Hi: I'm new here, and not really what you'd call a coin collector, but I do have a collection of several coins (Kennedy, Franklin, silver dimes, 1 buffalo nickel)... but what I'm really wondering about is this 2005 penny. It's gold colored and light-weight. Is it a real penny, or something else (a gag maybe). I don't see a mint mark, but I see what looks like the initials 'VDB' or 'VDR'. Can someone tell me what it is? Also, how do I find out how much my other coins are worth... Buffalo nickel has no date. I did find out that the 1954 Kennedy coins are 90% silver. Thanks, Elaine
WELCOME to CoinTalk Elaine!! Sounds like your on your way to being a coin collector. Above you said that 1954 kennedies were 90% silver...you're almost right. The 1954 would be a Franklin half-probably just a typo The only kennedy that is 90% silver is the 1964. The halfs from 1965-1970 are 40% silver. Take that buffalo to a coin shop-I had a lot of no dates and took it to the coin shop and he looked at it uner high powered lens and could make out a few of the dates! The 2005 cent probably is normal..it probably looks different from others because it's so new. HOWEVER-don't let me discourage you...please post pics and we can determine it for sure. Also maybe weigh it to see if it is really lighter than normal. The normal weight is around 3.11 grams (?)The VDB you see is the designer's initials-it stand for Victor D Brenner. As far as a good coin value source...that's a tough one. Most on the market have inflated prices listed. Maybe the Grey Sheet? Others here will probably have better answers to that one. But I reccomend, and everyone else here will as well, you go out and buy a recent RedBook. Many call it the Bible for coin collecting. It will have prices listed-but don't use those-they're inflated like I stated above. But you need to get it so you know which coins are scarcer than others and worth keeping. It has mintages, pics, brief grading tips, and countless information that will get you on your way. I know that Speedy, one of the moderators here on CoinTalk, also reccomends the ANA Guide to Grading (that what its called? ) So-post a pic of that cent and search over this forum for TONS AND TONS of valuable info. Hope this helps, Elaine. Good luck with growing your collection!!! Bill
hmm, how lightweight is it? The best answer would be measured in grams on a scale that can measure to the nearest 1/100 of a gram. Also a picture would be helpful. As for the other coins, a no date buffalo nickel is worth about 10¢-15¢ and silver coins (US dimes, quarters, and halves minted in 1964 and earlier) are worth about 8x their face value while silver dollars (minted before 1964) are worth about $10 each. There are rare dats, but your best bet is to post a list and we can tell you which are the best dates. Good luck!
