

Got out of the house Saturday morning to run a few errands, when I finished I realized that I still had a bit of time and still had cash in my wallet… off to the coin shop! Right away I spotted an 1820 “Large O” variety dime. Perfect! Not a high grade, but a happy addition to my collection non the less, and it was inexpensive. The real treat, however, was when the dealer showed me one of his latest acquisitions… an 1807 Draped Bust Quarter Dollar. I tried not to drool. A beautiful coin and, in my less than expert opinion, this one would easily grade VF. The only things this coin had going against it… first I don’t usually carry that much cash with me (precisely to keep me from buying thing like this on impulse) and second, a somewhat distracting scratch just below Liberty’s chin. Still, it’s not everyday you get your hands on a 200 year old coin that lookes cleaner than most of the change in your pocket.

1967 QUARTER DOLLAR

2009-02-13T08:39:00.000-08:00

1981-D QUARTER DOLLAR

2009-02-12T07:58:00.000-08:00

Circulation strikes: 575,722,833

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" on the obverse just right of the ribbon

Value: $1.00 (MS-63) up to $5.00 (MS-65)

1985-P QUARTER DOLLAR

2009-02-11T08:17:00.000-08:00

Circulation strikes: 775,818,962

Designer: John Flanagan

Diameter: ±24.26 millimeters

Metal content: Outer layers - 75% Copper, 25% Nickel

Center - 100% Copper

Weight: ±5.67 grams

Thickness: ±1.75 mm

Edge: Reeded

Mintmark: "P" (for Philadelphia) on the obverse just right of the ribbon

Value: $2.00 (MS-63) up to $15.00 (MS-65)

Yesterday I read an article on Parkquarters.com... apparently the Citizens Coinage Advisory Committee feels that, at least on the National Park Quarters, an image of Theodore Roosevelt should replace George Washington. Now maybe I'm being overly conservative, or an old fashioned traditionalist, but I just can't get behind the idea of supporting such a change. First I would much prefer to see a return to images of “Liberty” on our coins rather than portraits of dead Presidents. Second, how much is this going to cost? At a time when our economy is faltering should we really be spending any amount on coinage redesign that serves no purpose other than to alter aesthetics?

2009-D Native American Dollar

2009-02-10T06:37:00.000-08:00

Designer: Obv: Glenna Goodacre. Rev:
Diameter: ±26.5 millimeters
Thickness ±2.0 millimeters
Metal content: 88.5% copper, 6% zinc, 3.5% manganese, 2% nickel
Weight: ±8.1 grams
Edge: Plain
Mintmark: "D" (for Denver) on the edge inscription

No, it's not from the daily pocket change. This one came in the post yesterday from Michael over at Coin Network. It's a deviation from the theme of posting coins found in circulation... but you know how it is. Got to share the new coin!

A big thanks to Michael for putting together the Coin Network site and for hosting the contest that resulted in this latest coin addition!

1970 QUARTER DOLLAR

2009-02-09T07:24:00.000-08:00

Circulation strikes: 136,420,000
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: None
Value: $1.00 (MS-63) up to $10.00 (MS-65)

More pocket change from the local coffee shop.

1973-S ONE CENT

2009-01-30T08:06:00.000-08:00

Circulation strikes: 317,177,295

Proofs: 2,760,339

Designer: Obverse by Victor David Brenner

Reverse by Frank Gasparro

Diameter: ±19.05 millimeters

Thickness: ±1.55 millimeters

Metal content: Copper - 95% Tin and Zinc - 5%

Weight: ±3.11 grams

Edge: Plain

Mintmark: "S" (for San Francisco) below the date

Because I always appreciate a circulation coin from the San Francisco Mint, especially since, with the exception of Susan B Anthony dollars, the last circulation coins to have the S mintmark were from 1974. That puts all such coins beyond the thirty year ‘official’ expected circulation life span. Of course, once they find there way into my hands they aren’t in circulation any more… minor detail.

