Hi. I'm a fairly new coin collector. I work at McDonalds and I get most of my coins by buying out cool ones that i get thru the drive thru. My ex got me started about a year ago, because he was interested in wheat pennies and bi centennials quarters. I have about 986 coins, consisting of old, odd, and foreign coins, mainly wheats and bicentennials. I have a question about a coin I've come across. It's the pride and joy of my collection. It's a coin from 1863, about the size (maybe a LITTLE bit smaller) and color of a penny. On the back is some sort of wreath around the edge with a blank space in the middle (the blank space is very scratched up and it's all very worn down so it may not have always been blank). On the front the edge has a ring of small dots close together, then a ring inside that of stars further spaced apart. Inside of that ring is a face of what appears to be a woman with a hairdo that flows down the back of her head and is somewhat gathered at the top. Below her head, and interrupting the ring of stars, is "1863". Again the coin is fairly worn so I can't tell much about the woman (?) other than the faint outline, some faint lines of hair, and what appear to be her chin, nose, and eye. I originally believed this to be italian because at first glance the figure on the back looked similar to the figure on the back of an italian nickel I had but they actually are not the same. I've tried doing some online research and the closest thing I can find makes me think it MIGHT be some sort of civil war era coin or commerative thing. (Sorry I can't be more descriptive) But again nothing I've seen online looks that similar to it, aside from the wreath. Can anybody help me out? I catalog on excel every coin I have and it's very irritating to not be sure where this is from. Plus I'd love to know some history behind it. Also, could any one give me tips on how to properly store my coins? I don't have a lot of money to spend or even knowledge of how to go about it so as of right now they are in 2 ziplock baggies (sorry I'm sure your shuddering but it's the best I have on hand to keep them from getting lost). Thanks in advance for all your help! Katie
Welcome Katie, im sure if you stick around here for a bit you will learn more than you need or wanted to know about coins. For storage advice i think, by the description of your collection you would be best served by cardboard 2x2s as they are inexpensive comparatively although there are other options like snap lock air tight containers or albums. Also brace yourself for the massive cannon fodder about how 2x2s are a bad option....
Welcome to CoinTalk Katie. I completely agree with Matthew that for your type of collection 2x2s, available at any coin shop or online, are the best method of preservation. It is sooooooo much easier to identify a coin from a picture than a description, but there's a chance that what you have is one of the earliest US "small cents". In 1856 the Mint reduced the size of the one cent coin from 27.5mm to 19mm and introduced the flying eagle type, which lasted three years. Indian Head cents were introduced in 1859, and their design was modified in 1860. Here's a (not very good) picture of one a few years newer than yours:
I was thinking IHC too, however, the OP described stars and, what I thought, was a space only for the date.
We will have a lot of trouble IDing your coin without a decent photo. As far as storage....if you have a lot of wheat cents it would be best to store them in a roll. If they are still shiny (like a new cent), or before 1935 and in very good condition, then store them in a 2x2. A plastic whitman roll is only about 50 cents and holds 50 cents. Cardboard 2x2s are an excellent way to store coins. They cost about 3-5 cents each. I can buy 100 packs of them for $4. Cardboard 2x2s were one of the few methods of storage until the clear plastic capsules came about. Some people like to use flips which are clear plastic "pouches" to put your coins in. The coin rolls around and could get damaged when you slide them out. Some people worry about the dust from a cardboard 2x2 scratching the surface of a proof coin. However the ENTIRE inside of the holder is covered in a clear plastic. If there is any dust on the window, just take a fine cloth and wipe it off. Some people like using the clear capsules for coins that snap together. However they are not cheap and they scratch easily. Also since your new, I wanted to point this out, although you already may know this. 1. Never EVER clean a coin. 2. Always hold a coin by it's edge. Otherwise touching the surface will transfer oils from your skin, leaving a nasty fingerprint.
The coins you have taken in change from your job, I'd put in 2X2's. Anything that is uncirculated, then either 2X2 or archival hard plastic holders. I worry about flips for long term storage because of PVP damage to the coins.
I would give the Civil War Patriotic Tokens listing a look at this link. Let us know if you find anything in those pictures that you think looks like your item. Also, as others have said, if you can take a picture of both sides of the coin/token and post them here that is really your best option. They don't have to be professional quality images, but the more clear and the larger they are the better our chances of being able to help you.
