Dollar Coins example essay topic

History of United States Coinage Through United States history presidents like Lincoln, Roosevelt, Washington, Kennedy, Eisenhower and others have been displayed on U.S. Coin heads. The United States mint has also been responsible for designs such as the Indian head, the buffalo, and the ever famous lady liberty. Through the years the U.S. Mints have extended into three branches San Francisco, Denver, and Philadelphia (Yeoman, 2001 edition 101). Those branches are responsible for making certain marks on the coins to show that they are not counterfeit.

The mints have also come up with what they call their proof standards. Coins have been around for many years, they have had changing mints, designs, and variety's which have all been represented by past events and presidents. The U.S. Mint has it's own standards as in how good of a state the coin is in after wear and tear. The best a coin can ever be is called the proof state which is a specially made coin distinguished by sharpness of the detail and usually with a brilliant mirror like surface (Yeoman, 1999 edition 5). The next state down is the mint state (ms) these coins show no trace of being worn nor blemishes or color loss (Yeoman, 1999 edition 6). Third down is called perfect uncirculated (ms-70) these coins show perfect new condition, showing no trace of wear, no evidence of scratches, handling or contact with other coins, very few regular issued coins are ever found in this condition (Yeoman, 1999 edition 7).

The fourth down state is choice uncirculated (ms-65) which is an above average uncirculated coin which may be brilliant or lightly toned and has very few contact marks on the surface or rim (Yeoman, 1999 edition 8). The fifth state down is the uncirculated (ms-60) which has no trace of wear, but may show a number of contact marks, and surface may be spotted or lack some luster (Yeoman, 1999 edition 9). The sixth state down is choice about uncirculated (au-55) it bears evidence of light wear on only the highest points of the design, most of the mint luster remains (Yeoman, 1999 edition 10). The seventh state down is about uncirculated (au-50) this coin has traces of light wear on many of the high points and at least half the mint luster is still present (Yeoman, 1999 edition 11).

The eighth state down is choice extremely fine (ef-45) the design is lightly worn through, but all features are sharp and well defined, traces of luster may show (Yeoman, 1999 edition 12). The ninth state is extremely fine (ef-40) there is light wear on the surface and highest points of the designs, but all lettering and major features are sharp (Yeoman, 1999 edition 13). The tenth state is choice very fine (vf-30) there will be light even wear on the surfaces and highest parts of the design, all lettering and major features are sharp (Yeoman, 1999 edition 14). The eleventh state is very fine (vf-20) it shows moderate wear on high points of design, but all major details are clear (Yeoman, 1999 edition 15). The twelfth state is (f-12) it is moderate to considerable even wear, the entire design is bold with overall pleasing appearance (Yeoman, 1999 edition 16). The thirteenth state is very good (vg-8) which is well worn with main features clear and bold although rather flat (Yeoman, 1999 edition 17).

The fourteenth state is good (g-4) this coin is heavily worn with design visible, but faint in areas, many details are flat (Yeoman, 1999 edition 18). The last state is about good (ag-3) this coin is very heavily worn with portions of lettering, date and legends worn smooth, the date may be barley readable (Yeoman, 1999 edition 19). There are many other states to coins but they get very intense on what is wear and what is worn down. These that are listed above are the main mint states that collectors, sellers, and commoners go by. Cent's in the U.S. Coinage have changed throughout the years. The earliest date of cent was the large cent.

The large cent was dated starting from 1793 to 1857. The large cent was one of the first coins struck by the new U.S. Government after the American Revolution, it was minted for the last time before the Civil War began (200th anniversary of coins n. pay). Two years after the large cent's production was stopped the U.S. Mint came out with the half copper half nickel Indian head cent. This coin was introduced before the Civil War.

This cent was around for fifty years, but was only made out of copper and nickel for six years (1859-1864). James Longacre designed this cent on a day when his daughter was playing around with an Indian headdress, Longacre quickly picked up a sketch book and sketched his daughter then later used the sketch for the coin (200th anniversary of coins n. pay). The Indian head cent was 19 mm in diameter, the weight was (1859-1964) 4.67 grams (1864-1909) 3.11 grams, the composition of the coin was (1859-1864). 880 copper and. 120 nickel (1864-1909) 0.050 tin and zinc, the designer was James B. Longacre, the edge was plain (Edmunds U.S. Coin prices 60). The next cent was the two cent piece (1864-1873) this cent was the shortest-lived issue of U.S. Coins.