1975-1975-D QUARTER DOLLAR

2009-01-28T08:41:00.000-08:00

Circulation strikes: 860,118,839

Designer: Obverse: John Flanagan

Reverse: by Jack L. Ahr

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,) on the obverse just right of the ribbon

Value: $1.00 (MS-63) up to $6.00 (MS-65)

There are only so many times one can stomach going to the same mediocre deli for the same mediocre sandwich for lunch. So yesterday I wandered off in search of a hot pastrami sandwich and ended up with tasty goodness for lunch and a bicentennial quarter in my change.
On a totally unrelated note (and because as a new parent I can’t resist sharing such things) our little guys started babbling a few days ago, resulting in a new word being added to our vocabulary… “a-goo” We have no idea what it means, but the boys say it, and we say it back, and everyone smiles (and sometimes giggles).

1970 QUARTER DOLLAR

2009-01-27T07:17:00.000-08:00

Circulation strikes: 136,420,000

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: None

Value: $1.00 (MS-63) up to $10.00 (MS-65)

After work yesterday I headed off to the post office to pick up some stamps… I always enjoy picking up stamps, not because they are exciting or anything, but because the post office always had stamp vending machines that gave back dollar coins. No more. In fact the new machines don’t give back change, or take cash at all. It’s all debit or credit card. I vaguely recall hearing that the post office was going to change machines… I had just shuffled that tidbit into the back of my mind and ignored it. I got my stamps, but I’ll need to find another source of circulating dollar coins.

I would have thought that any federal government organization would want to distribute dollar coins as change… after all, we hear about these media campaigns to encourage people to use them, so why did the post office change the vending machines? Did people complain about receiving the coins? And even if some people did, so what? Most people don’t like changes and aren’t going to accept dollar coins without a little pushing. But if they have them I’m sure they are just as willing to spend them as bills, and if they don’t have them they can’t spend them. Ah well, I guess that’s why I’m not in politics, my tendency to prefer actions that make sense rather than actions that make people happy.

1968 QUARTER DOLLAR

2009-01-26T08:02:00.000-08:00

Circulation strikes: 220,731,500
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: None

... and I'm still trying to adjust my schedule to accommodate a bit of coin time with two babies in the home. Which is to say, posting is still a bit erratic of late.

There wasn’t much change to choose from this weekend. A trip to buy baby supplies ended up with a total to large to pay in cash, though a couple of lattes and a visit to the hardware store provided some change. With little to chose from I ended up with the second 1968 Quarter posted this year, at least it qualifies as ‘older than me’. As an aside, it’s a little depressing to realize that every year I find fewer and fewer coins older than myself. Inevitable, but I don’t really need my coins to remind me that I keep getting older.

1985-P QUARTER DOLLAR

2009-01-19T09:02:00.000-08:00

Circulation strikes: 775,818,962
Designer: John Flanagan
Diameter: ±24.26 millimeters
Metal content:
Outer layers - 75% Copper, 25% Nickel
Center - 100% Copper
Weight: ±5.67 grams
Thickness: ±1.75 mm
Edge: Reeded
Mintmark: "P" (for Philadelphia) on the obverse just right of the ribbon
Value: $2.00 (MS-63) up to $15.00 (MS-65)

So I'm running a little late this morning and I think to myself... I'll just grab a quick picture of today's coin and edit/upload it at the office. And then some combination of my camera, my work computer, my imaged editing software, and blogger didn't want to get allong. Joy. After many aborted attempts, the coin pics are up and working after a fashion, and all that effort for... well, nothing exciting. Asside from a masive purchase of diapers and formula, with a few passifiers thrown in, and an unproductive detour to the thrift store and a quick stop for some caffeen, I didn't make it out of the house... so there was even less than usuall in the way of change to select from today.

1915 TEN CENTS

2009-01-16T07:29:00.000-08:00

Circulation strikes: 5,620,000
Proof strikes: 450
Designer: Charles E. Barber
Diameter: ±17.9 millimeters
Metal content: 90% Silver, 10% Copper
Weight: ±2.5 grams
Edge: Reeded
Mintmark: None
Value: $2.50 (G-4) up to $450.00 (PF-63)

No, it wasn’t in my daily change. This came my way via the raffle at our coin club meeting.
Last nights meeting was on “Collecting Key Type Coins” though the title could have been more informatively called Key Date Type Sets.

