Expert: Joe Hylas - 12/22/2008

Question
My Great Aunt recently gave me several coin purses filled with old coins. Ranging from the late 1890's to the 1970's most of them are quarters, dimes and nickels, but I do have a few Ben Franklin half dollars(1949 & 53, several Liberty halves, (early 1930's) and at least one 1972 Eisenhower dollar, with an eagle on the moon & the earth in the background of the back. Do you have any suggestions for coins to look for in the smaller denominations? How do I know if they really are worth something? I would like to keep several for my son as he gets older, should I polish them or keep them au-natural? Thanks for any insight you can provide. Any suggestions or advice to preserve the coins would also be appreciated. Thanks again!

Answer
Hi Lauren,

First off, do not clean them, it detracts from their value.

Eisenhower dollars are only worth $1.

Dimes, quarters and halves dated 1964 and before are 90% silver and currently worth 8 times the face value for their silver content.

Unless the coins are in great condition, their will usually only bring silver value.  But you can pick up a copy of the Guidebook to US Coins by R.S. Yeoman.  This will ot give you current values as even the 2009 book was printed in 2008, however it will tell you which ones are more valuable simply by comparing the values listed.

The nickels dated 1942-45 may be silver also.  Look on the backs to see if there is a large mintmark (p,d,s) over the dome of Monticello.  If so, save those and spend all the other Jefferson Nickels.  Buffalo Nickels need to have a date on them.  That was the highest part of the coin and wore off first so you will probably have at least a few.  Again, with the dates, check the guidebook.
The same hold for othert nickels and cents.

Good Luck

Joe Hylas
www.AllCoins.US
Omega Precious Metals