Wednesday, May 30, 2012

2002 Ireland 10 Euro Cents

Have an Ireland coin and want to know its value? Leave a comment

Although I have talked a little about this one back when I found it in 2009 it deserves its own post. Mainly because Ireland imposed some strict austerity measures and just as they are starting to economically recover the Euro may crash and burn.




For those not in the loop coin-wise Greece may refuse to place an extreme austerity measure and then vote to leave the Euro Zone dropping the Euro coins and currency by default. If Greece drops the Euro then Spain may be force to do the same since they are also prideful and in trouble. After that Ireland is next in this domino toppling of the Euro.

Germany and France will hold strong to the Euro as well as the smaller Slovakia and Slovenia. In all there are fourteen Euro producing countries and five more official Euro users. Plus many countries are Euro-dependent. Still it is possible for the Euro to cease majority or even complete production.

That said as a collector it would be neat to see the end of the Euro and either the start of a new system or the reintroduction of the old currency. Like other European coins that went obsolete the value probably will double but since they were common the are still worth little.

Here's the stats...
Type/Country: 10 Euro Cent / Ireland
Year: 2002
Mintage: 275,913,000
Metal: Aluminum-Bronze
Value: $0.15

Never quite sure if it is Euro Cent or Euro Cents. That aside I did find a 2011 Canada Cent but that has been featured in full on this blog before.

Do you have any Irish Euro and want to know its value? Leave a comment/question and I will do my best to find out the price and history for you.

Monday, May 28, 2012

Memorial Day 2012: Intrepid Style

Went on a little trip to the Fleet Week celebrations at the USS Intrepid Sea-Air-Space Museum and of course there were coin related fun to be had. There was a lot to do and I did most of it but this blog is about coins and such.


There are sixteen designs in all but since I only had four quarters and two cents with me I could only get these two. They are still just 51 cents which is nice.

The top one says "HONOR, EDUCATE& INSPIRE" the American flag and INTREPID MUSEUM.
The bottom one says U.S.S. INTREPID and had the U.S.S. Intrepid pictured.


I used a 1980 and 1970 cent for each squish. As a rule the older 95% copper cents are better to use since the exposed zinc in modern cents will start to oxidize and break down faster.


These are medals or tokens or medallions, I am never sure what to call them. The were being sold in vending machines and looked nice but I never really liked non-government coins so I tend to stay away.

Friday, May 25, 2012

1952-2002 P Canada Cent

Have a Canada cent and want to know its value? Leave a comment

P is for Magnetic. Okay maybe not. It is definitely not for Philadelphia instead it is for Plated-steel. While this is my 433rd Canada Cent it is only my 6th steel cent. I assume these show up less because they were made in lower amounts and they get rejected more in American machines. All that leads to less circulation.


I like that the reverse is blank. I know some people get confused by this but as a commemorative coin it is very low key.

Wondering now in 2012 for the Queen's Diamond Jubilee will they do something special. Oh wait they just printed their last cent a while ago. I guess she is not getting any Canada cent love.

Here's the stats...
Type/Country: 1 Cent / Canada
Year: 2002-P
Mintage: 114,212,000
Metal: 94.0% Steel, 4.5% Copper, and 1.5% Nickel
Value: $0.01 in F

Do you have a cent from Canada and want to know its value? Leave a comment/question and I will do my best to find out the price and history for you.

Wednesday, May 23, 2012

1973 Canada Dime

Have a Canadian dime and want to know its value? Leave a comment

This dime is almost forty years old. Let me sit back and take that in.

Yes it is common, modern, and holds no real extra value but finding a Canadian dime in American change that is this "old" is nice. As I stroll through memory lane listening to Donna Summer and Robin Gibb tunes I look at this coin at quietly yell "You're a young coin! Yes you are!"


Okay enough of that crazy talk.

Found this coin with another Canada cent (will be featured on Friday) at a local grocery store when I got my change back. So thanks to the local cashier who knows me well. This is a new year for my collection.

Here's the stats...
Type/Country: 10 Cents / Canada
Year: 1973
Mintage: 167,715,435
Metal: 100% Nickel
Value: $0.10 in good

Do you have ten cents from Canada and want to know their value? Leave a comment/question an I will do my best to find out the price and history for you.

Monday, May 21, 2012

2012 Lincoln Shield Cent

Do you have a cent and want to know its value? Leave a comment

Well almost half way through the year and I have found my first 2012 cent. The 2012 El Yunque quarter was easy to get back in early February. Since then no other 2012 coins have made their way to me. From all the articles I read and other bloggers the 2012 coins are circulating well.


