New U.S. Issue to Aid Statue of Liberty

United States commemorative coins have long been sleepers for collectors. Prices for low-mintage issues have generally lagged behind those for more popular series. There’s no way to explain this except that commemoratives were virtually dormant for many years until a George Washington half dollar was issued in 1982 to observe his 250th birthday. That coin was also the first silver piece issued by the Mint since 1964, which also contributed interest. The Los Angeles Olympics added further interest with commemoratives issued in 1983 and 1984 in both silver and gold.

Now, perhaps, will come a new resurgence in commemoratives with the issuance of a Statue of Liberty commemorative. The government began minting three new legal tender coins last week intended to raise at least $50 million for the restoration of the Statue of Liberty and the Grand Hall of Ellis Island. The Treasury Department expects to sell at least 9 million of these coins.

The new commemorative is a far cry from the first, the Columbian Exposition half dollar of 1892 and 1893. That Chicago World’s Fair piece had a face value of 50 cents and sold for $1. The new coin, the first to depict the Statue of Liberty on U.S. coinage, consists of a $5 gold, a $1 silver and half dollar copper-nickel coin. The $5 gold will sell for $175 in proof and $165 uncirculated. The silver $1 is $24 in proof and $22 in uncirculated. The half dollar is $7.50 proof and $6 uncirculated.

Sales of these coins are scheduled to begin in November and continue through December, 1986. It remains to be seen whether collectors will explore the entire commemorative field more thoroughly and what effect this might have on pricing. But one thing is certain: Wide acceptance of the Statue of Liberty commemoratives will greatly aid the restoration project.

Question: Cleaning out some drawers, I found two coins--one a 1900 nickel with a woman’s head similar to the 1884 silver dollar on one side and the Roman numeral V on the other side. The other coin is a 1915 quarter with a woman’s head on one side. It looks like her hair is in a bun, with seven stars on the right side of the field and six on the left side. On the back is an old-fashioned eagle design with a banner in its beak, a wheat shaft in the right claw and, I think, some arrows in the left claw. Can you tell me something about these coins? Are they worth keeping? I am not a collector. --B.G.

Answer: You may not be a collector, but you certainly have the makings of becoming one. Being curious about designs and characteristics of coins has turned more than one non-collector into an avid hobbyist. Both your coins were designed by the same person, Charles E. Barber. The quarter, in fact, is often called a Barber or Liberty-head type. The nickel is almost always called a Liberty-head type. The nickel is probably more recognizable because of the distinct V on the reverse, a design that lasted from 1883 to 1913. First designs just carried the V without the word cents accompanying it. Sharpies gold-plated these pieces and passed them off as $5 pieces. The omission was quickly corrected, but to this day buyers of 1883 half eagles should make sure they were not actually getting a gold-plated nickel. Your 1900 coin is one of 27 million and worth 20 cents and up. Your 1915 Barber quarter also has a relatively high mintage from the Philadelphia and Denver mints, although mintage from San Francisco was only 704,000. The mint mark is on the reverse below the eagle. Your quarter is worth $1 and up. Should you keep these pieces? Yes, if you would like to start a collection and use these coins as starting points. No, if you have no further interest. They’ll just become dust catchers.

Q: I have a hardwood tray with Confederate dollars under glass. I would like to know their value. There’s a $100, $50, $20 and two $10 bills. I also have a Winston Churchill commemorative crown, an 1893 Isabella quarter, 1893 Columbian half dollar, 1854 large U.S. copper cent, 40 Mexican 5 pesos gold coins, 10 100 Austrian corona and a set of nine Susan B. Anthony $1 coins. --I.M.K.

A: Your Confederate bills are worth $2 to $10 each, depending on condition. The Churchill crown is $1, the Isabella quarter is $50 and up, the commemorative half dollar is $6 and up, the large cent $3 and up, the gold 5 pesos are $40 each, the gold coronas are $310 each. I cannot appraise the Anthony dollars without knowing condition and mint marks. You mention that you have nine Anthony coins. A set of 13, including the expensive 1979-S Type 2, is currently being advertised for $149. But without knowing dates, mint marks, condition and whether coins are proofs or regular strikes, no evaluation can be made.

