i think the quarter is the most important coin to the u.s., cause it is used most often. also, i think the people of u.s. agree too, cause the u.s. wouldn't be making a quarter representing each state if the quarter wasn't important.
Hmmmm - an interesting point to think about. I guess the real answer is what part of the world are you in? For the US, it doesn't get any easier. Dollar coins are important for their place in trade during the 1800s, but the penny is probably the most used coin of all. There are a bunch of different factors. You ask me, it would be the Trade Dollar b/c it was the first widely circulated US coin outside our borders.
In many ways this is the most important coin there ever was - This coin - and millions of others like it - were the most widely circulated coins the world has ever seen. It circulated and was accepted as valid coinage around the globe for hundreds of years. In the USA - it was the single most widely used and circulated coin up until 1857. In the beginning - the US had very, very few coins of their own. But there were millions of the Spanish Pillar Dollars. They are the coins that the people of this country used - along with the rest of the world at the time. This coin also provided the basis for our current coinage system and the denominations we use still today.
Still have to go with GDJMSP's Without that coin, we would not have the system we have. If you want one minted in the good ol USA, I would have to say the St. Gauden.
Well, thanks to the Host for the Spanish Dollar. Good reply! Most important coin? The Shekels of Tyre. Perhaps like this one (others also at WILDWINDS): http://www.wildwinds.com/coins/greece/phoenicia/tyre/BMC_236.jpg This Shekel of Tyre was most likely the TYPE of coin with which the judges paid Judas Iscariot to betray his Lord. Without that Event, and what Followed, much would be very Different. On a secular note, perhaps this coin (similar in style, actually, and perhaps oddly enough) http://www.wildwinds.com/coins/greece/egypt/ptolemy_II/Svoronos_0366.jpg These tetradrachms paid for many things, though I offer them as examples of what built THE LIBRARY AT ALEXANDRIA. Michael
I have been asked this question several times before. Although the other posters have given very good answers, I agree with Micheal. The Shekels, given to Judas, were the most "important" coins that ever existed.
How many different pillar dollars are there? What do they go for in good>fine condition? I'd go with the nickel. According to my grandfather, everything during the Depressions went for a nickel. It was the main barter unit. He used to see double feature movies with live acts before each movie (once the live act was Al Jolson, another time it was a very young nobody named Frank Sanata), plus cartoons, and news reals all for ONE NICKEL!
id have to say the buffalo nickel it defined an entire era of U.S. history when you pick one up, you can actually feel the history behind it and you will be overwhelmed with the aesthetics
How many ? There's a lot !! Coins with this design were struck from 1732 through 1771 in the mint's of Mexico City, Potosi, Lima, Guatemala, Santa Fe de Bogota, Popayan & Santiago de Chile. As for cost - it depends a great deal on the mint and variety. But for a general rule of thumb coins like this in VF can be bought for anywhere from $50 to $300.
the important coin For me...it is my 1909-S VDB PCGS MS63BN Lincoln Cent...as a kid, that coin in any grade felt like a million miles away. I look at it and still can't believe that I have one...and in that grade as well! The most important coin in the world is the 1933 Double Eagle gold piece that sold at auction for over $7 Million dollars. The history and story of that coin is fantastic and no other coin in the world is worth more as far as I can tell.
Well at least no coin has ever sold for more Ed. But there are coins that are more valuable. One in particular that I have mentioned before had bids during an auction back in 1989 as high as $10 million - but the owner rejected them as too low. There are other coins out there that would undoubtably sell for more - but the owners won't sell. At least not yet.
