Expert: Brad Swain - 1/31/2010

Question
QUESTION: I have a coin I'd like to identify.  On the face it says Islands Konungur.  There is a crown at the top and a large C with an X in the middle.  It's dated 1926.  Just before the word Islands there are tiny letters that look like HCN with a little heart shape above them.  Under the large C are the letters GJ very small.

The reverse says Island Aurar with a large 5 in the middle.

Can you tell me anything about this coin?

ANSWER: Hi Rebecca, There were 355,000 of these bronze Iceland 5 aurar coins minted that year in Copenhagen (heart mintmark) during the reign of Danish King Christian X (1912-44). The GJ and HCN are the mint officials' initials.
Collector value may be worth about $1 with heavy wear to around $10 with moderate wear to maybe $25 with light wear.
World coin pictures and some values may be found here: http://worldcoingallery.com/index.htm ,
http://www.coinarchives.com/ , and http://www.numismaster.com/ta/numis.jsp .
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

---------- FOLLOW-UP ----------

QUESTION: I have another coin that may be from Iceland too, but it's slightly different.  It's smaller (smaller than a dime I'd say) On one side it has the same crown on top with a large C and IX inside the C. It's dated 1882 at the bottom and to the left of the C.  Also on the bottom and on the right I can see what looks like a tiny V  and then two more letters that might be GS or GV.

The reverse side has 1 ORE (the O has a slash through it).  On the left is a dolphin swimming down and on the right is what looks like a stalk of wheat curving up.

thanks again,
Rebecca

Answer
Hi Rebecca, There were 1.8 million of these bronze Danish 1 ore coins minted that year in Copenhagen during the reign of King Christian IX (1863-1906) featuring a porpoise and a barley ear. Collector value may be worth about $2 with heavy wear to around $23 with moderate wear to maybe $50 with light wear.
Brad