Guide To Us Type Coins
Guide To Us Type Coins
Guide To Us Type Coins
95
L ITTLETON’S
COLLECTORS GUIDE TO
U.S. TYPE COINS
David M. Sundman
President
2
INTRODUCTION TO
TYPE COIN COLLECTING
A U.S. type coin set offers collectors an opportunity to show their individuality.
Ultimately, this set should be fun and rewarding to build. But what exactly is
a type set? This set should contain one coin of every major design and
metallic composition within a series. It is arranged by denomination design,
in order of issue. For instance, the Lincoln cent has four major design types:
the Wheat Ears, Memorial, and Union Shield reverses, as well as the four
2009 anniversary designs. Plus, the series saw a significant metal change in
1943 to steel. Depending on the depth and variety a collector wants to
include, each type set can vary quite a bit, so the 1909 V.D.B. could be
included as well as the coins without the initials.
This booklet will give you helpful information every collector needs. But
beyond a few basics, type coin collecting is almost limitless in its variety. As
your knowledge increases, you’ll find your own favorite coins and ways to
build a collection as unique as your imagination!
TABLE OF CONTENTS
Half Cents ..................................................................5
Large Cents..................................................................6
Small Cents ................................................................7
Two-Cent Pieces ..........................................................8
Three-Cent Pieces ......................................................9
Nickels ......................................................................10
Half Dimes ................................................................12
Dimes ........................................................................13
Twenty-Cent Pieces ..................................................14
Quarters ....................................................................15
Half Dollars ..............................................................19
Dollars ......................................................................22
continued next page…
3
TABLE OF CONTENTS continued…
Gold Dollars ..............................................................26
Quarter Eagles ..........................................................27
$3 Gold Pieces ..........................................................27
Half Eagles ................................................................28
Eagles ........................................................................29
Double Eagles ..........................................................29
Commemoratives ......................................................30
Bullion ......................................................................33
Caring for Your Coins................................................35
Susan B. Anthony
Dollar
Barber Morgan
Quarter Dollar
Indian Head
Cent
Buffalo Roosevelt
Nickel Dime
Kennedy Two-Cent
Half Dollar Piece Liberty Walking
Liberty Seated Half Dollar
Twenty-Cent
Piece
From the cobbled streets of old Boston and Philadelphia to the paved highways that
crisscross our nation today, U.S. coins trace the footsteps of the men and women
who came before us and helped to build America. Hold a U.S. type coin and look
at the design and date, each reflecting its era of issue. The elegant Draped Bust
coins recall the days of colonial America; the beautiful Standing Liberty and
Liberty Walking designs speak of the glamour of the Roaring Twenties, while the
Statehood quarters combine a blend of both modern and older design themes.
4
HALF CENTS 1793-1857
The smallest denomination U.S. coin, yet nearly the size of a modern quarter.
Made of pure copper, the half cent was useful for making change during its
early years of issue. But as time passed and things grew more expensive, the
half cent lost its usefulness, and was abandoned shortly before the Civil War.
Today, all half cents are scarce. All types carry a bust of Liberty on the
obverse and a wreath on the reverse.
LIBERTY CAP
(RIGHT FACING)
1794-1797
Composition: copper
Weight: 6.74 grams 1794
5.44 grams 1795-1797
(thin planchets)
Diameter: approx. 23.5 mm
Mint: Philadelphia
1775 Battle of Bunker Hill
DRAPED BUST
1800-1808 1781 British surrender at Yorktown
Composition: copper
Weight: 5.44 grams
Diameter: 23.5 mm
Mints: Philadelphia
5
LARGE CENTS 1793-1857
Along with the half cent, one of the first two coins struck by the United States,
all the large cents were coined at the Philadelphia Mint. With twice the copper
of the half cent, they were large and heavy – greater in size than today’s quarter
– so a pocketful was quite bulky. As the price of copper rose during the 1800s,
the large cent became too expensive to produce and was replaced in 1857 by
the small cent.
