Hello All: I am a amateur collector and don't know much about coins yet. I do want to share this with you as I think it's a neat find. In March I found a IHC in my pocket change. I was digging through my change purse to get money for the drink machine and came across a "dark" penny. I immediately thought it could be a wheatie but upon closer inspection it turned out to be a 1867 IHC. I was thrilled, it's really the best "find" I've ever had and it's such an odd way of finding a coin that is 140 years old. And to think, I could have inadvertently spent it somewhere! Thank goodness I have the habit of looking at my change before I spend it, right? Anyway, I'm posting pics for you to see, any and all comments are welcome. I know they are not great pics, lighting is bad. I can post better pics later when I get them. I'm concerned though that the obverse looks red in the pic but not in person. It has this black funk on it though that seems to come off easily when handled but I know better than to clean it. The reverse is in much better condition. The only other 2 IHC's I have are ones that I purchased and aren't as old or nice. -Michelle
Wow....thats a great find from circulation! That is one of the semi-key Indian Cents and I would say it is worth around $40-50, depending on whether or not there is any porosity on the surfaces.
That's a nice find to get in change.Anyone found a Flying Eagle 1c. or a cupro-nickel 1c. coin. Aidan.
Thanks everyone. This find has renewed mine and my son's interest in collecting. BTW Shortgapbob, (newbie question here...) what is porosity on the surface and how can you detect it? As to the grade & value, I had 2 dealers look at it and you will get a kick out of this...one dealer graded it only good and offered 8 bucks. Let's just say I didn't fall of the turnip truck yesterday and I did bother to look it up in a coin book before I went to him. The other guy gave a better grade and offer considerably more. I had so much fun when I found it that I wouldn't dare sell it anyway. -Michelle
Surface porosity would be any pitting and rough surfaces on the metal caused by the copper's reaction to the environment. If those dark areas are just dirt, then the coin would be worth considerably more than if the dark areas are covering up pitting and damage on the coins surfaces from being exposed to the elements over time. After looking at the coin closer, it does have some decent detail. I think the coin could grade Fne-12, from a details standpoint. The letters in Liberty appear to all be visible, although not completely readable. The reverse is fairly strong to warrant this grade. Of course, any environmental damage on the coin would affect the grade and value as well. Again, congratulations on a great find!
Wow, that is a sweet find! I think it is incredible that a person can still find an 1867 Indian Head cent in their change in the year 2007. I wish I had that kind of luck. I have been checking my pocket change since the 1970s and have never found anything better than the occasional silver dime or war nickel. To find any Indian head cent, let alone a semi-key date in fine condition is pleasantly surprising. Btw, the coin appears to be in F-12 condition and I would have to place its value at close to $70 on the open market. Iif the coin were only in G-4 condition it would be worth approximately $40, but yours is much nicer than G-4.
that is a really cool find! either a coin collector realeased it in circulation, witch i doubt or it was in a old change can or something. i'd say that coin would be worth around $55 in that condition. but a dealer would only give you around $20 for it. i'd hang on to it for awhile. that is a semi-key date coin. there were only 9,821,000 made that year, and most of them were either desroyed or lost. thats in good shape too.:thumb: oh, and also, i'm glad you didn't sell it to that dealer for $8. that was a rippoff!
Awesome find! That is a really cool find. A tip for ya if you don't know already, it might not hurt that coin since it is circualted, but be sure to hold coins on there sides, the oils from your fingers can hurt your coins. It's good you know not to clean them, but be sure to hold most coins on there edges, otherwise you can hurt the coins value. And BTW, welcome to the forum. :thumb: Phoenix
Nice fine condition. People in America are SO lucky having old coins in their change ! (GB coinage in circulation only goes back to 1971)
Thanks everyone for the welcome! Thanks Phoenix for the tip on handling coins, I will be more careful from now on. It has been fun showing off my find. I know it is uncommon to find such an old coin in circulation, I often wonder if it's been in circulation for 140 years or like Coinlover said it may have been in a change can for a long time. -Michelle
