My mother decided to give me the coins she's been saving (some of which she got from her mother) since she intended to pass them to me anyway, as I'm the only one in the family with any knowledge or interest in them. Had fun sorting them out and talking to her and my dad about them. Thought I'd share what was in it, there's quite a bit: 1 cent: 1890 Indian head cent; 1943-D steel Lincoln wheat cent 5 cents: 1909 Liberty head; 1929 x3, 1938, buffalo nickels (and one dateless); 1941 Jefferson nickel 10 cents: 1924, 1937, 1940, 1942, 1943 x2, 1944, 1945 Mercury dimes; 1952, 1960 x2, 1962-D, 1963-D, 1964 x3 silver Roosevelt dimes 25 cents: dateless standing Liberty quarter; 1942, 1947, 1950-D, 1957-D, 1962-D, 1964-D silver Washington quarters; 1976 bicentennial quarter 50 cents: 1944 walking Liberty; 1950, 1951, 1952, 1953 x4, 1954, 1961, 1962, 1963 x2 Franklin; 1964, 1964-D x2, 1966 x2, 1967 x3, 1968-D x2, 1969-D Kennedy Also large bag of clad Kennedys, and another bag with quite a few NIFCs from 2008, 2009, 2013, 2014, 2015 Dollars: 1882-S, 1890 Morgan; several Eisenhower, SBA dollars (1979 & 1980), some Sacagawea (all 2000) & a James Monroe presidential dollar 1986 Statue of Liberty comm. half dollar and silver dollar And the paper money: 1935-E, 1957 $1 silver certificates 1963, 1963-A $2 US notes 1976 x2 $2 federal reserve notes 1995 Santa Claus note Also: 1 "safe-a-mat" token which I think is probably from a laundromat Now just have to figure how to sort and store it all; good problem to have! Seriously thinking of later starting albums for Franklin halves and Mercury dimes.
On closer examination the 1953 Franklin halves were actually 3 1953-D, and a 1953-S. Some of the other Franklins were indeed Denver minted too. (I'll be honest I forgot where the mintmarks were and was looking in the wrong place lol. For the record, on the reverse just above the top of the bell.) Decided will go ahead and cash in the clad Kennedy halves that aren't NIFC; I already have a full set of those anyway, and have to draw the line somewhere. But saving everything else, even if it's extra. Was seriously considering cashing in the Sacagaweas but those in decent condition are getting harder to find, so why not save them. (If I change my mind can always just spend them later.)
I'm kind of debating whether they're worth saving really (they're all 2000-P); I already got one in my type set, and I technically have one of each year they've been minted in my proof sets already. They're really just not that big of a deal even in near pristine condition, unless they're errors or rare varieties (I checked; they're not.) So... yeah, can probably do without those. Think I'll spend the SBAs too (none of them are wide rim/near date, in fact none are 1979-P period). Already got a full set of those. Ike dollars I'll still save because why not. As far as Kennedys go, I already have a full set of them anyway, so only saving the silver and NIFC ones.
Sounds like fun. For storage of raw (uncertified) coins, I prefer 2x2 inert pocket flips (I use Guardhouse brand), and 20-pocket pages for a three-ring binder. Of course if there's a series you want to focus on more in depth (you mentioned Merc dimes and Franklin halves), an album is nice to have.
That is how I sort foreign coins and US coins I don't have an album for (or are extras worth displaying. Also tokens and some medals and other "coin-like" things.). I love Dansco albums, but they're kind of pricey. I do have them for Lincoln Cents, Jefferson Nickels, Roosevelt Dimes, Kennedy Half Dollars, Presidential Dollars, SBA dollars, and the 7070 US Type Set. Seriously considering in the future getting them for Eisenhower Dollars, Mercury Dimes, and Franklin Half Dollars, as I have enough of those now to justify albums. More simple Whitman folders I have for State Quarters, National Park Quarters, American Women Quarters, and Canadian Small Cents.
Minor update: Under VERY close examination, I believe the Standing Liberty quarter is indeed a 1924. (It is barely visible when held at an angle. I don't think it has a mintmark, but it's hard to tell as it's very worn where it would be.) Also found that the 1938 Buffalo is indeed a 1938-D (it would have to be; only Denver minted any Buffalo nickels that year!), and one of the 1929 Buffaloes was indeed a 1929-D. P.S. I was under the mistaken impression that up to 1964, all US coins had their mintmark on the reverse except for Lincoln cents, that had them on the obverse. Actually Standing Liberty quarters had their mintmark on the obverse too.