Q: I have a silver-and-copper proof set of Trinidad and Tobago’s 10th independence anniversary in mint condition, 1972. Please tell me the value now. I also have 10 coins, silver, from British Honduras, 25 cents each, dated 1906 and 1907. Edward VII, king and emperor, is also on the coins, which are in very good condition. How much value now? --L.L.

A: Your Trinidad and Tobago set was produced by the Franklin Mint and made more for collectors than for exchange purposes in the small island country. It’s worth about $25 in today’s market. British Honduras is now the country of Belize, situated in Central America south of Mexico and east and north of Guatemala. Your silver quarters range in price from about $5 to $200 with the 1906 worth more than the 1907 in similar condition.

Q: In March you wrote that one could buy the 1985 Canadian commemorative silver dollar from the Royal Canadian Mint. A few days later, I ordered a silver dollar (1985 national park commemorative), but so far I have not received it. I have even written three letters to them, but I have not received any letters in return. Please tell me what I should do. --R.K.

A: You didn’t indicate whether your check has been cashed. If it has, then I’m sure your coins are on the way. The Royal Canadian Mint is quite legitimate. I have heard from a few readers from time to time who believe the service is slow, but eventually they get their orders. I’m sure you will too. Another possibility is to check with the Canadian Trade Office in Los Angeles, but I really don’t think that will be necessary. Be patient. The Canadian coins are worth waiting for.

Q: My father gave me this coin (traced and enclosed with letter) in the 1960s. He found it while redoing the hallway floor in our house back East. For years I’ve always wondered about the coin and the value. I do know that the coat of arms is from Portugal and that Mocambique, in Africa, is now called Mozambique. I did my best in showing what the coin looks like. Please tell me what it is and what it’s worth. Also, could you tell me the value of a 1974-D Lincoln-Kennedy penny? Only so many were supposed to be printed. --P.E.L.

A: Mozambique was once a colony of Portugal. Your 1936 10 escudos is silver and worth about $25 or $30. The so-called Lincoln-Kennedy cent is a souvenir piece, privately manufactured and has no collector value.

Q: I have a 25-cent War Savings Stamp, which I purchased in 1943 as a student in grade school. I have kept it all these years in the savings book provided in those days. The stamp has been pasted in. Is there any value to either, and, if so, how would I be able to find out? --G.L.E.

A: There’s a distant branch of numismatics called exonumia. Exonumia sort of sweeps in all the numismatic crumbs that don’t fall into an easily categorized area. Your wartime savings stamp, like wooden nickels, falls into that category. It’s a legitimate collectible field and many hobbyists pursue it. Yes, your stamp and book have some value. How much? I don’t know. Not a great deal. The trick is to find a buyer. You might try a coin show, where dealers seem to sell everything imaginable.

Q: I am unable to locate any information on a coin given to me about 30 years ago. The cardboard holder reads “ ‘bronze Antoninianus Postmus’ VG-F.” Could you please tell me if it has any value?

--D.B.

A: You have an ancient coin that goes back to Emperor Caracalla around AD 214. The VG-F is the grading, which is very good to fine, indicating the coin is rather worn. It would retail for about $12.

Q: I have a couple of British farthings dated 1922. Is there any value? --N.C.

A: Sorry, your farthings have little or no value.

Coin Calendar

Sunday--The 27th annual coin show sponsored by the West Valley Coin Club takes place 10 a.m. to 6 p.m. at the Reseda Women’s Club, 7901 Lindley Ave., Reseda. The club, founded in 1955, is one of the oldest in Southern California. A wide variety of numismatic material will be on sale.

Coin News

A limited-edition commemorative coin (pictured) depicting a sailing ship from the time of King Solomon is being issued by Israel. Only 18,000 Solomon’s ship shekels are being struck in proof condition. The silver coins, priced at $13, continue a series of commemoratives issued by Israel starting in 1958. Solomon’s ship shekels are available from the Israel Government Coins and Medals Corp., Liaison Office for North America, 350 Fifth Ave., New York, N.Y. 10118.

Don Alpert cannot answer mail personally but will respond to numismatic questions of general interest in this column. Do not telephone. Write to Your Coins, You section, The Times, Times Mirror Square, Los Angeles 90053.