Expert: Jim Lawniczak - 6/19/2011

Question
I just bought two old piggy banks at an auction yesterday. the banks are atleast from the 30's and chalkware, maybe carnival prize. anyway, one bank had coins and has never been opend. bunch of mercury dimes and wheat pennies. anyway, one penny has 1911 head on one side and 1924 head on other. this coin has not been altered in any way and stamps are fair. the 1911 side has some where. neither side has any impression other than the head side. what's your opinion on value?

Answer
Mike, it is hard to imagine that this piece could have been legitimately made at the mint -- there would still have to be a 1911 obverse die lying around 13 years later in 1924.  Unless a mint employee concocted it.  Anyway, you say the coin "has not been altered in any way" so does that mean that you have determined it is a mint product? At least 99% of these items were made by or for magicians to use in tricks and as novelty items -- check to see if there is a seam on the edge where the two piece were put together.  As a novelty item it would have little value, if it is a real mint product, it would be very valuable, but hard to say how much as such pieces are nonexistent to extremely rare, Jim Lawniczak