Mercury dimes: Winged Liberty, 90% silver, and the 1916-D
Mercury dimes (1916–1945) are 90% silver Winged Liberty Heads, not the Roman god. Common worn dates are junk silver. 1916-D,…
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Buffalo nickels: the bison, the missing horn, and the dates that matter
Buffalo nickels (1913–1938) are copper-nickel, not silver. Most worn dates are a few dollars. 1913 Type 1 vs Type 2,…
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So-called dollars: dollar-sized medals, not dollars
So-called dollars are US commemorative medals about the size of a silver dollar, catalogued by Hibler and Kappen (HK numbers).…
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Commemorative half dollars: Columbian is common, some others are not
US classic commemorative halves (1892–1954) are 90% silver with a story on them. The 1892–93 Columbian is the one in…
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Medal vs coin: if it has no denomination, it is probably a medal
A coin is issued as money and has a denomination. A medal is art in metal. Franklin Mint silver is…
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Canadian silver at a US shop: it is 80%, not 90%
Canadian dimes, quarters, halves, and dollars from 1920 through 1966 are 80% silver. 1967–1968 drop to 50%, then nickel. Do…
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US-Philippines coins: United States of America on one side, Filipinas on the other
From 1903 to 1945 the US struck coins for the Philippines. Silver 10, 20, 50 centavos and pesos are a…
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1883 Hawaii Kalakaua coins: not the HAWAII overprint note
The Kingdom of Hawaii struck silver dimes, quarters, halves, and dollars in 1883 at the San Francisco Mint, with King…
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Morgan vs Peace dollars: two silver dollars, two jobs
Morgans (1878–1904 and 1921) and Peace dollars (1921–1935) are both 90% silver. Common worn dates are melt plus a little.…
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