Turns out that by “Key Type Sets” the presenter meant regular type sets using only key date, or semi key date coins from each type. Good thing for me that I don’t consider this to be one of those things that I need to pursue. I would rather work towards sets consisting of the best grade and/or eye appeal that I can afford instead of the most difficult to obtain, and by extension the most expensive. There was a lot of talk about value appreciation of key date and rare coins. All very interesting, and significant when one realizes that, if you have the opportunity to buy a rare or key-date coin at a fair price, it’s not going to get any cheaper. With the caveat that you shouldn’t talk yourself into buying anything that you are not certain about, get those hard to find coins now while you still can.

There were some beautiful coins on display last night, including the 1916-D Winged Liberty Dime (VG-8) that my wife needs for her set, but mostly I kept looking at the 1857-S $3 Gold and the 1890 $20 Double Eagle. One of these days I have got to add a few of the gold coins to my collection. Oh… and someone brought in home made brownies! Nom!

1975 TEN CENT

2009-01-15T08:34:00.000-08:00

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)

Time for the first coin club meeting of they year. Well, almost time. Right after work today I’m heading off to the Diablo Numismatic Society meeting. It will be nice to have a bit of low-key coin time; it’s also a chance to subject a whole group of people to baby pictures! The topic today is collecting key type coins. I almost hope I don’t find the topic too interesting, or I might end up “needing” to start a number of type sets soon.

1984-D FIVE CENT

2009-01-14T09:42:00.000-08:00

Circulation strikes: 517,675,146
Designer: Felix Schlag
Diameter: ±21.21 millimeters
Thickness: ±1.95 millimeters
Metal content: Copper - 75% Nickel - 25%
Weight: ±5 grams
Edge: Plain
Mintmark: Small "D" (for Denver) below the date on the lower right obverse
Value: $0.25 (MS-63) up to $1.00 (MS-65)

There has been a fair amount of talk about the new U.S Mint pricing policy for gold and platinum items. I thought I would add my two cents…

If you are buying these as collectors items then it makes sense for the seller (the Mint) to charge what ever the market will bear. For this reason I don’t concern myself particularly over the price of the American Eagle Proof coins, but if we focus on the American Eagle Bullion uncirculated coins … according to the mint web site these coins were authorized to “provide investors with a convenient and cost-effective way to add a small amount of physical platinum, gold, or silver to their investment portfolios.” Huh? What’s cost effective about paying a 31.30% premium? The high premium seems to contradict the idea that bullion coinage trades at bullion value… i.e. a one ounce gold coin is worth… wait for it… one ounce of gold. At least that’s how I thought it was supposed to work.

The fact is, modern gold coins can be pricy. And once the price for a contemporary coin hits a certain level the financial instincts start to override the numismatic ones. Since I can’t afford to buy every Gold coin that the U.S. mint makes each year I’m not driven by any need to have a complete set… so any contemporary gold coin that I consider needs to feel like it is, if not a good deal, at least not a bad deal. $1078 for an uncirculated Gold Eagle? For that money I would rather add another CC Morgan to my collection.

1985-D ONE CENT

2009-01-13T10:32:00.000-08:00

Circulation strikes: 5,287,339,926
Designer: Obverse by Victor David Brenner
Reverse by Frank Gasparro
Diameter: ±19.05 millimeters
Thickness: ±1.55 millimeters
Metal content: Copper - 95% Tin and Zinc - 5%
Weight: ±3.11 grams
Edge: Plain
Mintmark: "D" (for Denver) below the date
Value: $0.25 (MS-65)

Nothing about today’s coin, but my copy of “Numismatic Art in America: Aesthetics of the United States Coinage” by Cornelius Vermeule arrived in the post yesterday. I haven’t had time to do more than glance through it, but I’m looking forward to finding time to do a bit of reading, maybe while enjoying some coffee at the local café.

