When Is A Coin Just A Coin? (Older US Currency)

@AWong- as a community of collectors we are very happy that you are taking the time to check about any potential value of these even though you have no interest in the hobby. Coin collecting is not for everyone and that is ok, we all walk different paths in life. It does not make us any better or worse than anyone else, it just makes for an interesting world.

Now about your coins. The two pennies are called wheat cents, in the condition you describe they might sell to the right collector for about 5 cents each on a really good day. Other than that they are basically pocket change.

The Nickels are without a doubt pocket change. Nickles with these dates, while not common, can still be found in circulation on a regular basis.

The dime is a slightly different story. It is made out of 90% silver and thus has what we call melt value. This is the value of the silver if the coin was melted. Right now the melt value for this coin is about $1.15. This goes up or down all of the time. If you think it is worth your time a coin dealer will give you about $1.00 for it.

My best advice for you since you have stated that you are not interested in collecting is to release these coins into the wild (coin collectors talk meaning spend them). Someone may get them and become interested in the hobby.

It's a nice thought, but as an heirloom they're worth less than their listed monetary value.

There was curiosity about the international coins (see the other thread) and the non-coin tokens that I have yet to post pictures of. There are no plans for those things, either. I'm just trying to figure out what they are before we make any decisions about what to do with them.

With that said, I think there would be at least some intellectual interest in knowing that pennies are worth 3-5x their value and the dime is worth more than 10x its value. And I also think that the money isn't enough to make the effort to try to cash in on it.

But I'll tell them and let them know. The most likely outcome is that the coins will go into my change jar and come out at some point in the future (probably rolled and brought to the bank for paper money). But who knows? It might be that one of the young nephews or nieces might think it interesting that money is worth more than what they say they're worth.

Thanks for your insight into these coins.

to the CCF!