Alright this a probably a newbie question, but I am a newbie so... I have a collection of 1976 pennies that have an outline of a state on them above the date, plus the abbreviations for the state. There are a few with a liberty bell or an outline of the US on them where the state would be too. My guess is that they were modified after the mint, because I can't find any literature on them in a few brief hours of looking. Sorry I can't post a picture, the coins are at home and I am at college. The coins were collected in Alaska where I normally live, has anyone else seen or heard of them? Thanks in advance.
Your guess is very accurate. Your cents are examples of the novelty items that are constantly being created and marketed as "collectible". There are an untold number of varieties, including silver and gold plated coins, and other counterstamps. Numismatically the coins are damaged, and worth 1¢ each if the damage isn't enough to harm their chances of being accepted at McDonalds. Elongated cents, run through those machines you find at amusement parks and historical sites, are more valuable because they are actively collected.
thanks for the info, it was as I expected but I was secretly hoping On a completely different note, would anyone be interested in some very nice 1976 State pennies? Starting at $50 per coin!
There were at least five different series of the states pennies with multiple years of issue. A complete set would probably run to 900 coins or so. Large numbers of some issues were produced and these coins are not uncommon in circulation. The most common is one of the issues with the states initials inside the outline from 1975. A specialist might well value needed ones much higher than I, but it seems unlikely anyone would pay much over a dollar for one since it's just not necessary.
Where did you get this info cladking, do you have a link? Also, who produced these coins, the mint or someone else? Thanks for replying btw.
I suspect there is a book out there someplace, I know there are articles & ads found in old issues of the numismatic press - but some can remember these things from when they happened.
Unfortunately most of what I know about them is from making a collection of them. I've got about 200 different from various series and issuers. I didn't save resource materials for these because I considered them too inconsequential for the effort. One, I believe, was made by a large CA coin shop whose name escapes me right now and another by the ? hat mint. They issued quite a few amusement tokens and the like and, I believe, are still in business. Some were likely made by members of the the elongated cent collectors club so perhaps someone there could help you with more details. These were simply punched with a stamp in many cases and did not require special equipment. It might be easier to track down by finding the punch makers if you're interested. These are interesting souvenirs but keep in mind they are very easily counterfeited so can't gain any significant value in the foreseeable future.
I,too, have "the united states in coins" penny collection I also have a penny collection, in a framed map with each state struck infront of Lincoln. Each are 1974 w/various mint marks. The map says the coins are BU but now I wonder what I really have if anything. Ideas, links, a punch in the nose for being a dingaling, then: piperkirk@msn.com Many thanks from the Smokey Mtns of Tennishoe.
“Tennishoe” ? Is that Tennessee as spoken by one of your children ? When I was four, I referred to the Gunsmoke television program as “Smokeyshoot”.
From a numismatic standpoint, those coins are no longer "BU". Even though they haven't been circulated, they have been damaged by being carved on. Also, they usually have a thick glue spot on the reverse where thy were attached to something so that they could be carved. That said, if you wanted to sell the colection, the fact that it is complete and the coins are otherwise uncirculated, means that you could probably get a (modest) premium for it, but the buyer would likely be a collector of US bicentennial memorabilia and not a coin collector. I have "tennis shoes" but they've never been to the smokey mountains. (Although it is beautiful there!)
Well, ya'll jes' r the coolest..... Tickled to c the replies, most especially Cavedweller's. Much appreciated. I've been collecting and studying numismatics for over a year and feel certain that this MESS simply MUST contain something of value. From silver dollars to Sicilian type ancients I am convinced that my lottery will be uncovered...... eventually. (Yea, and the books and songs I've written will win covetted awards the day AFTER I die.) Enjoying the forum a great deal. C ya'll soon. Piper PS Did ya'll knowthat Appalachian is mispronounced by ALL major media? The Cherokee had no long "A" sound in the language. The word for the paternal arms of my lovely land is spoken with only short "a" sounds. ;-)
At least one of us did But then I cheated - I was raised in the north end of that little string of hills known as Appalachia
I just found one with the letters m.s. inside a state outline literally 2 minutes ago. You were my first search pop up.
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