1965 QUARTER DOLLAR

2009-01-12T08:28:00.000-08:00

1986-P FIVE CENTS

2009-01-06T09:45:00.000-08:00

Circulation strikes: 536,883,483
Designer: Felix Schlag
Diameter: 21.2 millimeters
Metal content: Copper - 75%Nickel - 25%
Weight: 5 grams
Edge: Plain
Mintmark: Small "P" (for Philadelphia) below the date on the obverse

Value: $0.50 (MS-63) up to $1.00 (MS-65)

The 50 state quarter program is over. I have a complete uncirculated set, and an almost complete circulation set. Nothing strange about that, but in addition I have saved every single state quarter that has come my way over the last ten years. Literally. I have a chest full of them. I don’t know why I started saving them, but more recently I figured that my sons might some day enjoy digging through them to build sets of state quarters. The addition of the DC/Territories quarters has no real impact… eleven years versus ten years. No big deal. But with the upcoming National Park Quarters things are different. It doesn’t seem to make much sense to amass state quarters but not park quarters, and yet now were talking about twenty one years (or more) of quarters. And saving every quarter that passes my way from twenty plus years of minting is... well... a bit much. And as new coins replace old in circulation and new novelty coins are minted these location quarters will become the normal in our change, my boys will grow up thinking of them as unexceptional. The chest full of varying state quarters are unlikely to seam as special against the backdrop of ever changing quarters. A shame. So, despite the fact that I love my chest-o-quarters (and the fact that it looks like a pirates chest full of coins) it may be time to give up on it. I guess the next question is what to do with several thousand generic circulated state quarters…

1968 QUARTER DOLLAR

2009-01-05T10:30:00.000-08:00

Circulation strikes: 220,731,500

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: None

Back to the grind. The holidays are over and we can all get back to our normally scheduled work week. We can also start counting the days until the first sightings of the 2009 coinage… especially the Lincoln Bicentennial Cents.

1978-D QUARTER DOLLAR

2008-12-31T08:28:00.000-08:00

Circulation strikes: 297,373,152
Designer: John Flanagan
Diameter: ±24.3 millimeters
Thickness: ±1.75 millimeters
Metal content: Outer layers - 75% Copper, 25% Nickel
Center - 100% Copper
Weight: ±5.7 grams
Edge: Reeded
Mintmark: "D" on the obverse just right of the ribbon
Value: $1.00 (MS-63) up to $5.00 (MS-65)

No picture today. I was just too tired last night to deal with much more than eating and sleeping. and since it's only been a week since the last 1978-D Quarter and there was nothing unique about todays... well, lets just say you are not missing much due to my failure to post a picture.

Hope everyone is gearing up for a Happy New Years Eve!

2000-D FIVE CENTS

2008-12-30T09:41:00.000-08:00

Circulation strikes: 1,509,520,000
Designer: Felix Schlag
Diameter: ±21.21 millimeters
Thickness: ±1.95 millimeters
Metal content: Copper - 75% Nickel - 25%
Weight: ±5 grams
Edge: Plain
Mintmark: "D" (for Denver) below the date on the lower right obverse
Value: $0.25 (MS-63) up to $1.00 (MS-65)

2008-D HAWAII QUARTER DOLLAR

2008-12-29T10:00:00.000-08:00

Designer: John Flanagan

Modified by Don Everhart

Diameter: ±24.2 millimeters

Metal content:

Outer layers - 75% Copper, 25% Nickel

Center - 100% Copper

Weight: ±5.67 grams

Thickness: ±1.75 mm

Edge: Reeded

Mintmark: "D" (for Denver) on the obverse just right of the ribbon

The first "Hawaii" quarter to find it's way into my change, and just barely before the end of the year. Though the begining of 2009 will still find a few holes in 50 State Quarter circulation set, I'll at least have one from each state (just missing a few 'Philidelphia' mint quarters).

Anyway, hope everyone had a wonderfull holiday, and wishing everyone a happy new year.

