Part 2, This article is continued from the last issue. Other collections will contain receipts for coins that were purchased from reputable dealers and auction houses and may contain a library of reference books. There is also the collector who is essentially collecting and accumulating coins. This may be a low budget collector who is fishing for coins in everyday change. It can be the person placing mail orders from private coin companies. If this is the case, then it’s always a good idea to bring examples into the shop to do a price check.
Below is a general list of coins worth a premium.
Wheat Cents made from 1958 and before (Note: Memorial cents from 1959 to 1981 are copper). Cents made in 1982 can be copper if they have a weight of 3.1 grams. Zinc coins made in 1982 of a weight of 2.5 grams. As of October 2019, copper cents from 1959 to 1982 are restricted by law not to be melted or exported, therefore, there is no solid secondary market for the copper value of these coins.
War Nickels dated 1942 to 1945. 1942 is a transition year so look for the large P or S letter above the Monticello on the reverse. Mint marks for War Nickels can include P,D,S, which include Philadelphia, Denver, and San Francisco. War nickels contain silver.
Any nickel dated 1938 and before, plus 1939-D or 1950-D nickels. Uncirculated coins may be worth saving, or if in sets, please get them checked out before taking them to the bank. As of the end of September 2019, any box of nickels ($100 face value) had a melt value of approximately $85. It is currently against the law to melt or export clad nickels, but it may be worth saving all nickels for future gain.
For a complete list of coin values, I recommend: A Guide Book of United States Coins, aka Red Book, A Handbook of United States, aka Blue Book by R. S. Yeoman.
This article will be continued in the next issue. Thoreson Numismatics is located at 118 West Main Street, in Turlock California. Please call Troy with any questions at 209-668-3682.