Best part is that I found this new cent at a bus stop, of course waiting for a bus. It was just on the ground all shiny and new while people just passed it by.

Bus stops are good places to find coins since people may run for the bus and drop their change all the time. I have found many coins at bus stop and other transitional places. Hint for all you coin hunters. A transitional place is where one place meets another like doorways, street curbs, and under a car door.  People tend to drop stuff from these spots and usually do not pick up the pennies...or used tissues so be careful.

Here's the stats...
Type/Country: 1 Cent  / United States
Year: 2012
Mintage: 2,532,000,000 (estimated to date)
Metal: 97.5% Zinc, 2.5% Copper
Value: $0.01 in EF-40

Do you have a cent and want to know its value? Leave a comment/question and I will do my best to find out the price and history for you.

Friday, May 18, 2012

1982 Iran Rial

Have an Iran coin and want to know its value? Leave a comment

Another one of those coins that is difficult to describe if you do not know the language. The one symbol besides the Arabic looking writing that most people can describe is a wreath. Search for "wreath and Arabic coin" a few years ago would have been pointless. These days I must say that searching for coins online has improved but still this particular coin is sparse in details and difficult to pinpoint.

  (A Rial) یک ریال  (Iran Republic)  اسلامی ايران   جمهوری

ریال
١٣۶١ 1 Rial 1361

The reason for lack of designs in these later Iran coins started with the Islamic movement taking a strong hold in Iran. Within the Islamic community the depiction of people and animals is forbidden since it is believed that only the Almighty should create life even in pictures. I guess plants do not count.

To clarify this is Persian not Arabic. Trust me as someone who knows some Iranians they are quick to correct you if you get it wrong. I guess that is like calling any English Irish or vice versa.

Here's the stats...
Type/Country: 1 Rial / Iran
Year: 1361 = 1982
Mintage: Unknown
Metal: Copper-Nickel
Value: $0.10 in Good

This one is a bit damaged on the edge but they are not rare so value would remain low even if undamaged.

Do you have any Iranian coins and want to know its value? Leave a comment/question and I will do my best to find out the price and history for you.

Wednesday, May 16, 2012

1971 Indonesia 50 Rupiah

Have an Indonesia coin and want to know its value? Leave a comment

The second and last of my Indonesian coins from the vaults. Except for national tragedies or the banning of Lady Gaga there is little news from Indonesia around this area. I think I got this one from a relative who use to work for the airlines back in the 1970s. From what I recall he said that these countries were very groovy and free, that has changed since his last visit.


The bird on the coin is the Greater Bird of Paradise one of the most beautiful birds in the world.

This coin was the first in the 50 Rupiah series and over one billion were made. So many were made that they waited until 1991 before they made the second 50 Rupiah. It is rare that small countries produce coins into the billions but when they do it satisfies them for decades.

Here's the stats...
Type/Country: 50 Rupiah / Indonesia
Year: 1971
Mintage: 1,035,435,000
Metal: Copper-Nickel
Value: $0.25 in VF

Do you have any Indonesian coins and want to know its value? Leave a comment/question and I will do my best to find out the price and history for you.

Monday, May 14, 2012

1996 India-Republic 5 Rupees (Security Edge)

Have an Indian coin and want to know its value? Leave a comment

Back in the vault there is a little puzzle. It is an Indian coin or is it? Here is the problem in brief. Indian Rupees are often faked, are not precisely made when real, and come in many varieties.

I strongly suspect this coin is a fake due to the rough edge and the cracks on the weakly pressed surface.


The security edge has the •\•/•\•/•\•/•\•/•\•/•\ pattern that is quite large so it would be Type II of the security edge varieties. Two strange gaps on the edge are on opposites sides may indicate a casting but I have seen many real rupee edges that are out of collar and crooked.

The front and back of the coin are weak. If this is a true that an improperly aligned die strike would also cause this and the edge problems. You cannot make out the word INDIA and barely the Hindi भारत.

The weight is also off. Normally it should be 9.00 grams but this one is about 9.14 grams. Again signs of fake coins is being underweight but this one is well overweight.

Conclusion
There is no conclusion. I have not studied Indian coins long enough to make an educated guess. I am leaning towards fake but research online favors an abnormal real coin.

Here's the stats...
Type/Country: 5 Rupees / India, Republic of
Year: 1996 (C)
Mintage: Not yet known.
Metal: Copper-Nickel
Value: $0.10 in Fine

Do you have a coin from India and want to know its value? Leave a comment/question and I will do my best to find out the price and history for you.

