RLC35

Scott, You are correct, it is a cent, not a penny. With that said, in the USA we use both terms to designate our "Cents!" A sampling of that fact is in the news release about the sale of the "Cent." One of the first pennies ever produced by the US Mint has sold for over $1m. Bids for the 1792 Silver Center penny reached $1.15m (£713,000) at an auction on Thursday night (April 19), ABC News reports. The rare penny is made of copper with a small silver plug at its center and was produced as an experiment by the US Mint, which axed the penny before it went into mass circulation, deeming it too large and heavy for practical use. Todd Imhof of Heritage Auctions said that the coin bears the inscription 'Liberty Parent of Science & Industry', rather than today's 'In God We Trust'. "At the time, industry and science reflected an enlightenment mindset," he added. "People believed freedom of thought and industrial growth would bind and unify the new country, not religion or God. "With collectible items, for an item to sell for over a million dollars, it is an unusual event." An anonymous collector, who had owned the penny for ten years, sold the coin. A coin of the same type sold for nearly $3m (£1.86m) over a year ago.

Paulas, I am not sure buyers in the USA pay more, as most of my UK coins are sold to clients in the UK, but I have noticed a subtle increase in English coin sales in the USA. Tom, You mentioned about English coins coming home...about 2 years ago I sold a F33 Penny (1861, 6 over 8) to an UK client, and his comment was...I'm glad the coin is coming home...so you may have something there. BTW that coin sale made the "View From the Bay" in the Coin News.

Tom, Using population as a guide, there are 5 times the number of collectors in the USA, compared to the UK. USA Population 313,500,000 UK 62,250,000

There seems to be no limit to the amount some investors will pay for rare coins. The last time a 1804 Dollar was sold (8 known) it brought $4,140,000, and the last 1913 nickel (5 known) sold for $3,737,500. Did somebody say there was a recession! <gggg>

Happy Birthday Dave, Many Happy Returns of the Day!

It seems that the American's just never have warmed up to the small size Dollar (Anthony, etc.). I don't think they will ever be used, unless the one Dollar bill is discontinued, which is a possibility. Currently the Mint is suspending Small sized Dollar production, since all the Banks are full of them, due to lack of acceptance by the public. If the Dollar Bill was discontinued, the government would benefit, since the Dollar coin would last up to 10 times longer than the current Dollar bill, in circulation. The Eisenhower Dollars, while occasionally available in Banks for face value, still brings a premium at local Coin Club Auctions. A roll of 20 coins usually brings $25.00 at the local auctions.

I think John is right about reputable sources! Making things right is a personal thing, that is part of doing business. I am a Dealer/Member of the ANA (American Numismatic Association) and as a member I sign onto the ANA Code of ethics, which includes a mediator to handle disputes that are not able to be adjusted between the parties! I think this is a good way of doing business. The thought of a Mediator, encourages that disputes be handled between the two parties, and they usually are. BTW... I have never had a dispute with the ANA! (Knock on wood!) As for the eBay Guarantee... I proceed, with eBay business, as though this guarantee doesn't exist...because in practice it seldom does. Example: I bought a fake coin for $3,000. I entered a case with eBay, and they dropped it like a hot potato, and referred me to PayPal, who is the guaranteeing party. I won the case, but since the seller only had a feedback of 47, the rules were not the same. The $2,000 guarantee (at the time) changed to $200.00 for sellers with less than 50 feedback. I was awarded the guarantee of $200.00 (less PayPal's deductable of $25.00), so I ended up with $175.00. The seller in this case was allowed to continue selling on eBay with no restrictions, he was suspended from using PayPal for 30 days! I like to use eBay, now and then, but you have to be aware of its shortfalls, which are many. As a foot note...I think eBay is getting better (though more expensive!) LOL!

The obverse has the ear intact, and has sharp lettering. I would grade it GF The reverse has the face worn completely, which at best would grade it barely Fine, but the full date makes up for that, so I would grade that side Fine to GF Overall I think the coin would grade at least fine, but more probably Good Fine. Personal Opinion only! LOL!

