In Honor of George Washington
When is a half dollar coin equal to $15? The answer is simple! When it is the 1982 George Washington commemorative half dollar! Yes, this coin designed by Elizabeth Jones, Chief Sculptor and Engraver of the US mint, contains silver and copper alloy in the ratio of 9:1. Hence the total weight of silver present in the coin adds value to it and is responsible for the increase in price every now and then.
The coin was issued in 1982 in honor of the 250th birth anniversary of George Washington. It bears on the front, an image of the late President himself, mounted on horseback. Engraved into the shiny metal one can read the words “George Washington, 250th Anniversary of Birth, 1982, Liberty.” On the flip side you can catch a glimpse of his house at Mount Vernon with the American symbol of the eagle, underneath. “In God We Trust, United Sates of America and Half Dollar” are words carved into the back of the coin.
The silver used in the making of these coins came from the left overs of the Eisenhower dollar program and using it, the United States Treasury allowed 10 million coins to be produced for sale. Sales continued till December 31st, 1985 generating over $36 million. The unsold 1 million coins were melted down to pure silver. Today, these coins can still be purchased and possess great collectors value.
The Historically Significant Buffalo Nickels
The U.S. Mint minted Buffalo Nickels from 1913 to 1938. These coins featured images which have become iconic representations of Americana and have become widely collected. Although rare issues and some error coins can be very expensive, moderately worn examples present a great value for beginning collectors looking for an intriguing series to pursue.
The original designer of the coin was James Earl Fraser and he was one of the few coin designers who placed a Native American on a coin. Fraser’s design reflects an American Indian on the front of the nickel and an American buffalo on the other side. After the original series had run its course, his design was reused on a commemorative coin issue of the United States as well as a 24 karat gold bullion series.
This Buffalo Nickel features a composite portrait from the images of Iron Tail, Two Moons and John Big Tree, three notable Indian Chiefs in the U.S. This design, unlike any prior coin designs such as the Indian Head Penny, correctly showed an image of a true American Indian. Elements such as the facial features were more realistic to the true form.
The series was struck at three different US Mint facilities at Philadelphia, Denver, and San Francisco. Many of the scarcer issues were struck at San Francisco and will sometimes display weakness of strike even for uncirculated examples. The first year of issue in 1913 is relatively inexpensive since many of the coins were saved by the public as souvenirs. A rarity is one coin where the buffalo has only three legs!
Two Types For Double Eagles
Collectors know that there are Two Types for Double Eagles. These twenty dollar coins came about during the Gold Coinage Act of 1849 that changed the country’s monetary system for good. Both types are very collectible and pursued with great enthusiasm.
One of the gold double eagles features Liberty on one side with the 13 stars representing the original colonies around her head. The opposite side of the coin features the double eagle with the Twenty D. denomination under the design with the mint mark. Coins minted in certain cities such as New Orleans are extremely rare since only a limited number of these coins were struck since they were minted using local gold supplies. There are other Double Eagle coins that are also very popular with collectors such as the Carson City coins with many of them unknown in uncirculated grades. Much of the gold found around San Francisco was converted to these gold coins when the city’s Mint opened in 1854.
The second type was introduced in 1907 and featured a design by famed sculptor Augustus Saint Gaudens. Liberty once again appeared on the obverse, but in full figure with flowing gowns, an olive branch, and lit torch. The reverse contained an eagle in flight. The beauty of this design is often recalled by collectors. This series features many rarities due to the mass melting of the coins that would later take place.
Oops By The U.S. Mint
In 1883 the United States Mint issued the 1883 Liberty nickel. This was a unique coin because it was changed after being in circulation for a short time. The original nickel did not have a designation of value that read five cents. Instead there was a large Roman Numeral V on the back. Unscrupulous persons added gold coloration and some redesigned reeds along the edges and passed these coins off as five dollar gold pieces. The mint was forced to add the word “cents” to the obverse side of the coin, near the Roman V to designate this was a nickel and not a five dollar piece. This change was made after three months of circulation.
In 1883 these nickels were composed of mostly copper with a 25% nickel content for coloration and strength. The front of the coin has the head of Lady Liberty surrounded by thirteen stars while the rear has the Roman Numeral V and the word cents. Around the coin on the back are the words E Pluribus Unum and United States of America.
The mint never attempted to capture all the coins that did not have the word cents on the reverse. Many seemed to remain in circulation after March of 1883. There are rumors among collectors that some of these rare cons remain in collections today.
Commemorating the Circulation Release in a Unique Way
First Day Coin Covers help collectors commemorate the first strike and/or the circulation release of newly minted coins. This type of product allows the display of the coins in a special holder in which both sides of the coin are visible. The holder is then placed in a specially designed envelope that keeps the coins visible. After the envelope is stamped, it is immediately cancelled on the official release day of the newly minted coin. In this process, the coin may also be tied with a stamp design, particularly when there is a ceremonial release of the coin. In this case, there may also be a special cancellation design for the stamp as well.
While private coin collectors and dealers have issued their own Covers for years, the US Mint began issuing their own in 1999 with the introduction of the commemorative state quarters. The US Mint’s covers also include editions marking the Sacagawea dollar and the five Jefferson nickel reverse designs in addition to the Presidential dollar and six more quarter designs.
These issues enjoyed wide popularity with the US Mint selling tens of thousands or more per issue. As the popularity died down, some of these can now be purchased on the secondary market for less than the original issue price.