1978-D QUARTER DOLLAR

2008-12-24T07:48:00.000-08:00

Circulation strikes: 297,373,152
Designer: John Flanagan
Diameter: ±24.3 millimeters
Thickness: ±1.75 millimeters
Metal content:
Outer layers - 75% Copper, 25% Nickel
Center - 100% Copper
Weight: ±5.7 grams
Edge: Reeded
Mintmark: "D" on the obverse just right of the ribbon
Value: $1.00 (MS-63) up to $5.00 (MS-65)

Nothing exciting today, except to wish everyone a happy holiday! Hope everyone is enjoying a little time with the family and away from work!

1969-D HALF DOLLAR

2008-12-22T10:40:00.000-08:00

Circulation strikes: 129,881,800
Designer: Obverse by Gilroy Roberts; reverse by Frank Gasparro
Diameter: ±31 millimeters
Metal Content:
Outer layers - 80% Silver, 20% Copper
Center - 79% Copper, 21% Silver
Weight: ±11.5 grams
Edge: Reeded
Mintmark: "D" (for Denver) centered above the date
Value: $3.50 (MS-63)

What a pleasant surprise. Fifty Cent pieces are uncommon enough in circulation, but to get one that is 40% silver (and qualifies as 'older than me') is an especially nice treat.

2008-12-17T09:45:00.000-08:00

About the lack of posting the last few days... things have gotten crazy busy both at work and at home. And when available time is in short supply holding my babies takes priority over preparing coin posts. With any luck the crazies will subside soon…

1975-D ONE CENT

2008-12-15T08:25:00.000-08:00

Circulation strikes: 4,505,275,300

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: $0.25 (MS-65)

I just couldn’t do it. Had to stage my own little boycott. Thing is, yet again the oldest coin in my pocket was a 1965 quarter dollar. They’ve been like weeds lately. The way I figure it, if the Mint is correct about the average circulation coin lasting 30 years we can calculate a probability curve using that as the mean, and if we assume a normal probability distribution for coins being lost or destroyed… that gives us a standard deviation of 6 and, if our assumptions aren’t too far off the mark, some 98.4870% of those 1965 Quarters should be gone my now… but that still leaves more than 27 Million of them in circulation, not taking into consideration hoarding, collecting, etc. Guess that’s what happens when you mint more than 1.8 billion quarters in a single year…

1990-D FIVE CENTS

2008-12-12T09:11:00.000-08:00

Circulation strikes: 663,938,503
Designer: Felix Schlag
Diameter: 21.2 millimeters
Metal content: Copper - 75% Nickel - 25%
Weight: 5 grams
Edge: Plain
Mintmark: Small "D" below the date on the lower right obverse
Value: $0.25 (MS-63) up to $1.00 (MS-65)

1969-S FIVE CENTS

2008-12-11T08:19:00.000-08:00

Circulation strikes: 120,075,000
Proofs: 2,934,631
Designer: Felix Schlag
Diameter: 21.2 millimeters
Metal content:
Copper - 75%
Nickel - 25%
Weight: 5 grams
Edge: Plain
Mintmark: "S" (for San Francisco) above the building on the reverse
Value: $0.25 (MS-63) up to $1.00 (MS-65/PF-65)

Always happy to find an "S" mint coin in my change!

1967 QUARTER DOLLAR

2008-12-10T08:57:00.000-08:00

Circulation strikes: 1,524,031,848

Special Mint Set: 1,863,344

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: None

Value: $1.00 (MS-63) up to $6.00 (MS-65)

1972-D FIVE CENT

2008-12-09T08:59:00.000-08:00

Value: $0.25 (MS-63) up to $1.00 (MS-65)

I’m always please, and unreasonably happy, when my change turns up a coin I haven’t posted yet. Sometimes it’s nice to be happy about the little things.

1965 QUARTER DOLLAR

2008-12-08T09:34:00.000-08:00

How old does a coin need to be to qualify as interesting?
When it comes to pocket change I’ve always set aside coins that fall into one of a couple broad categories… I don’t have one yet, Different metal content, different design, and older than me. But is ‘older than me” the right standard for a coin’s age? Given that the mint defines the expected circulation lifespan of a coin as thirty years it seems, on the surface, reasonable to expect that coins beyond that age would start to become less common in circulation. So should I switch to a rolling thirty year age as the definition of worth saving? Since I’m older than that it would mean an increase in the amount of “junk” coin I’m setting aside. I’ll think on it more. Maybe find some compromise where age translates to an increase in maximum number stashed away.