FLOWING HAIR
(CHAIN REVERSE & WREATH REVERSE)
1793
Composition: copper
Weight: 13.48 grams
Diameter: approx. 26-28 mm
Mints: Philadelphia
FOCUS ON LIBERTY
LIBERTY CAP 1800 U.S. capital now in
1793-1796 Washington, D.C.
Composition: copper
Weight: 13.48 grams 1793-1795
10.89 grams 1795-1796 1802
(thin planchet) DuPont builds
Diameter: approx. 29 mm his first
gunpowder mill
Mints: Philadelphia
DRAPED BUST
1796-1807
Composition: copper
Weight: 10.89 grams
Diameter: approx. 29 mm
Mints: Philadelphia 1803 Louisiana Purchase doubles
size of U.S.
CLASSIC HEAD
1808-1814 1804
Alexander Hamilton
Composition: copper
killed in duel
Weight: 10.89 grams
Diameter: approx. 29 mm
Mints: Philadelphia
CORONET
1816-1857
Composition: copper 1805 Lewis and Clark sight Pacific
Weight: 10.89 grams 1806 Zebulon Pike explores
Diameter: approx. 28-29 mm Arkansas River, and later climbs the
Mints: Philadelphia peak that comes to bear his name.
6
SMALL CENTS 1856-DATE
America’s first small cent, the Flying Eagle, was introduced in 1856. It was
nicknamed the “white cent” because of its 88% copper and 12% nickel
composition. It was replaced just 3 years later by the Indian Head cent,
which is considered by many to be the most beautiful copper coin. In 1909,
the Lincoln cent became America’s first circulating coin to portray a president.
To mark the 200th anniversary of Lincoln’s birth, and the series’ centennial,
in 2009 four new reverse designs were introduced honoring Abraham Lincoln’s
life. Then, in 2010, the ongoing Shield reverse debuted.
Wartime
Steel Cent
1943
Memorial Reverse
1959-2008
7
TWO-CENT PIECES 1864-1873
TWO-CENT PIECE
1864-1873
Composition: bronze
Weight: 6.22 grams
Diameter: 23 mm
Mints: Philadelphia
The 1864 Coin Act called for a 2¢ copper coin. This Civil War-era
coin was America’s first and only 2¢ piece. It was the first coin to
carry the motto IN GOD WE TRUST. This “odd” denomination coin
was 58 years in the making. First proposed in 1806, it was not
actually needed until the coinage shortage of the Civil War pushed
it into production.
FOCUS ON LIBERTY
1860 South Carolina secedes from Union
1863
South splits when Grant
wins Vicksburg
1863 Lincoln
1861 Fort Sumter fired upon, Lincoln delivers
declares war Gettysburg
address
1863
Gen. Robert E. Lee wins
his greatest victory at 1864 USS Sassacus battles Confederate
Chancellorsville ironclad CSS Albemarle
8
THREE-CENT PIECES 1851-1889
American Life
SILVER
THREE-CENT PIECE
1851-1873
Composition: 75% silver 1851-1853
90% silver 1854-1873
Weight: .80 grams 1851-1853
.75 grams 1854-1873
Diameter: 14 mm
Mints: Philadelphia, New Orleans
NICKEL
THREE-CENT PIECE
1865-1889
Composition: copper-nickel
Weight: 1.94 grams
Diameter: 17.9 mm
Mints: Philadelphia 1867 Dust rises from Chisholm
Trail as first Texas longhorns pass
9
NICKELS 1866-DATE
Beginning in 1866, a 5¢ coin of non-precious metal was created. The Shield
nickel was the nation’s first copper-nickel 5¢ coin; prior to this, the first U.S.
5¢ coin, the half dime, was silver. In 1883, the Liberty Head or “V” nickel
began, followed by the extremely popular Buffalo nickel of the early 20th
century, and then by the long-running and current Jefferson nickel.
