Expert: Dan Moore - 2/8/2011

Question
This coin is really shiney. I cannot find any mint mark. On one side it's alady with a crown and she is facing to the left. Around the edge it says "united states of america".The united states of america is not centered. This coin is smaller than a dime.On the other side is like a laurel around the edge with 1 with the word dollar under the 1 and below that is 1874. The emblems on the coin are opposite directions on either side of the coin.What I mean is the top of the lady's head is at the bottom of the laurel on the other side. Why would someone make a counterfeit coin like this? Shouldn't there be a mint Mark? I don't know how much it weighs, but it is thin and no where near an ounce. I didn't buy this, so no matter what it is it won't hurt me. If it is real I want to sell it.It also is not graded or in a plastic holder with any info with it. Help, please.

Answer
Karen,

It sounds like a U.S. $1 gold piece.  These were minted through 1889.  Having no mintmark is normal for coins of this era -- it just means that it came from the main mint in Philadelphia -- only branch mints (like Denver) got mintmarks on their coins.

In average condition, it will be worth about $200, but you would need to get it inspected first-hand by an expert to get an exact value -- it could be more or less.

I hiope this helps,

Dan