The two cent piece was introduced into society and was backed by the American Newspaper Publishers Association because the price of newspapers had doubled from one-cent to two (200th anniversary of coins n. pay). The Lincoln 1909-1942 pennies were made out of bronze, the mint mark was under the date, and there were wheat ears on the reverse side. Victor D. Brenner designed the coin to celebrate the hundredth anniversary of Lincoln's birth. This was the first coin to have 'In God We Trust' on the back. In 1909 there were very limited issues which had VB on the back (Yeoman, 2001 edition 97). In 1943 they came out with a cent which was never duplicated.

The steel cent was produced during World War II because copper that was used for minting pennies was needed for the war, so since pennies were the most produced coins they needed to find a new metal to replace the copper so they decided to use zinc. They coated the pennies with zinc in February of 1943 and continued through the year (200th anniversary of coins n. pay). In 1944 after the steel cent was out of production the pennies went back to being copper with the same design since 1909, but in some cases the mint's have found that a few pennies were bronze struck on steel planchets (Yeoman, 2001 edition 99). The last penny to be produced with no changes which is the one we have today. The 1959 to date penny is a Lincoln head and on reverse there is the Lincoln memorial. Frank Gasparro designed the Lincoln memorial on the reverse side to celebrate the 150th anniversary of Lincoln's birth (Yeoman, 2001 edition 101).

Nickels have been around and played quite a role in history. The racketeer nickel (1883) set off a crime wave because of the design, which was changed the next year, lacked any reference to the coin's denomination. The size was similar to the five dollar gold piece so counterfeiters took the coin plated it with gold and passed it off as the five dollar coin. When counterfeited the nickels were usually dipped in twenty four karat gold (200th anniversary of coins n. pay). The next well known coin is the buffalo head nickel (1913-1938). This nickel was minted in two different styles, first is the straight line which is the buffalo standing on a line, next is the buffalo standing on a mound.

Very few of the coins were also made where the buffalo only had three legs. The diameter is 21.2 mm, the weight was 5 grams, the composition was. 750 copper and. 250 nickel, the designer was James Earl Fraser, the edge was plain (Edmunds U.S. Coin prices 86). the next on the list is the wartime Jefferson nickel (1942-1945) in support of the the war effort America's five cent piece was struck of a revolutionary alloy containing 35% silver during world war II to eliminate the need for nickel, a critical war material (200th Anniversary of U.S. Coins n. pay) Next value coin up is the dime. The seated liberty dime (1837-1891) was minted through much of the 19th century, this was the first official 'dime' in U.S. History, as well as the first design to show the full figure of liberty (200th Anniversary of U.S. Coins n. pay).

The next is the Mercury dime (1916-1945) President Teddy Roosevelt wanted to recreate Greece on the ten cent piece. The figurine on the front was in fact the liberty wearing a phrygian cap, the wings on her cap stand for freedom of thought. It was thought to be one of the most elegant coins in U.S. History (200th Anniversary of coins n. pay). The mercury dime was 17.9 mm in diameter, the weight was 2.50 grams, the composition was. 900 silver and. 100 copper, the designer was Adolph A. Weinman, the edge was reed ed, the pure silver content was.

07234 Tr. Oz (Edmunds U.S. Coin prices 105). The next value coin on the list is the quarter. The standing liberty quarter (1916-1930) the first coin to show the full standing figure of liberty, it's intro caused a scandal when liberty was shown nude, her flowing robe covering only the lower part of her body (200th Anniversary of coins n. pay). The half dollar was next up on the list. The walking liberty half dollar (1916-1947) captured the spirit of the nation. A.A. Weinman's graceful miss liberty wears a swirling robe made after the American flag to welcome the dawn of the day (200th Anniversary of U.S. Coins n. pay).

The Walking liberty half dollar was 30.6 mm in diameter, the weight was 12.50 grams, the composition was. 900 silver and. 100 copper, the designer Adolph A. Weinman, the edge was reed ed, the pure silver content was. 36169 Tr. Oz (Edmunds U.S. Coin prices 147). The Franklin half dollar (1948-1963) had a liberty bell on the reverse side with the ever famous crack in the side.

The liberty bell was sketched by John Frederick Lewis (Yeoman, 2001 edition 171). The diameter of the Franklin half dollar was 30.6 mm, the weight was 12.50 grams, the composition was. 900 silver and. 100 copper, the designer was John R. Sin nock, the edge was reed ed, the pure silver content was. 36169 Tr. Oz (Edmunds U.S. Coin prices 150).

The Kennedy Bicentennial type half dollar (1964-1970) was holding a contest for the best reverse side for the half dollar and Seth G. Huntington's design won. The half dollar on the reverse side shows the Independence hall in Philadelphia as the center device (Yeoman, 2001 edition 174). 900 silver, . 100 copper (1965-1970) silver clad overall comp...

