Coin and Paper Money Collecting/rare indianhead pennies

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Expert: - 12/10/2007


Question
dear dan i recently purchased a roll of indianhead pennies at an auction ranging between the dates of 1883 and 1906. the pennies were not viewed by the bidders at the auction as if they had no interest in the pennies. after i arrived it home i was looking at the pennies closely and discovered that one of the pennies were dated 1887 with an indian head but a smooth back, as if it was not stamped. do you think i have ran into something that is very rare?

Answer
Howard,

Most likely you have run into an altered (damaged) coin -- likely somebody has ground the back off the coin for use in some kind of magician's coin.

A normal coin should weigh 3.11 grams -- if yours is significantly less, I would bet it's been altered.

If it does weigh right, the next step would be to have a dealer look at it.  Check the following websites for listings of local coin shows where you can take it :

www.coinshows.com

www.coinworld.com

I hoe this helps,

Dan

Coin and Paper Money Collecting

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Dan Moore

Expertise

My strong familiarity with all U.S. Mint coins, extensive reference library, and close relationships with many other dealers allows me to identify just about any coin made in the USA. I receive regular updates to all the current price guides -- both wholesale & retail -- to provide accurate values. So, with a good description or pictures, I should be able to identify and value any U.S. coin you have.

Experience

I've been a coin dealer since the 1980's and a coin collector since the 1960's. I specialize in U.S. Silver Coins and have an active online website -- The Working Man's Rare Coins -- http://www.workingmancoins.com -- offering information and inventory in U.S. coins.

Organizations I belong to :
American Numismatic Association Member #187770
Michigan State Numismatic Society Member #8255
Florida United Numismatics Member #19710
Monroe Coin Club Treasurer
Lincoln Coin Club Board Member
WINS Member #14
CoinMasters Member #1814

Frequently Asked Questions :
I have created a Frequently Asked Questions page on my website, where you may be able to get an immediate answer to your question. You can find the page here :
http://www.workingmancoins.com/FAQ/index.htm


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