A Technique for Finding the Treasures of Time!

Hey Guys!

       So a quick update from yesterday...

       The first coin I saw of the day, hardly 30 seconds after I had started my shift was this 1940 D in great condition

Obverse of Wheat Cent with the date and mint-mark being clearly visible (SQUEE!).

Reverse of Wheat Cent

       Such a big find! It is hard to find wheat cents from 1940 or before in circulated change. Especially when they are in good condition like this, where they are free of copper oxide, big scratches and gummy residue. Definitely a good addition to my collection!


       And now onto the main event!!!

       So today I am going to discuss how I quickly search piles of coins for any ones that may interest me. It is actually a very simple process and it begins with me encountering a container of coins like the one pictured below:

Can you spot the cent that is not like the others!

          What I am primarily looking for are older U.S. cents in a pile like this, so automatically I ignore any cents with a shield back (which was used starting in 2010) since it is a newer coin and I also don't typically look at cents with a bright coppery luster. As you can see in the picture above the only cent that immediately stands out from its fellows is the wheat cent in the bottom right corner which as you can see has no luster left on its surface. The line of cents below help emphasize this point. As you can see circulation quickly deteriorates the luster of a coin so older coins will appear as a much darker brown compared to the almost red sheen of their younger counterparts.

The newest coins are on the left and the oldest coins are on the right. See the difference in color that is brought on by circulation?

Which coin is out of place?

             Since all I am looking for is coins that don't quite fit in with the others, this technique also helps me spot foreign coins hidden among U.S. currency. In the picture above the Canadian coin stands out clearly from the others due to its radically different design! I even use this technique with nickels like the ones pictured below.

Do you see the 1940 nickel?

           This time we continue to ignore the new designs and high luster of the modern coin and instead focus on the older ones. The trick is that since nickels are not made with copper (duh!) they exhibit age differently than cents. In this case the 1940 nickel located in the middle bottom of the pile has this black varnish that surrounds all the high points of the design. Not only that but it also appears much smoother to the eye as all of the high relief areas have been worn down by circulation. These attributes are common with older nickels and you should keep your eye open for them if you are working on a Jefferson nickel collection!

           Well I have to get on with schoolwork and other personal projects. Have a great day guys and talk to you all tomorrow!

Happy Collecting!

- Sean