1974 QUARTER DOLLAR

2008-12-05T08:15:00.000-08:00

Circulation strikes: 801,456,000
Designer: Obverse: John Flanagan
Reverse: by Jack L. Ahr
Diameter: ±24.3 millimeters
Metal Content: Outer layers - 75% Copper, 25% Nickel
Center - 100% Copper
Weight: ±5.7 grams
Edge: Reeded
Mintmark: None
Value: $1.00 (MS-63) up to $5.00 (MS-65)

1954-D FIVE CENTS

2008-12-04T08:21:00.000-08:00

Circulation strikes: 117,183,060
Designer: Felix Schlag
Diameter: 22.1 millimeters
Metal content:
Copper – 75%
Nickel – 25%
Weight: 5 grams
Edge: Plain
Mintmark: “D” (for Denver) to the right of the building on the reverse
Value: $0.60 (MS-60) up to $1.50 (MS-65)

I commented yesterday that I might have to raid my stash of unsorted coin to find something to post today.
…or I could raid the wife’s purse. As it turns out the wife had some decent change. Best of the lot was this 1954-D Five Cent. Maybe not all nice and pretty, but anything from the ‘50s (or earlier) is a good find in any condition.

So I spent a bit of time sorting coin yesterday, and was surprised to realize that I don’t have any 1999-P Delaware state quarters in my circulation coins… none, zip, zero. Since I’ve kept all the state quarters that came my way it seems odd that I wouldn’t have at least one. On the up side, it gives me something to actively search for as I fill out that first coin album (circulation state quarters)

1999-P TEN CENTS

2008-12-03T09:47:00.000-08:00

Circulation strikes: 2,164,000,000
Designer: John R. Sinnock
Diameter: ±17.9 millimeters
Thickness: ±1.35 millimeters
Metal content:
Outer layers: 75% Copper, 25% Nickel
Center: 100% Copper
Weight: ±2.27 grams
Edge: Reeded
Mintmark: None
Value: $0.75 (MS-65)

Taking the day off… well, not really. Staying at home doing "Daddy Day Care" while the wife testifies in a court case. But this means a little coin time between feedings and diaper changes, so today I'm spending a bit of time sorting through the coins that have been collecting in the 'might be interesting' box, and since I'm unlikely to get out of the house and collect any more change today, what with tending to twin infants, I'll probably post something from today's sorting tomorrow. It's still just coins from circulation, so there won't be anything exciting, but at least it's a stash of 'older than me' coins to choose from.

1976-D ONE CENT

2008-12-02T08:29:00.000-08:00

Circulation strikes: 4,221,592,455
Designer:
Obverse by Victor David Brenner
Reverse by Frank Gasparro
Diameter: ±19.05 millimeters
Thickness: ±1.55 millimeters
Metal content:
Copper - 95%
Tin and Zinc - 5%
Weight: ±3.11 grams
Edge: Plain
Mintmark: "D" (for Denver) below the date
Value: $0.25 (MS-65)

Nothing really special today. The best of the pocket change was a “there’s still copper in it” Cent.

I recently picked up a coin album. I haven’t had one of these since I was a kid, but I’ve been less then pleased with the boxes full of 2x2 holders as a method of storing the more contemporary circulation coins. I think I’m sold. Now I just need to decide on which coin albums to buy… I’ve heard that Dansco is the way to go but I’m not certain if I want to use their “Supreme Albums” or the binders. Maybe I’ll pick up one of each and see which I like better.

