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AMERICAN
NUMISMATIC ASSOCIATION SUMMER SEMINAR 2002 "U.S.
TYPE COINS" Presented
By David W. Long, Research Director & Numismatist for NGC and A
SUMMARY OF U.S. TYPE COIN TRIVIA 1.
1793 Half Cent - Designer unknown, but likely the work of Joseph Wright (obv)
& Henry Voigt (rev). Also, the only early US Copper where Liberty faces
"Left" or West. All others face to the right or to the East. 2.
1800 "Draped Bust" Half Cent - (Minted 1800-1808) - Robert Scot was
the designer, & incorporated the same "Draped Bust" Design as with
the Large Cent. 3.
1793 "Chain Cent" - Designer unknown, but most likely the work of
Henry Voight. The "Chain Cent" were minted for only two weeks! 4.
1793 "Liberty Cap" Large Cent - (1793-1796) - Joseph Wright was the
designer, died at an early age of yellow fever, and it is believed that his
beautiful wife was the model for Ms. Liberty on this coin. 5.
1808 "Classic Head" Large Cent - (Type minted from 1808-1814) - Known
for defective planchets because the copper was purchased from England. 6.
1815 "Coronet" Large Cent - NOT MINTED due to an extensive fire at the
Mint. "Coronet", "Matron Heads ", or "Young Heads
" Large Cents were produced from 1816-1839. 7.
1856-1858 "Flying Eagle" Small Cent - Designer was James B. Longacre.
These were minted to reduce the costs of issuing cents. Not uncommon to see
inconsistencies in the color of the copper due to improper mixing of the
copper/nickel alloys, and in some examples, may appear as a "wood grain
" on the coin. 8.
1909 to date "Small Cents" - "Wheat Cents " were designed by
Victor D. Brenner (1909-1958, or is that 1959???) - "In God We Trust"
was added by President Toft. not Brenner - Modern Proof Cents are Double Plated
with copper. 9.
1864-1873 "Two Cents" - Designed by James B. Longacre - Created to
replace the copper/nickel cent and to retire the fractional paper money.
Wonderful Type Coin. 10.
1913-1938 "Indian Head" or "Buffalo Nickel" - Type I has
raised "FIVE CENTS" on the reverse, early dates are well struck, the
Buffalo is actually a Bison, the 1937D 3 Legged Buffalo Nickel should have die
rust spots evident that gives the appearance that the Bison is urinating.
One of the most Beautiful and collectable U.S. Type Coins. A real piece
of Americana. A numismatic classic. 11.
1851-1873 Three Cent Silver - Designed by Longacre - Intent of this coin was to
put back into circulation a coin of "actual value ", however, the
silver value at the time was not worth 3 cents. This coin was also referred to
at one time as a "TRIME ", or 1/3 of a dime. 12.
1794-1795 "Flowing Hair" Half Dimes - Robert Scott designer - Will
most likely be found with "Adjustment Lines" on the coin where silver
was actually filed off of the minted coin to meet the weight requirements of the
silver coin. 13.
1809-1837 "Capped Bust Dimes" - 0.89247 silver and 0.107572 copper
content (who cares!) - First US Dime to be minted in a "collar ". 14.
1796 "Draped Bust Quarter - One year only type, therefore very expensive.
Also, this coin is "Non-Denominated ". 15.
1831-1838 "Capped Bust Quarter" - "E PLURIBUS UNUM" removed
from coin by the mint director because he thought it was redundant. 16.
1794-1795 "Flowing Hair" Half Dollars - Usually comes with adjustment
marks and is considered "part of the coin ", and not damage. 17.
1807-1836 "Capped Bust" Half Dollars - Beautiful early half dollar
designed by John Reich. John Reich
always put his signature on each of the working dies by placing a small
"bite" out of the 13th Star (right of the date) on the obverse. 18.
1794-1795 "Flowing Hair" Dollars - Only about 150 are known to exist,
adjustment marks are common, and the under-weighted planchets were drilled and
plugged to achieve the proper weight. 19.
1971-1978 Eisenhower Dollar - Produced primarily for the gambling industry. 20.
1873-1885 "Trade" Dollars - After 1875, the actual silver value of the
coin was less than one dollar. Usually sold for 80 cents on the dollar, then
sold back to factories for 90 cents, and then paid in wages as one dollar or
face value. Chop marks were placed on these coins by merchants in the orient
signifying their acceptance of the coin as being real silver, and therefore,
acceptable payment. 21.
1854-1889 "Three Dollar Gold Piece"- There was only one 1870-S minted.
It was owned by Harry Bass and is now on display in the ANA Museum. 22.
1839-1908 "Coronet Head" Half Eagles - Minted at the Charlotte,
Dalonega, New Orleans, and Philadelphia Mints — Also, used in daily commerce
in the West. 23.
1998-1929 "Indian Head" Half Eagles - Considered another beautiful
example of classic Americana - Also considered the "influenza coin" in
it's day due to the recessed design that people considered was a haven for the
virus. JOHNSON COUNTY NUMISMATIC ASSOCIATION EDUCATIONAL
PRESENTATION JULY
18, 2002 BOB
RADFORD
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