Expert: Neil S Berman - 8/17/2008

Question
I received this coin from my cousin's estate. I am curious about the way the value is noted. I have tried to search the web but no luck. The coin's value shows "10 D." So, dollars is not spelled out. I thought that it was the law that the value of dollars or cents had to be spelled out in full. Is this just another myth? Appreciate your thoughts.

Answer
Bob. Respectfully, there are at least 50 sites on the web you could have got this info from, so you made need to sharpen your search skills. 10D. is common on ten dollar gold, in fact, early gold including ten dollar gold had no denomination at all as they were not needed. The coins, until about the Civil War, were worth only their weight in gold. To my knowledge there was no such law then (pre 1933) and I never heard of such a law since, although I do not trade modern coins. There is an 1883 nickle with no denomination, and I am sure there are other examples. Enjoy you coins, I know I do.