If anyone wants a really nice "Proof" copy of the 1933 Double Eagle, $20 Gold piece, I have 4 left! They come in a plastic holder, in a plush case. They look like the real thing, but are copies, and are marked as such. They are $8.00 each, plus $5.00 S&H to Great Britain. PM me if you want one.

Send me the few quarters that you need, to finish the book out (5-6 as I recall), and I will see if I can pick them up for you.

Here is a new addition for me...a nice 1846 Penny. I got it at the Long Beach Coin Expo, in California. The Exposition Center is only a few block away from Long Beach Harbor, where the Queen Mary is docked. The "Queen" is now a hotel, and restaurant complex. The ship looks like the Titanic, setting right up against the dock. It is a beautiful ship!

Another recent find, a little more scarce than the 1846 Penny, is my new 1870 "Dot!" This coin is not listed in Freeman, but is footnoted in Freeman, to the 1870, by footnote #16. Has anyone else actually seen on of these?

Thanks! I thought I was pretty lucky finding it. You don't find too many in the 1840's over here for sale.

I've tried Verdicare...it doesn't work! At least it didn't for me.

It is easy to tell if the coin is real (U.S.)Gold or not...just dip it in muratic acid! If it is a authentic U.S. Gold coin, nothing will happen to the coin. If it is not, it will change color, and begin to be acted upon by the acid. If this $20 gold coin was obtained in 1948, its gold value would be $28.80 worth of gold (90% pure, 24 carat gold). The U.S. set gold value at $32.00 per ounce at that time. It was also against the law, at that time to own U.S. gold coins, in the United States.

I have taken these prices from the 2011 Red Book! 1914 St Gauden's $20 gold $1,550 in EF 1921 St Gauden's $20 gold $37,500 in EF If the one coin is a real 1921...you have hit the jackpot!

excellent strategy Dave...I like it! <ggggg>.

http://www.predecimal.com/collectors-coins-2011-p-7872.html The above link will direct you too a visual on what the "Collector's Coin GB" looks like inside, so you can make a better judgement on if it is what you are looking for. I use it all the time as a ready reference, and I think you will like it also. It is sold thru this site.

Moneyer12, I think some of us Yanks do like the heavily toned coins...but I'd like to go on record as not being one of them! I like my coins with a full bloom of luster! Toning is just "early" tarnish! <gggg>

Rob, There is no picture with it, but there is a 1893/2 for sale at: Boulborn Collections LTD Jan issue of Coin News, page 34 Cost 1,995 Pounds Is that a fair price? He would probably send you a close up pic, if he thought your were interested in the coin!

Unless the coin sale is really a low value ($2-$8, etc), the cost of eBay charges, and PayPal charges together, are generally in the 15% range total. A low value coin sale can raise that percentage quite a bit though, due to listing & picture charges.

Tom and Colin, Happy Birthday... I hope you both get some nice coins for your B-day!

Nice copy Gary. Adding your coin to those known already, makes four (4) total! I am sure there are more out there though. Davidrj may have a point about the available quantity of 1922 "Dots", due to that part of the coin wearing first!

Is that a dot in the middle of the trident shaft to Bob? I heard of a dot being on a penny there, can't remember if it was the 1922 or not, but never seen one on the prong before.It needs a bath of olive oil Dave, What you see on the trident shaft is a light contact mark. I do need to somehow contain the staining...it is also on the reverse. The last time I used olive oil, it darkened the coin, which I don't want to do. Any other ideas?.....

You are probably right David, although it really looks like it was an intentional "Dot" because it is a very sharp. I did buy it for a standard 1922...once in a while you get lucky! <gggg>. I traded email's with Michael Gouby, and Bernie Workman regarding the coin, and they both referred me to the Workman sale. Bernie said he new of one other example (besides the Workman example), so I thought I would ask around, if there were any others known, here on the Forum. Thanks for the reply.