Friday, May 11, 2012

2002 British Ten Pence

Do you have ten pence and want to know its value? Leave a comment

Finally! Got this non-American, non-Canadian coin as a quarter in my change just this week. It is not a surprise that it is a British coin. Behind the U.S. and Canada the most common find for me is coins from Great Britain.

So the drought is over now let the flood begin.


These are very different from the current ten pence coins and slightly different from older ten pence.

Here's the stats...
Type/Country: 10 Pence / Great Britain
Year: 2002
Mintage: 80,934,000
Metal: Copper-Nickel
Value: $0.10 in F

Do you have a coin from the United Kingdom and want to know its value? Leave a comment/question and I will do my best to find out the price and history for you.

Wednesday, May 09, 2012

2001 Canada Cent

Do you have a Canada cent and want to know its value? Leave a comment

Are you sure they stopped production? Found my 432nd Canada cent at the same store where I bought gum drops and got many coins on prior visits (hint: the cashier knows I like strange money).


This one is quite dirty for such a new coin. I suspect some trauma like a small fire or it fell into a puddle.


Here's the stats...
Type/Country: 1 Cent / Canada
Year: 2001
Mintage: 919,358,000
Metal: Copper-Plated Zinc
Value: $0.01 in F


Since I found Canadian cents ranging from 1921-2011 all from my change I can realistically expect to find about 100 different types of these cents. I posted about 40 so far so I guess I will need to show off 60 more before I stop talking about these finds forever.

Do you have a cent from Canada and want to know its value? Leave a comment/question and I will do my best to find out the price and history for you.

Monday, May 07, 2012

2009-D Formative Years in Indiana Cent

Do you have a cent and want to know its value? Leave a comment

"Log Cent" would have been a better and shorter title.

It always takes about three years to get a Denver version of newly issued coin according to my records. I can also assume that it would take me three years to walk to Denver so I guess it balances out.


I am completely aware that this is an average coin but since it is a new find for me I am happy.

Type/Country: 1 Cent (Aspect 2) / United States
Year: 2009 D
Mintage: 350,400,000 (estimated)
Metal: 97.5% Zinc, 2.5% Copper
Value: $0.01 in VF-20

Do you have a cent and want to know its value? Leave a comment/question and I will do my best to find out the price and history for you.

Friday, May 04, 2012

1918 (c) India-British Rupee

Do you have a coin from India and want to know its value? Comment

Showed this coin when I first won it in a coin contest back in 2005 but did not feature it.

This coin was made in Calcutta since there is no mint mark during the time of British rule. It is silver but no longer accepted as legal tender. Were it not got a cut or gauge at the back of the king's head this coin could have graded much higher.


The wreath of flowers on the back encircling the ONE RUPEE 1918 is wonderful. Even the edge has ornate denticles.

The front has old King George with the title of emperor as well. This design is known as Type II since the original 1911 version had been modified. Apparently the tiny elephant on the King's coat had straight legs and some Indian's thought it looked like a pig. This was a bit of an insult so the broadened the bottom of the feet and made it more elephantine for 1912 and later issuing.

Here's the stats for this coin...
Type/Country: 1 Rupee / India-British
Year: 1918 (c)
Mintage: 205,420,000
Metal: 91.7% Silver (assuming the balance is copper)
Value: XF at $12.50 There is a cut/damage on the coin.

Do you have a rupee from India and want to know its value? Leave a comment/question and I will do my best to find out the price and history for you

Wednesday, May 02, 2012

1971 Canada Cent

Do you have Canadian cent and want to know its value? Comment

Make that 431 Canadian cent finds. This was an odd May Day. I find another Canadian coin and realized four full months have passed without a true foreign find. Last time I found a non-North American coin was mid-December of last year. At least I have my vault finds if not this blog would be full of common cents.


So this soon to be discontinued coin is still circulating well. So let me help everyone with plans for their unplanned collections.
  1. Use them on weekend trip to Canada over the next few years because they will still be valid and accepted.
  2. If you are outside of Canada you can melt the older ones to make copper bars, legally.
  3. Wait a decade or more and try to sell them on future-eBay with the false title of "Rare and Ancient".
  4. Collect them as a hobby and just appreciate them as coins.
Here's the stats...
Type/Country: 1 Cent / Canada
Year: 1971
Mintage: 298,228,936
Metal: 98% Copper, 0.5% Tin, 1.5% Zinc
Value: $0.03 in Very-Fine

Do you have a cent from Canada and want to know its value? Leave a comment/question and I will do my best to find out the price and history for you