1943-S FIVE CENTS

2008-12-01T08:59:00.000-08:00

Circulation strikes: 104,060,000
Designer: Felix Schlag
Diameter: 21.2 millimeters
Metal content:
Copper - 56%
Silver - 35%
Manganese - 9%
Weight: 5 grams
Edge: Plain
Mintmark: "S" (for San Francisco) above the building on the reverse
Value: $1.00 (VF-20) up to 15.00 (MS-65)

I'm not usually a big fan of Starbucks coffee… during the winter, however, they have a rather tasty Spiced Pumpkin Latte. So, when I needed some late night caffeine and was restless to get out of the house I headed over to the local Starbucks… and discovered something else to like… wireless. Using the same provider I use at home. Which means free, no hassle internet at the coffee shop. No asking for an access code, no charge, no nothing. Just enter the same login credentials that I use at the house… and Presto! Instant internet. I also discovered a wartime nickel in my change during that trip to Starbucks. A nice addition to the long weekend!

1878-CC DOLLAR

2008-11-30T13:11:00.001-08:00

The Weekly Vintage Coin

Circulation strikes: 2,212,000
Designer: George T. Morgan
Diameter: 38.1 millimeters
Metal Content:
Silver - 90%
Copper - 10%
Weight: ±26.73 grams
Edge: Reeded
Mintmark: "CC" (for Carson City) beneath the bow on the reverse
Value: $110.00 (VF-20) up to $1,500.00 (MS-65)

Hope everyone had a good Thanksgiving! And is enjoying a nice long holiday weekend!

Ours started off on a good note with the arrival of some silver bullion for the twins to have when they are older and a little something extra for myself… a 1978 Carson City Morgan. I've been wanting to add some Carson City coins to my Morgan collection. I stop and look them over at every coin show or shop that I visit, But I always find it difficult to justify the premium most of them command. When I saw the opportunity to pick up a, relatively less expensive, example for less than the going market rate… Well I just couldn't resist.

The rest of the weekend has been a mixture of good and tiring. We had Thanksgiving at our house for the first time ever… a little bit stressful, but it all went off more smoothly than I expected. My wife's Aunt was staying with us (She flew back to Southern California the day after Thanksgiving) and her parents drove out to join us for dinner. And now things are getting back to normal. We have our house to ourselves again, and I can reclaim my office since it's no longer doing duty as a guest room! Maybe things will stay normal enough for a while and I can get back to posting a little more regularly.

To busy to post?

2008-11-25T08:07:00.000-08:00

Okay, it is that I’ve been to busy to post… that and we have family staying with us for the holidays (and to help out with the babies) and my office has been converted into an extra bedroom, which means limited access to my computer (except, of course the laptop), my microscope, cameras, scanner… everything I use for imaging coins for the daily post. In short, the coin-of-the-day hiatus may continue a bit longer than I had planned. Not that anyone is missing much. Such change as has found it’s way into my hands recently has been standard fare. If I do happen upon anything worthy I’ll find a way to get pictures and post it.

2005-D TEN CENTS

2008-11-20T08:28:00.000-08:00

Circulation strikes: 1,423,500,000
Designer: John R. Sinnock
Diameter: ±17.91 millimeters
Thickness: ±1.35 millimeters
Metal content: Copper - 95%
Tin and Zinc - 5%
Weight: ±3.11 grams
Edge: Plain
Mintmark: "D" (for Denver) below the date

Back to work means back to collecting change each day. And that means actually having coins to post.

I had the opportunity to share my coin collection with a family friend the other day. She was over to see the twins and I was reading the Numismatic News. Prompted by her commented that she had never encountered the word “Numismatic” before we began talking about the hobby. In due course I brought out some of our coins. And I have to say… I was embarrassed. She asked question I had never thought to ask. Who was the model for liberty on this coin? Why that particular number of stars on that coin… As far as their design I’ve always just looked at them and thought they were beautiful, but her questions got me wondering and realizing that there really is a lot more to know about our coins… was Audrey Munson the model for Adolph A. Weinman’s Walking Liberty? Are the thirteen stars on the reverse of the silver Three Cent representative of the original thirteen colonies… I sense a lot of coin research in my future.

