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Message:: [QUOTE="cpm9ball, post: 1184910, member: 24633"]Welcome to the neighborhood, Todd! It looks like you have some fairly interesting coins there. There isn't any coin in numismatics that is worthless unless it has been intentionally defaced. It looks like those 2x2's are a little the worse for wear, and the staples always present the risk that a coin might be scratched accidentally which can hurt its value. You might want to think about putting the coins into SaFlips or AirTites to protect them. AirTies are more expensive, but before you start spending your money on anything, you should decide if numismatics is really a hobby that you want to pursue. There are a few "DO'S & DONT'S" that you should follow:1) Never clean any coin unless you absolutely know what you're doing. Improper cleaning can reduce the value.2) If you're not wearing cotton gloves, never hold a coin by the obverse and reverse (front and back). The oils from your skin will attack the surfaces. The ONLY way to properly hold a coin barehanded is with the thumb and forefinger on the edge (the third side of a coin).3) Always store the coins in a cool, dry climate. Heat and humidity are bad for coins. Those abbreviations you mentioned refer to the general condition of the coin. Today, the Sheldon Scale is used to grade coins from 1-70 with 70 being a perfect coin. Mint State (MS) is considered an uncirculated coin, then comes About Uncirculated (AU), Extra Fine (EF or XF) and so on. I'd suggest that you get yourself a copy of the Red Book of United States Coins by Whitman Publishing, if you decide to pursue the hobby. It contains a lot of very worthwhile information. Just don't rely heavily on the price guide. Chris[/QUOTE]

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