National bank notes: the town name on a US dollar
National bank notes (1860s–1935) are US currency issued through a local national bank. They have a charter number and usually…
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The public coin and money library, plus dealer guides — what people bring to a shop, how money works, and how shops run.
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US gold coin types: dollars through double eagles, Liberty, Indian, Saint
Older US gold comes in $1, $2.50, $3, $5, $10, and $20. Liberty Head, Indian Head, and Saint-Gaudens are the…
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American Silver Eagle: one ounce, Walking Liberty’s afterlife
The American Silver Eagle (1986–on) is one troy ounce of .999 silver. The walk is Weinman’s Walking Liberty. It is…
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Susan B. Anthony dollars: the small dollar people spent as quarters
Susan B. Anthony dollars (1979–1981 and 1999) are copper-nickel clad, not silver. They are about the size of a quarter…
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Twenty-cent pieces: the short-lived coin people still call a quarter
The twenty-cent piece (1875–1878) is 90% silver and almost the size of a quarter. 1875-S is the common date. 1876-CC…
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Three-cent pieces: the tiny silver trime and the nickel three-cent
The US made two three-cent coins. The silver three-cent (1851–1873) is tiny. The nickel three-cent (1865–1889) is larger and copper-nickel.…
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Flying Eagle cents: the short small-cent that came before the Indian
Flying Eagle cents were struck 1856–1858. They are copper-nickel, not gold and not bronze. 1857 and 1858 are the circulation…
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Washington quarters: 1964 silver, 1976 drums, and the statehood pile
Washington quarters start in 1932. 1932-D and 1932-S are the keys. 90% silver through 1964, then clad. 1976 is the…
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Jefferson nickels and the 35% silver war nickels
Jefferson nickels start in 1938. Most are copper-nickel face value. Mid-1942 through 1945 war nickels are 35% silver — look…
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