FOCUS ON LIBERTY
First woman’s vote cast 1870 (Wyoming)
1892
Ellis Island opens
1872
Yellowstone
becomes first
national park
10
American Life
1891
New clothes fastener
invented; it’s called
the zipper
JEFFERSON
1938-DATE
Composition: copper-nickel
35% silver 1942-1945
Weight: 5 grams
Diameter: 21.2 mm
Mints: Philadelphia, Denver,
San Francisco
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FOCUS ON LIBERTY
1912 Arizona and New Mexico become 47th
and 48th states
1913
Woodrow Wilson
elected president
FLOWING HAIR
1794-1795
Composition: 89% silver
Weight: 1.35 grams
Diameter: 16.5 mm
Mints: Philadelphia
DRAPED BUST
1796-1805
Composition: 89% silver
Weight: 1.35 grams
Diameter: 16.5 mm
Mints: Philadelphia
CAPPED BUST
1829-1837
Composition: 89% silver
Weight: 1.35 grams
Diameter: 15.5 mm
Mints: Philadelphia
LIBERTY SEATED
1837-1873
Composition: 90% silver
Weight: 1.34 grams 1837-1853
1.24 grams 1853-1873
Diameter: 15.5 mm
Mints: Philadelphia, New Orleans,
San Francisco
12
DIMES 1796-DATE
The 10¢ coin, or dime, follows closely the designs of the half dime through the
Liberty Seated type. All circulating dimes were minted in fine silver until 1964.
Early dimes in higher grades are scarce and expensive, since this denomination
was used extensively compared to quarters and halves. But many early issues
are still available in circulated condition at a more reasonable cost.
American Life
1912 Workers in textile mills earn $8.76 weekly
for putting in 54 hours
1920
Prohibition sets
off 14 years of
illicit drinking
1912
Titanic sinks 1921 Harding becomes the first U.S.
on maiden president to be broadcast on the radio
voyage
1924 Cartoon Little Orphan Annie runs for
1920 Women earn the right to vote the first time
13
TWENTY-CENT PIECES 1875-1878
The shortest-lived coin denomination in U.S. history! The twenty-cent piece,
minted in 90% fine silver, was struck for circulation only in 1875 and 1876.
A few hundred Proofs were coined in 1877-1878. Soon after the coin’s
appearance, people complained that it was too close in design and size to
the quarter – causing problems in making change. Fewer than 1.4 million
were minted, so the twenty-cent piece is a scarce and treasured item today!
TWENTY-CENT PIECE
1875-1878
Composition: 90% silver
Weight: 5 grams
Diameter: 22 mm
Mints: Philadelphia, Carson City, San Francisco
American Life
1882 Electric iron invented; early models
weighed 15 pounds
1876
Alexander Graham 1888 Kodak amateur camera introduced
Bell shows off
the telephone
14
QUARTERS 1796-DATE
Because of the practice of cutting up the Mexican 8 Reales coin into eight
parts, thus the “Pieces of Eight” name, the U.S. quarter, as ¼ of a dollar,
became known as “two bits.” As a silver coin of substantial size until 1964,
the quarter has always been popular – both in circulation and among
collectors. A variety of quarter designs has been minted since 1796, and
many collectors try to assemble at least one coin of each type, shown here.
