AboutBrad Swain Expertise I have been a World Coin and Paper Money collector for over 40 years. I will be glad to answer any questions you may have on World coins or currency, tokens, unusual or unknown pieces and attempt to give you estimates of value and historical information about them in a polite and prompt manner.
Experience
Experience in the area: 40 years collecting coins.
An 'expert' here since 9/8/2000.
Education/Credentials: B.A. in History; B.A. in Geography.
I'm an ordinary 8 hour a day regular job guy and do this for fun and knowledge in my free time.
Expert: Brad Swain Date: 7/23/2008 Subject: GERMAN COINS I GOT FROM MY GRANDFATHER CAN U GIVE ME AN IDEA WHAT THERE WORTH
Question I HAVE ONE DATED1939 WITH A BIRD ON BACK WITH SWASTIKA HANGING FROM FEET WITH A 2 TO THE LEFT OF IT.A BIG HEAD ON FRONT.WITH A DATE OF 1847.I ALSO HAVE ABOUT 10 DATED FROM1940 1945 THE SIZE OF A DIME WITH A BIG 5 ON THEBACK WITH BIRD AND SWASTIKA ON FRONT I THINK IS THERE ANY WAY U CAN HELP ME
Answer Hi Joel, the first is a Nazi German 2 Mark coin featuring Paul von Hindenburg (1847-1934). It contains .1607 of an ounce of silver. Depending on the mintmark behind his collar and amount of wear it may be worth $3 to $10+.
The smaller coins are zinc German 5 pfennig coins. There is a mintmark letter below the 5 and value depends on that and amount of wear and may be .10 to $5+ each. The bad thing about zinc is that it develops white rust spots from reacting with moisture in the air that will inevitably consume the coin and destroy any value it may have. Collectors will avoid most zinc coins that show any signs of white rust.
You might also try a library for a copy of the Standard Catalog of World Coins for pictures, values and lots more interesting info.
Brad