400 silver. 600 copper (1971-date) copper clad issue. 750 copper. 250 nickel outer layers pure copper inner core, the designers were (front) Gilroy Roberts, Frank Gasparro (back) Seth Huntington, the edge was reed ed, the pure silver content was (1964). 36169 Tr. Oz (1965-1970).

14792 Tr. Oz (Edmunds U.S. Coin Prices 152). The Dollar coins were probably the most detailed and valued coins in the U.S. Many different types have been made. The flowing hair silver dollar (1794-1795) these coins are most wanted by collectors because of the variations that can be found in the early dies of these coins because they were individually made (Yeoman, 2001 edition 176). The diameter of the silver dollar was 39-40 mm, the weight was 26.96 grams, the composition was.

8924 silver. 1076 copper, the designer was Robert Scot, the edge was hundred cents one dollar or unit with decorations between words (Edmunds U.S. Coin prices 156). Another silver dollar was the Draped bust type Heraldic eagle reverse silver dollar (1798-1804) this is the only coin that has five lines in each stripe on the shield (Yeoman, 2001 edition 177). This coin has a diameter of 39-40 mm, a weight of 26.96 grams, a composition of. 8924 silver and. 1076 copper, this coin was designed by Robert Scot, and the edge was decoration between words (Edmunds U.S. Coins 158).

The next coin is the Morgan silver dollar (1878-1904 and 1921) this coveted legendary silver dollar was minted of 'bonanza silver' from Nevada's famous com stock lode (200th Anniversary of U.S. Coins n. pay). This coin was 38.1 mm in diameter, the weight was 26.73 grams, the composition was. 900 silver and. 100 copper, the designer was George T. Morgan, the edge was reed ed, pure silver content was.

77344 Tr. Oz (Edmunds U.S. Coin prices 165). The next coin is the Peace dollar (1921-1935) this coin was commemorated at the end of World War I, the peace dollar's different design met with mixed emotions because of liberty's mouth being slightly opened and it brought about a lot of (200th anniversary of U.S. Coins n. pay). The last silver dollar was the Eisenhower dollar.

This coin was a 'lasting memory of America. This coin preserved a shining moment in America's history-July 4 1776-when the battered nation celebrated the preservation of freedom and looked to the future' (200th Anniversary of U.S. Coins n. pay). Coins in the United States have changed through the years and will continue to change through the end of time. There are many who collect coins and there are many who just spend them. One never knows when they could have a coin in their pocket that could be worth a great deal of money. Coin collecting is a long lasting hobbies which day by day is becoming more popular because of all the new and changing money in the United States Of America.

'Coins are my life' (Be, Imogene 1 September 2001).

Bibliography

Beu, Imogene. Interview. 1 September 2001.
Edmunds United States coin prices. Huntingdon, PA: James J. Reeves, 1996.
The 200th Anniversary of United States coinage collection. Van Nuys, CA: The American Historic society, 2001.
Yeoman, R.S. A Guide Book of United States Coins. New York: ST. Martin's press, 2001.
A Guide Book of United States Coins. New York: ST. Martin's press, 1999.
Sentence OUTLINE Thesis: Coins have been around for many years, they have had changing mints, designs, and variety's which have all been represented by past events and Presidents. I. Locations of mints in the United States. A. Cities of United States mints. 1. The number one mint in the U.S. is San Fransisco. 2. The number two mint in the U.S. is Denver. 3. The number three mint in the U.S. is Philadelphia. B. The United States mint standards. II. Pennies, Nickels, and Dimes in the United States Coinage. A. Pennies are also know as the one-cent coin. 1. The large cent is the earliest dated penny. 2. The Indian Head half copper, half nickel cent was minted for six years. 3. The Two-cent piece was minted for nine years. 4. The later Indian Head penny was minted for 44 years. 5. The steel cent was only made in 1943.
B. Nickels were the five cent-piece in the U.S... 1. The Racketeer nickel was minted only in 1883.
2. The Liberty nickel was minted for 30 years. 3. The Buffalo nickel was minted for 25 years. 4. The Wartime nickel was minted for three years. C. Dimes were the ten cent-piece in the U.S... 1. The Seated Liberty dime was minted for 54 years. 2. The Mercury dime was minted for 29 years.. Quarters, Half dollars, and Dollar coins in the U.S. Coinage. A. The Standing Liberty Quarter was minted for 14 years. B. The half dollar is worth two quarters in the U.S... 1. The Walking Liberty half dollar was minted for 31 years. 2. The Franklin half dollar was minted for 15 years. 3. The Silver Kennedy half dollar was only minted in 1964.