CAPPED BUST
1815-1838 1793 With 45,000 people, Philadelphia
is the largest city
Composition: 89% silver
Weight: 6.74 grams
In the late 1700s, families are large,
Diameter: 27 mm 1815-1831 containing 7 or more people
24.3 mm 1831-1838
Mints: Philadelphia
In colonial America, children over 6
are considered “small adults”
LIBERTY SEATED
1838-1891 Average worker earns 9¢ an hour
Composition: 90% silver
Weight: 6.68 grams 1838-1853
6.22 grams 1853-1873
6.25 grams 1873-1891
Diameter: 24.3 mm
Mints: Philadelphia, New Orleans,
San Francisco, Carson City
BARBER
1892-1916
Composition: 90% silver
Weight: 6.25 grams
Diameter: 24.3 mm
Mints: Philadelphia, Denver,
New Orleans,
San Francisco
STANDING LIBERTY
1916-1930
Composition: 90% silver
Weight: 6.25 grams Common professions: cabinetmaker,
Diameter: 24.3 mm coachmaker, wheelwright
Mints: Philadelphia, Denver,
San Francisco
15
QUARTERS continued…
On December 1, 1997, the 50 State Quarters Program was born. This program
honored every state in the Union with a different commemorative quarter
showing Washington on the obverse and a design unique to the issuing state
on the reverse. The quarters were issued from 1999-2008 at the rate of about
one every 10 weeks, in the order that each state joined the Union or ratified
the Constitution. Then, in 2009, six designs were issued under a new one-year-
only program honoring the District of Columbia and five U.S. Territories.
1941 Mount
Rushmore completed
16
American Life RELEASE DATES FOR THE STATEHOOD, D.C. &
U.S. TERRITORIES QUARTER PROGRAMS
1929 Stock Market crashes,
Black Tuesday
17
QUARTERS continued…
Following the immense popularity of the Statehood, D.C. and U.S. Territories
quarters, the America’s National Park quarter series debuted in 2010. Scheduled
to end in 2021, this coin series honors a national park or historic site in each
of the 50 states, the District of Columbia, and the 5 U.S. Territories. Five new
designs are issued per year, in the order the parks and sites were established
as federally protected areas.
2010 2016
State Site State Site
Arkansas Hot Springs National Park Illinois Shawnee National Forest
Wyoming Yellowstone National Park Kentucky Cumberland Gap National Historical Park
California Yosemite National Park West Virginia Harpers Ferry National Historical Park
Arizona Grand Canyon National Park North Dakota Theodore Roosevelt National Park
Oregon Mt. Hood National Forest South Carolina Fort Moultrie
2011 (Fort Sumter National Monument)
Pennsylvania Gettysburg National Military Park 2017
Montana Glacier National Park Iowa Effigy Mounds National Monument
Washington Olympic National Park District of Columbia Frederick Douglass National Historic Site
Mississippi Vicksburg National Military Park Missouri Ozark National Scenic Riverways
Oklahoma Chickasaw National Recreation Area New Jersey Ellis Island National Monument
2012 Indiana George Rogers Clark National Historical Park
Puerto Rico El Yunque National Forest 2018
New Mexico Chaco Culture National Historical Park Michigan Pictured Rocks National Lakeshore
Maine Acadia National Park Wisconsin Apostle Islands National Lakeshore
Hawaii Hawai’i Volcanoes National Park Minnesota Voyageurs National Park
Alaska Denali National Park Georgia Cumberland Island National Seashore
2013 Rhode Island Block Island National Wildlife Refuge
New Hampshire White Mountain National Forest 2019
Ohio Perry’s Victory & Intl. Peace Memorial Massachusetts Lowell National Historical Park
Nevada Great Basin National Park Northern Mariana
Maryland Ft. McHenry National Monument Islands American Memorial Park
& Historic Shrine Guam War in the Pacific NHP
South Dakota Mount Rushmore National Memorial Texas San Antonio Missions NHP
2014 Idaho Frank Church River of No Return Wilderness
Tennessee Great Smoky Mountains National Park 2020
Virginia Shenandoah National Park American Samoa National Park of American Samoa
Utah Arches National Park Connecticut Weir Farm National Historic Site
Colorado Great Sand Dunes National Park U.S. Virgin Islands Salt River Bay NHP & Ecological Preserve
Florida Everglades National Park Vermont Marsh-Billings-Rockefeller NHP
2015 Kansas Tallgrass Prairie National Preserve
Nebraska Homestead National Monument of America 2021
Louisiana Kisatchie National Forest Alabama Tuskegee Airmen National Historic Site
North Carolina Blue Ridge Parkway
Delaware Bombay Hook National Wildlife Refuge
New York Saratoga National Historical Park NHP – National Historical Park
18
HALF DOLLARS 1794-DATE
Though the half dollar is almost forgotten today, it was once the major silver
coin of circulation. At one time, a half dollar was often more than a person
made in a day’s labor. To have one, or perhaps two, was a significant stash of
money. Because the half dollar is used less and less today, it will only grow
in popularity with collectors.
