Expert: PAPAJACK - 2/6/2007

Question
Hi Papajack:
These little gems, plus canadian and forgein coins have been sitting in my Pop Pop's metal box for 40 years.
The dates start 1893 and forward to the teens for the dimes and nickels.

Besides sentimental value, is there a market value and should they be kept another way?

Thank you for sharing your time and experience.  

Answer
Hello Kyle,   

I really only have information on the US coins.

1883 to 1912 Barber Head Liberty Nickels  (check the word LIBERTY in the headband to grade the more letters the better)

From 1913 to 1938, This is an Indian Head also called a Buffalo nickel and are a bit more collected. And if you can see all the digits on the date is a good thing. Many circulated Indian Nickels have at least 1 digit missing.
It is worth more than 5 cents to collectors. Coins are valued on a scale from 1 to 70, and on how rare a coin is. With no or little experience it is sometimes easier letting another collector look at them, and even most coin shops will help for free.
 
In each series of coin type like your "Indian Head type" nickel, there are some quick reference points of wear to be seen on the high points that are known to show wear first. For your Nickel it is the Buffalo’s HORN.
Most of these details are covered in the RED BOOK. If you can borrow a copy it will help. In the grading details it describes at the start of each coin series is taken from the American Numismatic Association Standard. And uses the 1 to 70 scale recognized by all professionals since the 1970's.

Most circulated coins range from Good (grade-G4) to Almost Uncirculated (grade-AU50) on the scale. So a grade of Good or 4 out of a possible 70 is a low grade. Lower grades are much more common than high grade examples, of this coin, and therefore less valuable.  
They were made at all three US Mints.  The mint Mark if any will be on the reverse below the words FIVE CENTS.

Here's a quick wear/Grading guideline, NOTE: They must not have problems like dents, bends or having been cleaned.

GOOD or Grade 4 :
Letters and date clear no Buffalo Horn on reverse but no wear to the outside rim from letters.

VERY GOOD or Grade 8:
Normal wear, flat looking, very little sharpness remains but all major details visible and Half the Horn still shows.

FINE or Grade 12:
All details strong and definition remains on some high areas of the coin and three quarters of the horn still shows.  

VERY FINE or Grade 20:   
Two thirds of hairlines strong, cheek bone is well defined but worn. Full horn shows but worn.

EXTREMELY FINE or Grade 40:  
Only slight wear on hair ribbon, hairlines are strong. Only slight wear on full horn. Some Original Mint Luster shows.

MINT STATE Grades 60 TO 70 :
STRICTLY NEVER CIRCULATED.  NO TRACE OF WEAR. Nice luster on coin.



Dimes made before 1965 are 90% silver and worth 8 to 9 times the face value for the metal content alone.

In 1892 the Barber Head design was used FOR the dime.  In 1916 to 1945 the Winged Liberty Head Dime was made.

The majority of these dimes have been well circulated and are in lower grades and therefore less valuable.  But the 1916 Denver dime is very valuable and the 1921 coins come in second. Keep these for a closer look if you have them.

The Winged Liberty Head Dime has it's mint mark on the reverse at the bottom of the Faces and to the right, after the "E" in the word ONE. If there is no letter there it is  a Philadelphia Mint Coin.

Winged Liberty Head (Mercury) dimes. 1916 to 1945.

The dimes are 90% silver and also hold some Numismatic value as well so even if it was a little worn they sell for about a dollar each and as much as $10 in high grade for common dates, the very valuable ones to look for are the 1921 coins and 1916 D coin. If you want to take the time to sort through your coins there are some dates to look for that may be more valuable.

The 1916-D is most valuable, 1921-D and 1921 are also valuable dates. Any of these dates  any grade condition will be worth more than silver value. Other that these, any coin  dated 1931 or older, having complete rims should be separated from the rest They can sell retail for 90˘ to a few dollars each.

Any Dimes that look Uncirculated with absolutely no wear, bright & lustrous, never cleaned should also be separated these could be worth a couple dollars each. If you can, try grading the Winged Liberty dime from the  descriptions below. For the more common date and Mint marks even in the worst condition (grade 1) the coin is worth about .80 cents (for it's silver content alone). So the common dates will be valued from 85 cents to $3.00 depending on condition. They must not have problems like dents, bends or having been cleaned.

Here's a quick wear/Grading guideline from the Redbook:

GOOD or Grade 4 :
Letters and date clear no lines or bands on reverse faces.

VERY GOOD or Grade 8:
Half there sticks in the faces can be seen.

FINE or Grade 12:
All sticks in faces are defined. Diagonal bands nearly flat.

VERY FINE or Grade 20:   
Both crossing diagonal bands must show.

EXTREMELY FINE or Grade 40:  
Bands show only slight wear. Braids and hair before ear show clearly.

MINT STATE Grades 60 TO 70 :
STRICTLY NEVER CIRCULATED.  NO TRACE OF WEAR. Nice luster on coin.

For a value I try grading the coin myself and use a price guide like this one on-line for the amount. see:
http://www.pcgs.com/prices/

If where they have been stored has not damaged them I would not worry unless they are hi grade coins. Do not attempt to clean them and keep them in a cool dry place with non acidic materials.

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Thank You and Good Luck

PapaJack