How To Identify Your Coin... Via Diagrams, Photos & Definitions

Those of us who don't necessarily collect coins, but happen to have found some interesting coins in our pocket change (or have inherited a hand-me-down coin collection)... we need some of the most basic coin facts spelled out for us.

What follows are some coin diagrams and photos that will help you describe your coin to others (say, if you want to sell it online). Plus, coin glossaries and definitions that will be helpful as you learn more about the coins in your possession.

#1 Click on the photo below from the Coin Resource site to learn about each of the key parts of a coin, including:

device
rim
edge
obverse
reverse
date
fields
denomination
mint marks
legend
motto
exergue
dentils

CoinResource.com is an excellent site for novice coin collectors!

#2 Click on the following photo to learn more about the anatomy of a coin. The Coins site at About.com has a wealth of resources available for beginners including this fun slideshow describing:

the obverse and reverse sides of a coin;
the placement of the legend, rim, and field on a coin;
the location of the motto, mint mark, and edge of a coin;
an explanation of the portrait, date, and designer's initials;
the layers of a coin with a copper core, nickel layer, and reeded edges; and
the upset rim, reeded edge, and portrait on a proof coin.

...The best part? At the end, there's a quiz!

#3 And finally, coin terms and abbreviations can be confusing. Check out these coin glossaries which describe the most popular words used to identify and describe U.S. coins. Each is a little different in its own way...

Coin Collecting Words & Their Meanings
Coin Abbreviations & Acronyms
Numismatic Glossary
Coin Collecting Terms In A Coin Glossary
U.S. Mint Coin Glossary
Coin Lingo: The Language Of Coin Collectors

Regina Braddee

My family inherited my step fathers coin collection in Jan.2009 after his death. There are alot of very beautiful, well kept coins in hard, clear plastic cases and laying in velvet. How do we find the value of these coins or anyone interested in purchasing them? We are uninterested in collecting them and would like to see them in the hands of someone who would apprieciate them as much as my step-dad did. Any time and info you can give me would be greatly apprieciated.

Thanks,
Regina

JoshuaTheFunTimesGuide

Hi Regina,

Condolences to you and your family...

~

As for your step father's coin collection, if you are not interested in collecting coins or keeping them in the family, I recommended you consider selling your coins to a coin dealer or maybe consign them to an auction.

It sounds like those coins may be (perhaps) in what we call "slabs." If that's so, you may have some very valuable coins in your hands and I would be very careful that you sell them for what they are worth.

Unfortunately, without either seeing photos or reading descriptions of the coins (date, denomination, etc.), I won't be able to help you right here, but I urge you to check out some of the other articles and posts here at The Fun Times Guide to Coin because you should be able to find some information here that will give you a better idea as to the coins you have and some approximation as to value.

Should you decide to sell, I hope you have at least 2 or 3 coin dealers in your area - that way you can 'shop around' and get the best price for your coins.

*Don't go to the people who advertise on the side of the street that they buy gold -- they certainly won't pay you the value of your coins as rarities or collectibles. Also, avoid jewelers and pawn shops -- they generally know little about coins and will not pay you what those coins are worth.

Here's a list of coin dealers verified by the American Numismatic Association (ANA) - this would be a good place to start generating some ideas as to dealers you should consider selling your coins to: http://www.money.org/ana_custom/dealer_search/d...

I hope this helps aim you in the right direction. Please always feel free to check back with more questions, and make sure you skim the posts here to get some idea as to what those coins are worth.

Jandy Anderson

I have a United States of America twenty dollar 3" "gold coin" w/ Lady Liberty on one side and an eagle w/ sun on back with the letters MGMVII on the lady side, any idea what it is worth, ..or just the $20.00, thanking~you.

JoshuaTheFunTimesGuide

Jandy,

You have a 1907 (MCMVII) Saint-Gaudens $20 gold coin ("double eagle"). The LEAST valuable of these are worth around $750-1,000. Certain varieties are actually worth tens of thousands of dollars if in mint-state condition.

If you are interested, you may want to have a coin dealer evaluate the coin both for its grade and variety to determine a more exact value.

Good luck!

JoshuaTheFunTimesGuide

Jandy,

If you have a MCMVII $20 gold coin with a design of Miss Liberty walking toward you on the heads side ("obverse") and eagle flying before the sun on the tails side ("reverse"), then you have a 1907 Saint-Gaudens $20 double eagle.

The LEAST valuable of these are worth around $750-1,000 and the most valuable are worth tens of thousands of dollars (if the design is "high relief" -- standing thickly off the rest of the coin). You may want to have a coin dealer look at your coin to determine both its grade and design variety.

kenny

i have a coin that on one side the date looks like it is either 1918 or 1818 and on the same side it has like a 2 headed bird with a crown at the top of the heads and the 2 feet look like they are holding a sabre and a crown. the date is at the bottom and between the date and the bird it has the letters H and M. on the other side it kinda looks like this - 2

konbh

kh

-----

E.M.

but it looks like it is in a different language. and it has got a crown at the top and like a reeth of plants that start from the middle bottom and go up to the crown at the top.

could you tell me any information about this coin and how much it may be worth thanks.

Billy Fox

I found a a 1946 wheat penny in my collection that i can't find any info on. where it says in God we trust, the word trust is stamped a second time backwards. the head looks to be stamped twice too. where it says liberty, the word liberty was partially stamped a second time on the neck. can anyone tell me about this coin and how much it might be worth?

JoshuaTheFunTimesGuide

Hi, Randy,

What you have is a novelty coin. While the penny itself was made by the U.S. Mint, the designs of the Liberty Bell and the map were added by somebody else.

This coin may fetch a few dollars by people interested in collecting novelty coins, but it really has not much value to the average coin collector.

It might be neat coin to keep, though, if it has special meaning to you....

randy johnson

I have a penny that has the liberty bell and the map of the united states stamped on it. How much is worth

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