FOCUS ON LIBERTY
FLOWING HAIR
1794-1795
Composition: 89% silver
Weight: 13.48 grams
Diameter: approx. 32.5 mm
Mints: Philadelphia
1812
“Mr. Madison’s
DRAPED BUST War” (War of
1796-1807 1812) begins
Composition: 89% silver
Weight: 13.48 grams
Diameter: approx. 32.5 mm
Mints: Philadelphia
1820 Maine becomes 23rd state
CAPPED BUST
1807-1839
Mints: Philadelphia
89% Silver
Date: 1807-1836
Weight: 13.48 grams
Diameter: approx. 32.5 mm 1825 Erie Canal completed
90% Silver
Date: 1836-1839
1836 Mexican War, the Republic
Weight: 13.36 grams
of Texas is born
Diameter: 30 mm
19
HALF DOLLARS continued…
American Life
By 1895, over 300 automobiles
have been sold in the U.S.
LIBERTY SEATED
1839-1891
Composition: 90% silver
Weight: 13.36 grams 1839-1853
12.44 grams 1853-1873
12.50 grams 1873-1891
Diameter: 30.6 mm
Mints: Philadelphia,
1908 Henry Ford builds the Model T New Orleans,
San Francisco,
Carson City
BARBER
1927 Charles Lindbergh crosses 1892-1915
the Atlantic Composition: 90% silver
Weight: 12.50 grams
Diameter: 30.6 mm
Mints: Philadelphia, Denver,
New Orleans,
San Francisco
LIBERTY WALKING
1916-1947
During World War II, more and Composition: 90% silver
more women began working Weight: 12.50 grams
outside the home. Diameter: 30.6 mm
Mints: Philadelphia, Denver,
San Francisco
20
FRANKLIN KENNEDY
1948-1963 1964-DATE
Composition: 90% silver Diameter: 30.6 mm
Weight: 12.50 grams Mints: Philadelphia, Denver,
Diameter: 30.6 mm San Francisco
Mints: Philadelphia, Denver, 90% Silver
San Francisco Date: 1964
Weight: 12.50 grams
40% silver
Date: 1965-1970
Weight: 11.50 grams
Clad
FOCUS ON LIBERTY Date: 1971-Date
Weight: 11.34 grams
1948 Truman wins presidency
Eagle
Reverse
1960
Kennedy becomes
youngest president
Bicentennial
1963 Kennedy assassinated Reverse
1776-1976
21
DOLLARS 1794-DATE
Early silver dollars represent the remarkable era in America’s history when
the colonies united to form what would become one of the greatest nations
on earth. Since precious silver ore was scarce in that era, the dollars of
that period have very low mintages. Silver dollars were not minted between
1804 and 1836, so those that still circulated were scarce and hoarded.
In addition to the early dollars pictured, a number of so-called “Gobrecht”
dollars were issued from 1836-1839, and served as patterns for the
Liberty Seated dollar.
