Expert: Jim Lawniczak - 2/5/2007

Question
What is the difference between gold silver or silver gold in a lady liberty coin? I am looking for information on a coin that my father left me. It is a 1888 Lady liberty coin. Any information would be helpful..

Answer
Hello, Wendy, sorry I thought I had answered this question, maybe it didn't go through.  

There is no such thing that I know of as a gold silver or a silver gold coin.  The U.S. made either silver coins or gold but didn't mix them.  The Seated Liberty design was indeed in place on U.S. coins in 1888 -- there were half dimes, dimes, quarters, halves and dollars in silver and liberty head gold pieces in quarter eagles (an eagle is $10 so this was $2.50), half eagles ($5), eagles ($10) and double eagles ($20).  Once you see what denomination your piece is in, check its condition -- condition is very important to value.  You cannot do anything to improve the condition, so please don't try.  If you go to www.ebay.com and do a search for 1888 dime or 1888 half, etc., you'll see some examples of pieces selling currently.

Hope this helped, Jim Lawniczak