Interesting Find From Circulation

Is your daughter a collector, too, or did she give it to you?

Chris

 

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Last summer I got an Illinois proof from a vending machine.

 

Try as I may Chris, I can't seem to get her (or my other daughters for that matter) interested in collecting. However, she's always on the lookout for interesting out of the norm stuff and anytime she finds something she's not used to seein' she brings it to my attention...

 

What is the value of a 1959 "white" penny? I was told by one collecter that it was made of stainless. Any answers would be greatly appreciated.

 

It's most likely coated in mercury as a science project. no coins have been made out of stainless. in 1943 pennys were made of a steel alloy but only for one year. it's worth about a penny

 

#1: The look

#2: The S mintmark.

 

Digging through my change from this weekend tonight and found a 1909 VDB wheat. Cool.

 

So you are saying that if a coin does not have an "S" mint mark that it is not a proof ? The reason I am curious about this , like jmc2010 , is that many times the MS-63 or MS-65 value of a coin is way more than the PF-65. I have flawless Franklin Half Dollars from 1961 & 1963 that have no mint marks , so these are definitely not proof coins ?

 

tell the truth and shame the devil

 

Check this... same lot of change and I just found a 1911 S.

 

Are you sure you are not looking through that lot of change that was sitting in that Dansco holder ?

 

nope.

Buy a red book and read when Philly stopped making them, and San Fran started.

[hint: 1968]

 

Kanga,

You have to keep in mind that proof coins are handled with TLC to prevent them from being damaged in any way while at the Mint. It's different for business strikes, so it can sometimes be a lot harder to find high grade coins.

Chris

 

While the possibility of finding a proof coin in circulation does exist, the chances of finding one, especially in the condition you describe, would be rather remote.......

 

again, buy the red book.

 

To Treashunt , cpm9ball , green18 ,

Thank you all for various forms of explanations.
1.) I have 2010 edition of the Redbook.
2.) It does not tell how to tell a proof coin from a mint state coin WHEN found in circulation.
3.) The 2010 Redbook is lacking in much pertinent information ( thus the usefullness of asking here on CoinTalk )
4.) There have been others here who have offered things to look for such as , better strike or square devices.
5.) If I find a no mint mark 1963 Franklin Half in a bankroll of half dollars , how can I tell if it is a proof or mint state ?
6.) The Redbook shows that there were both Proof and Mint sets minted by Philadelphia in 1963.

 

Kanga,

Unless a proof coin is heavily toned, it will still have substantially mirrored fields that you will not see on a circulation strike.

Chris

 

Dog gone it!! I lost that thing again!!

 

I hope you're not on the sauce again.:headbang:

Chris

 

OK, check out the Red Book definition of a proof coin (other than a matte proof). One key element in that definition states (para-phrasing here) that the coin will have mirrored fields and frosty devices. There should still be some evidence of these features remaining on the coin.