coin collecting basics Presented By Ginger Bing

A little about me member of the Pasadena, Bellaire, and Greater Houston Coin Clubs, American Numismatic Association, Texas Numismatic Association and Society of Paper Money Collectors vice president of the Pasadena Coin Club. I have attended three summer seminars held by the American Numismatic Association. The seminars are held once a year in Colorado Springs, Colorado and are the highlight of the numismatic year. The two, one-week sessions are held at the beginning of July. The Association brings in the top numismatist in each subject from across the country to teach the classes.

Collecting Terms Numismatics- the study and collecting of things that are used as money, including coins, tokens, paper bills and medals Currency- any kind of money, coins or paper money, that is used as a medium of exchange Planchet- the blank piece of metal that the coin design is stamped on

A few more terms Denomination- the different values of money. Circulating US coins are currently made in following denominations: cent, nickel, dime, quarter, half dollar and dollar Die- an engraved stamp used for impressing a design upon a planchet to make a coin. Mint mark- a small letter on a coin identifying which of the US Mint’s facilities struck the coin.

US mints and mint marks Plain- No Mint Mark D- Denver, Colorado S- San Francisco, California P- Philadelphia, Pennsylvania W- West Point, New York O- New Orleans, Louisiana CC- Carson City, Nevada

Which is it? Front & Back or Obverse & Reverse of a coin? The answer is: the obverse and reverse. Obverse is the front of a coin Reverse is the back of a coin.

Circulating Coins The circulating coins were first issued as following: Cent1793-current 5 cent1866-current Dime 1796-current Half Dollar , 1801-current Dollar , , current (clad), (gold)

Other coins that have been minted Half cent Two cent Silver three cent Nickel three cent Half disme/dime Twenty cent

A few facts The US Mint website states the approximate life span of a coin is 30 years. By law a coin design has to stay in circulation for at least 25 years before it can be considered for redesign. This law has been on the books since 1890, because of frequent design changes.

Why Lincoln? The Lincoln cent was first issued in 1909 to commemorate the 100 th anniversary of his birth. This was the first time a historical, nonallegorical figure was used on a circulating coin of the US. His 150 th birthday in 1959 resulted in the Lincoln Memorial replacing the wheatears found on the Lincoln cents of Currently there is talk about a new reverse design to commemorate Lincoln’s 200 th birthday in 2009.

Franklin Roosevelt and the dime The death of Franklin Roosevelt promoted many requests to the Treasury Department to honor the president by placing his portrait on a coin. Less than one year after his death the dime bearing Roosevelt was released to the public on FDR’s birthday, Jan 30,1946.

Washington on the Quarter The portrait of George Washington that appears on the quarters minted from 1932 to today was selected to commemorate the 200 th anniversary of our first president’s birth. About $100 of Washington’s silver was reportedly used to mint the first US coins. The coins were half dismes and the portrait may have been modeled after Martha Washington.

JFK The assassination of President John F. Kennedy generated such an outpouring of public sentiment that President Lyndon Johnson sent legislation to Congress to authorize the Treasury Department to issue new 50 cent pieces. The first Kennedy half-dollars were minted on Feb. 11, 1964.

Coin Grading Note these are not all the grades only a sample About good- very heavily worn with portions of the lettering, date, and legends being worn smooth Fine- moderate to considerable even wear. Entire design is bold. All lettering visible, but with some weaknesses. About uncirculated- with traces of wear on nearly all of the highest areas. At least half of the original mint luster is present Very choice about uncirculated- the barest trace of may be seen on one or more of the high points of the design. No major detracting marks

To learn more about grading.. The book to have is: Official ANA Grading Standards for United States Coins

Holding Coins Always hold with care and clean hands Always hold on the rims or edges Hold over a soft cloth or towel Less handling is always best

To learn more about coin collecting American Numismatic Association United States Mint Krause Publications Federal Reserve Bank of San Francisco

Local Coin Clubs Pasadena Coin Club Meets 2 nd and 4 th Golden Corral, 4021 Spencer, meets starts at 7 pm Bellaire Coin Club Meets 1 st and 3 rd Bellaire Public Library, 5111 Jessamine Second Floor 6-8pm Greater Houston Coin Club Meets 3 rd Fair Haven Methodist Church, 1330 Gessner, meets start at 7:30pm

National and Regional Clubs American Numismatic Association North Cascade Ave, Colorado Springs, CO 80903, Society of Paper Money Collectors Texas Numismatic Association Hal Cherry, TNA Secretary, P.O. Box , Richardson, Texas