2008 Coco Chanel Gold 5 Euro Coin

The Coco Chanel coin is scheduled to be released in late December with an issue limit of 500 coins. The coin will be made of 92% gold and weigh 8.45 grams. The coin will be minted by Monnaie de Paris. Below are pictures from the Royal Scandinavian Mint of the new Coco Chanel euro coin.

More Information

The District of Columbia and United States Territories Quarter Program

In 2009, the United States Mint will mint and issue six quarter-dollar coins in honor of the District of Columbia and the five United States Territories.

The quarter-dollars will be released in the following order

1. The District of Columbia
2. The Commonwealth of Puerto Rico
3. Guam
4. American Samoa
5. The United States Virgin Islands
6. The Commonwealth of the Northern Mariana Islands

Coin Specifications

• Standard Weight = 5.670g
• Standard Diameter = 0.955 in (24.26mm)
• Thickness = 1.75 mm
• Edge = Reeded
• Composition = Cupro-Nickel Clad (8.33% Nickel, Balance Cu)

We will post pictures as soon as the mint makes them available.

Don’t sell that old coin collection.

During these hard economic times many people have been doing anything to make ends meet. There are more people selling than buying. The stores are filled with products and no shoppers. Visit the local mall and you will know what I am talking about.

There are not many serious coin collectors left today. Well at least not as many as I can remember. My own story is a great example of a part time collector. My father left me his coin collection when he passed. I really did not pay much attention to the coins until I needed money. I researched the coins and had a pretty good idea what they were worth. Then the moment of truth, I tried to sell them. I went to a local coin shop and presented my coins to the owner. He was interested, and gave me an offer, it was way too low. I walked away with my collection intact and put it back into storage. That was around 6 years ago.

Today when I check the value of my father’s old coin colletion, It is worth about 3 times more. The coin collection held its value better than my 401k and other market investments. Then I did some math. I took the total amount of money that I invested in the markets and hypothetically plugged the numbers into a coin collection. I would have actually made money with the coins.

Think twice before selling that coin collection and do the research. I am not a professional investor and I don’t really know what I am talking about. That was my disclaimer. I am just giving a personal account based on what happened to me.

WorldCoinData

Are you ready for the new Lincoln penny in 2009 ?

The Lincoln penny is getting a face lift. In 2009 there will be four different designs released over the course of the year. One new penny design will be release every 3 months. The new pennies will celebrates the 200th anniversary of Lincolns birth and the 100th year of the Lincoln penny’s release.

Start looking for the new pennies on February 12, 2009. Happy collecting.

U.S. State Quarter Collecting

The last of the state quarters was issued in November ending a ten year program. Delaware was the first and Hawaii the last state quarter released in the State Quarters Program. Many people have collected the unique coins over the years and are sad to see the program over. However, Are they worth anything ? Complete collections are always worth more than individual coins and attract a higher price. When evaluating your collection keep in mind a few facts.

1. The state quarters have very high mintage numbers and do not hold a precious metal value.
2. Modern coins from circulation are only worth face value. The exception to this rule is a miss strike or a die error.
3. Uncirculated or perfect coins are worth more. MS-68 or better grade coins.
4. Mint sets issued form the U.S. mint have a higher value, especially the coins struck in silver.
5. Be wary of the painted state quarters. Many coin collectors do not put a higher value on these coins.
6. Most important: A coin is only worth what a collector will pay for it. The best reason to collect coins is for enjoyment.

For information about individual state quarters please look at the links below.

(1999) State Quarters (2000) State Quarters
(2001) State Quarters (2002) State Quarters
(2003) State Quarters (2004) State Quarters
(2005) State Quarters (2006) State Quarters
(2007) State Quarters (2008) State Quarters

The “Wartime” Nickel 1942-1945

During World War II Nickel was in short supply and was a strategic metal. Because of these shortages the U.S. nickels between 1942 and 1945 were made with .560 Copper .350 Silver .090 manganese. They can easily be identified because of the large mint mark on the reverse of the coin (see photo). Wartime nickels were minted in Denver (D), San Francisco (S), and Philadelphia (P). Today many can still be found in circulation and are a great find in anyone’s change. Do not spend them back into circulation, they are worth more money than there face value. The links at the bottom of the article include information about all 11 wartime nickels.

1942 P (Wartime) 1942 S (Wartime)

1943 D (Wartime) 1943 P (Wartime) 1943 S (Wartime)

1944 D (Wartime) 1944 P (Wartime) 1944 S (Wartime)
1945 D (Wartime) 1945 P (Wartime) 1945 S (Wartime)

2008 Vienna Philharmonic Silver Coin

The Vienna Philharmonic silver coin was introduced on January 26th 2008. Strong investor demand inspired the new product. The coin is a bullion investment piece. It is minted at the Austrian mint in Vienna.

Here is a list of its specifications.

Face Value: 1,50 Euro
Purity: .999 silver
Weight: 31.103 grams
Diameter: 37mm
Thickness: 3.2mm