FLOWING HAIR
1794-1795
Composition: 89% silver
Weight: 26.96 grams
Diameter: approx. 39-40 mm
Mints: Philadelphia
DRAPED BUST
1795-1804
Composition: 89% silver
Weight: 26.96 grams
Diameter: approx. 39-40 mm
Mints: Philadelphia
LIBERTY SEATED
1840-1873
Composition: 90% silver
Weight: 26.73 grams
Diameter: 38.1 mm
Mints: Philadelphia, New Orleans,
Carson City, San Francisco
22
Large-Size Dollars 1873-1978
The large-size U.S. dollar coins of 1873-1978 are among the most
recognized of the entire series. These include Trade, Morgan and Peace
silver dollars, as well as clad Eisenhower dollars. Peace dollars were the
last dollar series struck for circulation in 90% silver. America’s last
traditional-sized dollar was the Eisenhower. This popular coin was minted
in both clad and in 40% silver from 1971-1976. The silver issues were
struck at the San Francisco Mint through 1976; then, the composition
switched to clad for the remainder of the series.
TRADE
1873-1885
Composition: 90% silver
Weight: 27.22 grams
Diameter: 38.1 mm
Mints: Philadelphia, FOCUS ON LIBERTY
Carson City,
San Francisco
MORGAN
1878-1921 1965 American soldiers see
combat in Vietnam
Composition: 90% silver
Weight: 26.73 grams
Diameter: 38.1 mm
Mints: Philadelphia,
New Orleans,
Carson City,
Denver,
San Francisco
23
DOLLARS continued…
EISENHOWER
1971-1978
Diameter: 38.1 mm
Mints: Philadelphia, Denver, San Francisco
40% Silver
Date: 1971-1976
Weight: 24.59 grams
Clad
Date: 1971-1978
Weight: 22.68 grams
Eagle Bicentennial
Reverse Reverse
1776-1976
SUSAN B. ANTHONY
1979-1981, 1999
Composition: clad
Weight: 8.1 grams
Diameter: 26.5 mm
Mints: Philadelphia, Denver,
San Francisco
SACAGAWEA
2000-2008
Composition: copper-manganese
Weight: 8.1 grams
Diameter: 26.5 mm
Mints: Philadelphia, Denver,
San Francisco
24
NATIVE AMERICAN
2009-DATE
Composition: copper-manganese
Weight: 8.1 grams
Diameter: 26.5 mm
Mints: Philadelphia, Denver,
San Francisco
PRESIDENTIAL
2007-DATE
Composition: copper-manganese
Weight: 8.1 grams
Diameter: 26.5 mm George Washington
Mints: Philadelphia, Denver, 2007
San Francisco
25
GOLD DOLLARS 1849-1889
From 1795 to 1933, the U.S. produced $2.50, $5, $10, and later, beginning
in 1850, $20 gold coins. Because early gold pieces minted between 1795 and
1834 contain some of the rarest dates, many collectors choose to start their
collections with Classic Head gold pieces. With the discovery of gold in
California, new denominations were added to the U.S. gold coin roster.
Minted in one of the world’s most precious metals, these historic coins were
designed by some of the finest artists of the day.
The discovery of gold in California in 1848 gave birth to the gold dollar.
Minted from 1849-89, this denomination had three distinct designs: the
Type I Liberty Head, the Type II Indian (Small Head) and the Type III Indian
(Large Head).
1849
California
gold rush
26
QUARTER EAGLES 1796-1929
The first U.S. quarter eagles were struck in 1796. Until the advent of the
gold dollar, they were the smallest denomination gold coin. It was not until
1908 that the motto IN GOD WE TRUST was added.
27
HALF EAGLES 1795-1929
First released in 1795, the U.S. gold half eagles have nine design types,
of which 4 major ones are shown below. In 1866, the Coronet style was
changed to include the motto IN GOD WE TRUST.
CORONET $5 GOLD
1839-1908
Composition: 90% gold
Weight: 8.359 grams
Diameter: 22.5 mm 1839-1840
21.6 mm 1840-1908
Mints: Philadelphia, Charlotte, Dahlonega,
Carson City, Denver, New Orleans,
San Francisco
28
EAGLES 1795-1933
The U.S. gold eagles were first issued in 1795, but from 1805 to 1837, this
denomination wasn’t issued, due to the scarcity of its precious metal. In
1866, the Coronet style was changed to include the motto.