1973 QUARTER DOLLAR

2008-11-17T08:49:00.000-08:00

Circulation strikes: 346,924,000
Designer: John Flanagan
Diameter: ±24.26 millimeters
Metal content:
Outer layers - 75% Copper, 25% Nickel
Center - 100% Copper
Weight: ±5.67 grams
Thickness: ±1.75 mm
Edge: Reeded
Mintmark: "D" (for Denver, CO) on the obverse just right of the ribbon
Value: $1.00 (MS-63) up to $5.00 (MS-65)

Turns out that taking care of two premature newborn babies is a lot work. We knew it would be, but the reality is much more tiring than we really expected. Even so, I managed to sneak out between feedings yesterday to grab a latte and a few minutes with the latest edition of Numismatic News… and a bit of change.

1992-D ONE CENT

2008-11-12T08:09:00.000-08:00

Circulation strikes: 616,273,932

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)

No more driving to the hospital every day after work… the babies, and mom, are finally home from the hospital. And while that means less time spent driving all over the place every day, it also means no more nurses to take care of the boys at night.. And that, undoubtedly, means less sleep for me. Guess we'll see if my posts still make any sense when I'm suffering massive sleep deprivation.

2000-D DOLLAR

2008-11-11T09:30:00.000-08:00

Circulation strikes: 518,916,000,000
Designer:
Obverse: Glenna Goodacre
Reverse: Thomas D. Rogers Sr.
Diameter: ±26.50 millimeters
Thickness: ±2.00 millimeters
Metal content:
Copper - 77%
Zinc - 12%
Manganese - 7%
Nickel - 4%
Weight: ±8.1 grams
Edge: Plain
Mintmark: "D" (for Denver) centered below the date
Value: $3.00 (MS-65)

1965 TEN CENTS

2008-11-10T08:55:00.000-08:00

Circulation strikes: 1,652,140,570
Special Mint Sets: 2,360,000
Designer: John R. Sinnock
Diameter: ±17.9 millimeters
Thickness: ±1.35 millimeters
Metal content:
Outer layers: 75% Copper, 25% Nickel
Center: 100% Copper
Weight: ±2.27 grams
Edge: Reeded
Mintmark: None
Value: $1.50 (MS-65)

Things haven’t really settled down yet… our babies are still in the NICU at the hospital, but they are doing well and are expected to come home later this week. And somehow, between trips to the hospital, baby clothes shopping (because I hadn’t anticipated needing premie sized clothes), and working from home, I still found some time to sort through the weekends change.

Babies instead of coins

2008-11-04T07:03:00.000-08:00

Alexander

Nikola

I had been thinking that I would stop by the coin shop this past weekend, Maybe pick up a couple coins to fill in some dates. Didn't happened. Instead of coins I got babies! We delivered late Saturday night. Alexander Clarence was born at 5 lbs 9 oz, and Nikola Kenneth was born at 4 lbs 15 oz. I'll post when I can, but right now the new family gets the bulk of my attention.

1972 QUARTER DOLLAR

2008-10-31T09:49:00.000-07:00

Circulation strikes: 215,048,000
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: None
Value: $1.00 (MS-63) up to $5.00 (MS-65)

I seriously did not want to get out of bed this morning. And while I scoffed at the idea when someone at the office suggested it yesterday, I am now fully supporting the idea that Halloween should be a full, corporate recognized, paid day off type holiday…

So this is probably the last weekend without babies… yes, there is a chance that we won’t deliver for up to another two weeks, but the average for twins is between thirty six and thirty seven weeks, that would be next week. So I’m considering a trip to the coin shop over the weekend to pick up something…. Anything, even if I only grab some randomness from the junk silver box. Thing is, It’s probably going to be a while till I get another chance to spend time at coin shops, shows, or even our local numismatic meetings.

1998-D QUARTER DOLLAR

2008-10-30T09:35:00.000-07:00

Circulation strikes: 907,000,000
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 $6.00 (MS-65)

With babies due soon it occurs to me… right after birth my wife will likely be a bit out of it, leaving me to fill out birth certificate information… maybe I could sneak in a change of names… wonder how she would react to having the boys named ‘Obverse’ and ‘Reverse’

Okay, truth is I value my life far to much to risk her wrath by pulling such a stunt, but the idea still amuses me.