American coins, whats the big deal?

[shiraz]

Hi, reading all your topics it seem you are all getting excited about pennies , nickels and dimes. Is there any monetary value in them? Here in Australia we at least have a $1.00 coin and a $2.00 coin still in circulation and still being dropped, as well as pre-decimal coins.What I'm really asking is what are you getting so excited about, your excitement is infectious!

 

[BH_Landstar_]

1/ Nickels are the gold range for Jewelry.

2/ Dimes are our silver range as well as the quarters for silver rings and other silver jewelry.

3/ Zinc pennies can also turn out to be gold rings.

Not only that, prior to 1965, most coins here in the US (dimes and quarters and above) where made with 90% silver, so are worth more than coins made after that year.

Also, some really older coins made of copper too, like the one I found on Saturday, a Liberty Cap Large Cent -- 1796.

 

[shiraz]

Thanks for the update, but are they worth anything?

 

[Occupant]

Many US coins have great collector value. For example, the 1916 D dime. Face value 10 cents. Silver value, maybe a dollar or two. Collector value, thousands of dollars! Try this link for some US coin values:
http://www.bestcoin.com/us-mercury-dimes.htm
HH
Roger

 

[Elton]

Not a way of life. Sure some of our coins are worth a little to real collectors. Most of us are not in it for profit. Just fun.. So a Nice Indian Head dated say 1898 to me is worth a lot in .."I found it".. value. When in fact it's near worthless on the market. Do we get excited." you bet"..and, we like to share our finds with others in the same hobby.. So chill a bit and enjoy the reads... Were having fun, and that's it..

 

[rick in mi]

Well put Elton

 

[boxofchocolates]

Elton, you got it right......If I was trying to make money it would be some other way......hh......Dan

 

[BH_Landstar_]

Elton is spot on

 

[jim tn]

Good post Elton. Personally, I love hunting for and finding old coins and every so often I find a nice jewelry item along the way. For me it is a challenge to find older coins and I am not in it for the money. As you state, it is a hobby...and for many of us a very enjoyable one. HH jim tn

 

[Cheryl]

Not a way of life. Sure some of our coins are worth a little to real collectors. Most of us are not in it for profit. Just fun.. So a Nice Indian Head dated say 1898 to me is worth a lot in .."I found it".. value. When in fact it's near worthless on the market. Do we get excited." you bet"..and, we like to share our finds with others in the same hobby.. So chill a bit and enjoy the reads... Were having fun, and that's it..

Thats what its all about!..................Well said

 

[iskirkra]

Good post Elton, I totally agree. What makes a person excited also depends on what region of the country you live in. If you live in the part of the country where civil war battles took place you may get excited by finding 3 ringers or buckles etc. or if you live on the east coast a coin in the early 1800's or late 1700's might make you really excited. For me, my town was established in 1907, so finding a coin from the early 1900's makes me excited. It is the adventure and being outdoors and discovering history, however old that might be in your area, that makes this fun. There is nothing else like it. HH, Randy

 

[shiraz]

Fair suck of the sarsaparilla . I don't need to chill out elton, I actually agree with everything you say. Be cool ,don't drool.

 

[shiraz]

Thanks Roger, The info you provided , was all that I was after.

 

[Roland58]

I can't speak for the others and know little about my new found hobby of MD'ing, but, I DO know that I enjoy it immensely! I haven't even found a piece of copper, gold or silver, yet, but, the stuff I have found has, indeed, made this hobby addicting. I get a thrill out of getting a target, digging a bit and spotting a small metal disc in the dirt! Then to determine it is a penny, nickel, dime or quarter makes it all worthwhile, personally. We aren't as fortunate as you good folks in Oz or New Zealand, with your $1 and $2 coins and it seems like your populace is quite handy a dropping them!! Not to mention, you have dirt that can be dug with a trowel. My area has mostly red (iron ore) clay that is hard as concrete when dry and has the characteristics of paste/glue when wet!

MD'ing is something I can do in my old age and it is pretty good excercise.....walking, kneeling, hacking at the 'dirt', getting back up. And, one of these days, I'm going to find something older than myself! I never did expect to recover the money I have spent on detecting equipment with my finds, but, as far as I am concerned, they have paid for themselves with the fun I have had already!!...........and,who knows?, I guess I could find that 1916 D dime on my next hunt!!

 

[Alimo88]

Boo Elton
take some of your own advice champ

 

[Elton]

I was just explaining why we detect... For most it's fun and relaxing...The chill remark was no more than saying enjoy the posts.. enjoy the fine people we have on this forum.. Their really nice people..

 

[Woodchuck]

ITS THE THRILL OF THE HUNT,AND WHAT WE FIND ENOUGH SAID!!!!!!!

 

[shiraz]

You don't have to shout woodchuck. My passion for hunting old coins probably equals yours

 

[Alimo88]

The guy asks a genuine question, pays a compliment, and gets shot down in flames. Go figure.

 

[shiraz]

Probably didn't word it right, sorry for any mix ups, no noses were meant to be bent out of shape, no need for any negative waves - Cheers