American Life
1956 Elvis shocks America ISABELLA
QUARTER DOLLAR
1893
1962 John Glenn becomes first
American to orbit Earth
1973
Oil embargo, COLUMBIAN
gas prices EXPOSITION
soar HALF DOLLAR
1892-1893
1979 Three Mile Island disaster
CALIFORNIA
1980 Mt. Saint Helens erupts DIAMOND JUBILEE
HALF DOLLAR
1984 Geraldine Ferraro becomes 1925
first woman nominee for VP
1992
The Worldwide
Web is born
30
ROANOKE ISLAND,
NORTH CAROLINA
HALF DOLLAR
1937
CARVER-WASHINGTON
HALF DOLLAR
1951-1954
GEORGE WASHINGTON
250TH ANNIVERSARY
HALF DOLLAR
1982
SESQUICENTENNIAL OF
AMERICAN INDEPENDENCE
$2.50 GOLD QUARTER EAGLE
1926
31
NEW COMMEMORATIVES
SAN FRANCISCO
OLD MINT CENTENNIAL GOLD $5
2006
32
UNITED STATES BULLION
From ancient times into the later years of the 20th century, coins have been
representative of their precious metal content. Beginning with U.S. gold coins
in 1933, this tradition ended. Later, in 1965, with the advent of clad coins,
90% silver coins disappeared, too. It was not until 1974 that it became legal
to own gold again, which helped shape collecting today.
Nowadays, no country issues gold and silver coins for circulation, but
many of the world’s leading nations, including the United States, issue
bullion coins. In the fall of 1986, the United States Mint released the first
gold American Eagles, followed by silver American Eagles in December. Just
over a decade later in 1997, the U.S. Mint released the first platinum Eagles.
And in 2006, the first 99.99% pure gold coins to be struck by the U.S. Mint
were released. These $50 gold Buffalo coins displayed a design reminiscent
of James Earle Fraser’s beloved Buffalo nickel. In 2010, the U.S. Mint also
began issuing large, 3-inch diameter collector versions of the National Park
quarters, struck in 5 ounces of 99.9% pure silver.
33
U.S. BULLION continued…
34
CARING FOR YOUR COINS
Proper handling and storage of coins is not difficult, and will maintain
the natural condition and value of collectible coins. Appropriate care
also helps preserve your coins for the benefit of future collectors.
Handling: Coins should be held by their edges between thumb
and forefinger (see picture). This will protect coin surfaces and
designs from fingerprints and the natural oils in fingers or palms that
can be corrosive over time. In fact, many experienced collectors prefer
to use soft cotton gloves when
handling their high-quality
Uncirculated or Proof coins.
A wide variety of coin holders
and albums is available from
Littleton for easy viewing and
examination of both sides of a
coin without actual handling.
Cleaning: Improper
cleaning, more than anything
else, has harmed valuable
coins. High-quality
Uncirculated and Proof coins should never be cleaned, as improper
cleaning can cause permanent loss of original mint finish and color
(and permanent loss of value). Experts can easily detect an
improperly cleaned coin. Most experienced collectors and dealers
agree that coins should only be cleaned by experts.
Storage: High humidity, air pollution, salt air, and temperature
extremes can sometimes affect the surfaces of coins. It is best to store
coins in protective holders or albums, and to keep them in an area of
relatively uniform temperature. As your collection becomes more
valuable, you may choose to store some or all of your coins in a safe-
deposit box. If you choose to keep your collection in your home, we
recommend that you check with your insurance company to ensure
that your collection is covered for its full replacement cost.
Please note: The clear coin wrappers used by Littleton are sealed
to provide protection of coins during delivery, and easy identification
and examination without removal. You can store your coins in the
clear wrappers, or you can remove them for placement in albums,
holders, or other storage containers. When returning coins, we prefer
that you keep them in the original wrappers.
Littleton’s exclusive Showpak® packaging was designed for
permanent storage and protection of your coins, and cannot be
resealed once opened.
35
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