Indian Head Bronze Cents 1864-1909

The shots at Fort Sumter that launched the Civil War didn't enclose out pending April 12, 1861, but preparations for war were under way well before that-plus financial preparations. Expecting the conflict, edgy Americans on both sides of the Mason-Dixon Line began sign gold and silver

coins. The stride of this activity accelerated following the choice of Abraham Lincoln to the presidency in November of 1860, for he was perceived as a hard-line Unionist suspect to compromise with southern politicians. It reached fever pitch after Dec. 28, 1861, when New York banks suspended specie payments in reponse to the issuance of national paper money which was not redeemable in coin. By the summer of 1862, precious-metal coins all but disappeared from circulation.

Not being made of precious metal, cents sustained to circulate for a few months longer. In verity, it seemed inconceivable the Americans would pile cents. The large, intrinsically effective copper cents used since the inception of the realm's change were replaced in 1857 by the slighter copper-nickel Flying Eagle cents-fiat issues, merit minus as metal than, as money. That was curious in the mid-19th century; most U. S. Coins had high intrinsic appraise, and Americans had come to assume and even insist this in their penny. Nonetheless, the broadcast had welcomed the large cents' demise, considering the coins too cumbersome for usual use.

The new small cents-known as "colorless cents" because of their pale incline-became even more accepted in 1859 when, due to striking problems, the Mint replaced the creative Flying Eagle affect with a new one depicting a female clothed in a feathered Indian crown. This "Indian Head" portrait, not a native American profile but apparently modeled after the Greco-Roman model Venus Accroupie, had widespread urge, reinforcing the acceptance the colorless cents already enjoyed because of their versatile dimension.

Production levels were high-far superior to those of the large cents they replaced-and it was common education that the metal in each coin was worth excluding than one cent. Nevertheless the Civil War shattered many accepted beliefs, counting the perception that small-limit, low-assess cents were immune from notice.

Initially, bags of cents served as one of the central means of payment for anxious merchants deprived of silver coins. Before long, however, the cents too became a target for hoarders. They were, after all, government-release coins, and as such were preferable to the all-but-irredeemable "shinplasters" (scrip and wildcat pile comments) being generally presented. Furthermore, the worth of nickel-fueled by wartime pressure-was rising promptly, giving these nickel-alloy coins bigger intrinsic cost. By December 1862, cents had coupled gold and silver coins on the step.

That was when need gave birth to invention-not by Uncle Sam but by secretive entrepreneurs. To stuff the vacuum left by the departure of federal money, merchants and promoters began producing cent-sized model tokens, normally effect an oblique or even exact potential of redemption in cargo, navy or money. These "Civil War tokens" gained broad acceptance as a money substitute. Mint officials were duly impressed, and in 1864 they reshaped the cent in these tokens' aura, replacing the copper-nickel "ashen cent" with a slimmed-down rendering made of figurine.

Besides being darker in paint, the new cent was one-third lighter in substance. Its diameter was unchanged, however, and it still bore the same Indian Head face model and unadorned circlet and shelter transpose fashioned for its predecessor by the Mint's chief engraver, James B. Longacre. The new coin's components were less expensive than nickel, and this mutual with its sink emphasis made it much cheaper to fabricate. It was also easier to reach, as figure is much softer than nickel. And like the tokens it successfully replaced, it enjoyed ready acceptance from the municipal, effectively finale the dearth of cents in circulation.

Both kinds of cents were issued in 1864, with the sculpture outnumbering the copper nickel by about 3-to-1. Despite its higher mintage, the image cent provided the year's scarcest class: one on which Longacre's first "L" appears on the ribbon of the Indian's boater. The designer didn't add this until recent in the year, so relatively few 1864 cents have it. Apparently, a large mass of these "L" cents went to England, for many pieces were improved from there in the 1950s and 60s.

