The following Q&A is excerpted from Clifford Mishler’s Coins: Questions & Answers: Q: I’ve seen small coins with Civil War regimental names on them and values indicated “in goods.” Can you tell me their history? A: These coins are Civil War sutler tokens, issued by civilian traders (sutlers) who followed the troops of both armies. Sutlers […]
Q&A: I have a coin dated 1863 that states “NOT ONE CENT” on the reverse. What is this?
The following Q&A is excerpted from Clifford Mishler’s Coins: Questions & Answers: Q: I have a coin which is dated 1863, has an Indian head on the obverse, and is the same size as our current one-cent piece, but on the reverse it states NOT ONE CENT. Can you tell me what kind of a coin […]
Q&A: Why is there such a multitude of varieties of the U.S. silver dollar series from 1794 to 1803?
The following Q&A is excerpted from Clifford Mishler’s Coins: Questions & Answers: Q: Why is there such a multitude of varieties of the U.S. silver dollar series from 1794 to 1803? A: During the 1790s and the early 1800s, U.S. coinage dies for all denominations were individually hand-engraved, with the inevitable result that no two dies […]
Q&A: As the American colonies were once British possessions, why did we not adopt the sterling currency system?
The following Q&A is excerpted from Clifford Mishler’s Coins: Questions & Answers: Q: As the American colonies were once British possessions, why did we not adopt the sterling currency system, as did most other countries that subsequently emerged from British domination? A: The reason was not, as some have suggested, to disassociate the United States from […]
Q&A: Who argued for the inclusion of a silver half dime among the early coinage denominations, and what was his argument?
The following Q&A is excerpted from Clifford Mishler’s Coins: Questions & Answers: Q: Jefferson and Hamilton favored the copper half cent as a coin useful to the poor. Who argued for the inclusion of a silver half dime among the early coinage denominations, and what was his argument? A: On September 28, 1790, Thomas Paine, political […]
Q&A: I’d like to add a 1970 half dollar to my collection. . .
The following Q&A is excerpted from Clifford Mishler’s Coins: Questions & Answers: Q: I’d like to add a 1970 half-dollar to my collection, but I don’t want to pay the price dealers are asking for the Uncirculated and Proof versions. Why don’t they offer circulated specimens of this issue? A: This is a coin that was […]
Q&A: Why are there so many varieties of halves listed in catalogs for the years 1805 to 1836?
The following Q&A is excerpted from Clifford Mishler’s Coins: Questions & Answers: Q: Why are there so many varieties of halves listed in catalogs for the years 1805 to 1836? A: There are four basic reasons. First, the half-dollar was the highest denomination silver coin in production at the Philadelphia Mint. Second, the quantities produced annually […]
Bowers on collecting: Julian asks “true or false”
From our archives, here is an article from 1978. See how well you can do: Julian Asks “True or False?” For some years, the author has been gathering odd examples of what might be called fables about our coinage. Upon investigation some of these have proven false, others true, and some defy resolution. In this […]
Bowers on collecting: From 1954
In the December 1954 issue of The Numismatist Stuart Mosher presented the following: Copper Quiz for Coin Collectors. Count five for each correct answer. If you score 70 you have a very fine score. Fifty or less is below average, while 90 or more is remarkable. Which contains the most copper, a Lincoln cent of […]
Q&A: Why did the United States begin producing nickel five-cent coins in 1866 when they had been, and still were, coining silver half dimes?
The following Q&A is excerpted from Clifford Mishler’s Coins: Questions & Answers: Q: Why did the United States begin producing nickel five-cent coins in 1866 when they had been, and still were, coining silver half dimes? A: The onset of war, with its requirement of vast expenditures of money and the orientation of priorities for non-consumer […]
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