US Commemorative Coins 2000 – 2001
2000
The one dollar coin features a portrait of Leif Ericson on the obverse, (the explorer thought to have landed in the area now known as North America five centuries before Columbus). The reverse side of the coin is his ship proudly sailing the seas. (500,000 minted)
Another one dollar coin commemorates Ericson as well… in this coin the explorer is shown in profile. The reverse side has the giant from the Icelandic Coat of Arms, along with a dragon, an eagle, and a bull. (150,000 minted)
A one dollar coin featuring the Library of Congress has a rendering of an open book with a torch shining over it… the torch is to represent seeking knowledge on the obverse. The dome of the Jefferson Building…
St. Gaudens Double Eagle
1907 – 1933
The St. Gaudens Double Eagle was minted from 1907 to 1933 (During the years 1917 through 1919 no Double Eagles were minted). These massive $20 face value gold coins contain slightly more than 30 grams of gold. But its more than the gold content in these beauties that determine their value. Each one is a peice of history with some dates being more hard to find than others.
Augustus St. Gaudens came up with a classic design when he was given the task of designing the Gold Double Eagle. Even today the St. Gaudens design is widely recognized and is in fact being used on the American Gold and Silver Eagles. Sadly this designer died shortly after he completed the…
Lincoln Wheat Cent
1909 – 1958
The Lincoln Wheat Cent was designed by Victor David Brenner, and is well known by several different names, but is probably most often referred to as the Wheat Penny.
In average circulated grades most Wheat Cents are valued at around $0.10 or less, but some high grade specimens can fetch in tens of thousands of dollars. For example, in 1914 less than 1.2 million cents were struck at the Denver Mint. As a result a 1914-D Lincoln Wheat Cent can sale for more than $25,000.00.
Another “key” wheat penny to look for is the 1909-S which even in poor grades is worth hundreds of dollars. This is the one which has the initials of the designer, “V.D.B.”, on the lower…
US Large Cents
1793 – 1857
From 1793 through 1857 the US cent was much larger than what we are accustomed to today. These cents ranged from 27 mm to 29 mm in diameter, quite large when compared to the modern Lincoln Cent which is only 19 mm in diameter.
Different designs were used for US Large Cents:
1793 Flowing Hair Large Cent ~ (chain reverse)
This was actually the first time that the Federal Government minted a coin using its own equipment and facilities. Only 36,103 Flowing Hair Large Cents were struck with the chain reverse. The fact that these coins were minted in such low numbers along with it being struck for only 1 year make this one of the rarest US coins for…
Kennedy Half Dollar
1964 – Current
Three months after the assasination of President Kennedy the US Mint changed the design of the silver half dollar to honor JFK. In 1964, when the coin was first minted, it contained the usual 90% silver content (11.25 g) that Americans were familiar with.
A year later the silver content was reduced and the coin was lightened. From 1965 up through 1970 Kennedy Half Dollars contain only 40% silver, which comes out to 4.60 g per coin. When 1971 rolled around Americans were presented with half dollars which contained nothing more than copper and nickel.
In 1965 the composition of US dimes and quarters were also changed to remove the silver. And finally in 1970, with the removal of silver…
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