Bronze Indian cents remained in production lacking interruption for near half a century before giving way to the Abraham Lincoln kind in 1909. The invent remained the same for the intact run except for instant changes in 1886, when the then chief engraver, Charles Barber, faintly lowered the relief and made a small change in the stand of the bust. For all but the last two time, Indian Heads were struck only at the chief mint in Philadelphia; in 1908 and 1909, the San Francisco office struck cents, the period in very limited quantities. On these, the "S" mint show appears below the garland on the switch.

Total mintage for the string reached almost 1.6 billion, along with 96,848 proofs. Annual production topped 100 million only once, in 1907, and sank below one million for just two issues: 1877 and 1909-S. At 309,000 pieces, 1909-S has the lowly mintage, but the 1877-at 852,500-is more valuable, because fewer examples were set departure. Other scarce issues include the 1869 with a doubled 9, 1872 and 1908-S. Proofs were struck every year, usually in the thousands, except for the prior days which saw mintages under 1,000. The 1864 coins had the minimum testimony mintages: 150 for the no "L" form and only 20 for the with "L" coin, making it a major scarcity. Counterfeits subsist, particularly of coins dated 1877 and 1909-S, and to a smaller extent, the 1864 "L," the 1866 to 1878 issues and 1908-S. Questionable pieces should always be authenticated.

When grading Indian Head cents, the first chairs to show bear on the obverse will be the locks above the ear and the twist to the right of the ribbon; on the annul, bill the bow tether.

Mint asserted examples survive in substantial quantities in grades up to MS-65, but their population drops sharply in MS-66 and above. Fully red coins, of course, are rarer still. Although the chain is relatively long, it encompasses just 51 pieces-even plus 1864 L, 1869/9 and the Open 3 and Closed 3 cents of 1873-because there are only two twig-mint issues. Given this fact and the limited number of high-priced rarities, many collectors assemble undivided date-and-mint sets. The chain relics one of the most accepted of all United States issues.

SPECIFICATIONS:

Diameter: 19 millimeters Weight: 3.11 grams Composition: .950 copper.050 tin and zinc Edge: Plain

BIBLIOGRAPHY: Bowers, Q. David, A Buyer's and Enthusiast's Guide to Fly Eagle and Indian Cents, Bowers & Merena Galleries, Wolfeboro, NH, 1996. Breen, Walter, Walter Breen's Complete Encyclopedia of U.S. and Colonial Coins, F.C.I. Press/Doubleday, New York, 1988. Snow, Richard, Flying Eagle & Indian Cents, Eagle Eye Press, 1992. Steve, Larry R. & Flynn, Kevin J. Flying Eagle and Indian Cent Die Varieties, Nuvista Press, Jarrettsville, MD, 1995. Taxay, Don, The U.S. Mint and Coinage, Arco Publishing Co. Inc., New York, 1966. Vermeule, Cornelius, Numismatic Art in America, The Belknap Press of Harvard University Press, Cambridge, MA, 1971.

Coin Information Provided Courtesy NGC.

Mercury Dimes 1916-1945 Coin

Despite its tiny amount, the "Mercury" dime may very well be the most exquisite coin ever created by the United States Mint. It is extremely remarkable that a coin this small could have such an elaborate and aesthetically lovely target.

One thing its objective does not describe, however, is Mercury, the courier of the gods in Roman mythology. The study on its facade is actually that of Liberty irksome a winged cap symbolizing abandon of thought. Thus, the coin more correctly is known as the Winged Head Liberty dime. Nevertheless the misnomer "Mercury" was applied to it early on and, after the existence of communal custom, has stuck.

Whatever it's called, this dime represented an embrace change of tempo when it made its first appearance in 1916. Indeed, it implied more than excellent of thought: it also was an image of America's new character, exuberance reflected in the novelty and vitality of the new U.S. penny as a total in the early 1900s. The coin it replaced, the starchy Barber dime, was rooted in the 19th century, a time when American life was more rigid and prim. In an artistic sense this new coin was a breath of cool air, even however its inspiration went all the way back to the primeval Greeks and Romans.

