Warman's Modern US Coins Field Guide: Values and Identification - Arlyn Sieber

Values and Identification Arlyn G. Sieber FIELD GUIDE Modern U.S. Coins

Copyright ©2010 F+W Media, Inc. All rights reserved. No portion of this publication may be reproduced or transmitted in any form or by any means, electronic or mechanical, including pho- tocopy, recording, or any information storage and retrieval system, without permission in writing from the publisher, except by a reviewer who may quote brief passages in a critical article or review to be printed in a magazine or newspaper, or electronically transmitted on radio, television, or the Internet. Published by Library of Congress Control Number: 2010923993 ISBN-13: 978-1-4402-1380-9 ISBN-10: 1-4402-1380-1 Designed by Katrina Newby Edited by Justin Moen Printed in China To order books or other products call toll-free 1-800-258-0929 or visit us online at www.krausebooks.com or www.Shop.Collect.com Krause Publications, a division of F+W Media, Inc. 700 East State Street • Iola, WI 54990-0001 715-445-2214 • 888-457-2873 www.krausebooks.com

ACKNOWLEDGMENTS The author gratefully acknowledges the following for their assistance in producing this book: Joel Edler Kris Kandler Paul Kennedy Clifford Mishler Justin Moen Ken Potter Heritage Numismatic Auctions, Inc. 3500 Maple Ave., 17th Floor Dallas, TX 75219-3941 214-528-3500 800-US COINS (872-6467) http://coins.ha.com U.S. Mint (www.usmint.gov)

CONTENTS Introduction . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 7 Welcome to Coin Collecting. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 14 The Coin Community . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 26 How to Collect Modern U.S. Coins. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 42 How to Handle and Store Coins . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 49 State of the Market . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 61 About the Value Listings . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 64 Lincoln Bicentennial Cents (2009) . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 68 Westward Journey Nickels (2004-2005) . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 75 50 State Quarters (1999-2008) . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 81 D.C. and U.S. Territories Quarters (2009) . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 134 America the Beautiful Quarters (2010-2021). . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 142 Presidential Dollars (2007-2016) . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 152 Native American Dollars (2009-) . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 172 First Spouse Gold $10 (2007-2016) . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 177 Ultrahigh-Relief Gold $20 (2009) . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 196 Commemoratives (1982-) . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 200 Commemorative Sets (1983-) . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 306 Uncirculated Sets (1984-) . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 325

Proof Sets (1982-) . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 328 Silver American Eagle Bullion Coins (1986-) . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 405 Silver America the Beautiful Bullion Coins (2010-2021) . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 425 Gold American Eagle Bullion Coins (1986-) . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 433 Gold American Buffalo Bullion Coins (2006-) . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 466 Platinum American Eagle Bullion Coins (1997-) . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 476 Glossary . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 508 2008 50 State Quarters Silver Proof Set

Modern U.S. coins have attracted millions of collectors worldwide.

7 MODERN U.S. COINS FIELD GUIDE . INTRODUCTION “Modern” is a relative term. Sometimes we think of any object from our individual lifetime as modern, but succeeding genera- tions may not. Some antiques purists consider any item less than 100 years old to be modern. Some numismatic scholars consider any coin mass-produced by machinery to be modern. Sometimes an important development provides the demarca- tion for modern. In 1955, for example, Chevrolet introduced a new V-8 engine. The automaker had not produced a V-8 since 1918, and this new, “modern” version in 1955 provided the basis for Chevrolet V-8 engines for years to come. In 1982, the U.S. Mint issued a half dollar commemorating the 250th anniversary of George Washington’s birth. The coin was struck in the traditional 90-percent-silver composition and was offered in uncirculated and proof versions. It was a huge success; the Mint sold more than 2.2 million uncirculated versions and almost 4.9 million proof versions. The Washington half dollar was the first U.S. commemorative coin in 28 years. The first U.S. commemorative was an 1892 half dollar for the Columbian Exposition, which was held in 1893 in Chicago to commemorate the 400th anniversary of INTRODUCTION

8 MODERN U.S. COINS FIELD GUIDE Columbus’ voyage to the New World. The Columbian half dollar opened the door to many other commemorative coins from the 1910s and continuing into the 1950s. Most were silver half dollars, but there was also an 1893 quarter (also for the Columbian Exposition), a number of gold dollars, two gold $2.50 coins, and two gold $50 coins. The 1930s saw a proliferation of U.S. commemorative coins. They were sold by the Mint at premiums above face value with a portion of the proceeds benefiting some organization or event READER ADVICE The first U.S. commemorative, the 1892 Columbian Exposition half dollar, commemorated the 400th anniversary of Columbus’ voyage to the New World. The Columbian half dollar opened the door to many other commemorative coins from the 1910s-1950s. INTRODUCTION

9 MODERN U.S. COINS FIELD GUIDE related to the coin’s theme. Some of the coins commemorated state anniversaries or national themes, such as the U.S. Ses- quicentennial in 1926 and the 75th anniversary of the Battle of Gettysburg in 1936. Others, however, were of little national importance, such as issues for the Cincinnati Music Center and the centennial of Elgin, Ill., in 1936. Commemorative coins had become an easy mark for members of Congress looking to raise funds for a pet project. Congress grew weary of U.S. coinage being used as local fund- raisers, and the flow of commemorative coins slowed in the 1940s and ’50s. The last commemorative before the 28-year hiatus was a 1954 half dollar honoring Booker T. Washington and George Washington Carver. The 1982 Washington half dollar opened the door to many other commemorative issues. Except for 1985, the United States has issued commemorative coins every year since 1982. The commemoratives issued from 1892-1954 became commonly known as “early commemoratives” in the coin-collecting hobby. The issues since 1982 became commonly known as “modern commemoratives.” The “modern commemoratives,” in turn, opened the door to circulating issues with commemorative and collectible aspects. Prominent among them are the 50 State Quarters, issued from INTRODUCTION

Warman's Modern US Coins Field Guide: Values and Identification - Arlyn Sieber

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