Expert: Jim Lawniczak - 6/3/2007

Question
I found a strange good luck token.  Does it have any value? Outside is gold and nickel itself looks silver.  The essence of morality is the consideration for others on one side and the other says accept this lucky charm in the name of a most worthy cause. It is very attractive looking in non-circulated mint condition...thanks so much...debbie

Answer
Hello, Debbie, this is a known encased cent, that is an interesting piece and has good value because encased nickels, particularly Buffalo nickels are scarce and people like them, but has less value because there is no event or merchant that the piece is for.  Actually, I think the encasement is made of brass and the nickel is made of copper and nickel.  The brass is golden in color.  I've seen pieces like that sell in the $20 to $30 range, although it is likely it could sell for more today as interest in encased pieces has picked up and there are several people who like the unusual encased pieces (the cent is the common coin in an encasement).  When encased pieces come on for sale on eBay, the price can flucuate dramatically because the market is so thin -- one day a piece might get $20 and the next week the same piece go for $50 or more!

You may want to go to www.ebay.com over the next period and do searches for "encased nickel" and see what comes up.  I would expect over a several month period that someone will eventually be selling the type of piece that you have.

There is also an Internet encased club:  Encased Collectors International (ECI), whose website is www.encasedcollectorsinternational.org.

Jim Lawniczak