Clearly, the Mint and Treasury supposed it time for a change. Under an 1890 law, they couldn't restore a coin motif more frequently than every 25 existence. The Barber dime, lodge and half money, first produced in 1892, reached the part-century smear in 1916, and the Mint wasted no time in replacing all three. Actually, his misinterpretation of the 1890 law led Mint Director Robert W. Woolley to judge that he must reinstate the presented designs when they reached 25 being of production.

The Mint began laying the groundwork in the last days of 1915, when it set the rostrum for an unusual competition to gain new designs for the coins. Director Woolley invited three imminent sculptors-Hermon A. MacNeil, Albin Polasek and Adolph A. Weinman, all New York City-to make designs for the three silver coins, evidently to awarding a different coin to each artiste.

Whatever the Mint's intention may have been, Weinman broken up receiving two of the three coins-the dime and half cash-with MacNeil getting the lodge dough and Polasek being shut out. Nevertheless few would quibble with the selections, for all three of the new coins-the Mercury dime, the Standing Liberty house money and the Walking Liberty half dough-inevitably happen on most collectors' lists of the finest U.S. coins ever made.

The German-natural Weinman had come to the United States in 1880 at the age of 10 and had willful under the infamous Augustus Saint-Gaudens. By 1915 he had gained a reputation as one of the populace's leading babyish sculptors. Weinman solidified this permanent with his artwork for the dime.

Its generally thought that the Winged Liberty portrait is based on a bust that Weinman did in 1913 of Elsie Kachel Stevens, wife of well-known versifier Wallace Stevens. She and her husband were tenants at the time in a New York City residence house owned by the sculptor. The transpose of the coin depicts the fasces, an ancient figure of persuade, with a crusade-ax atop it to epitomize preparedness and a lime separate beside it to denote the covet for harmony. With World War I powerful in Europe, these were emotional themes in 1916.

Release of the very first Mercury dimes was delayed pending recent in the year, as the dies were not yet swift. Coins of the old Barber point were hurriedly coined to gather the demand. The Denver Minted made only 264,000 examples of the new dimes, and 1916-D has been the great key of the chain ever since-the only coin with a mintage below one million. The mintmark appears on the inverse, below and left of the fasces. Other scarce coins enter 1921, 1921-D and the 1942/1 overdates from both Philadelphia and Denver. Brilliant proofs were made from 1936 through 1942, and there exists at slightest one 1916 dull resilient.

Collectors with a weakness for perfection entreat Mercury dimes with "filled split bands," completely obvious ranks in the bands around the fasces. For most dates these order significantly elevated premiums than coins lacking such describe. Lack of filled bands doesn't mean a coin mint-position; often, it plainly denotes a weak punch. The bands do wait as a checkpoint for corrosion, however, since they're so high and exposed. Other spots to confirm are Liberty's coat and the area in front of her ear.

For most of the string, production at the fork mints in Denver and San Francisco was minus than ten million pieces a year. Outputs were advanced at the focal mint in Philadelphia but exceeded 100 million only five epoch. Large facts of Mercury dimes subsist in grades up to Mint State-65, and they're quickly untaken even in MS-66 and 67, at least for the later dates. This, joint with their beauty, makes them very promotable. Facing 77 time-and-mint combinations, not counting the overdates, many collectors pleased themselves with just a distinct lettering coin. Others assemble "sharply sets" from 1934 through 1945 or 1941 through `45.

The Mercury dime served Americans well during one of this land's most violent eras. Born on the eve of our nation's note into World War I, it remained a central part of America's money place right through the end of World War II, bowing out in 1945. Along the way, it took pivot theater during the Great Depression as the claim coin in the down-and-outers' anthem, "Brother, Can You Spare a Dime?" The desire of Mint Director Nellie Tayloe Ross to switch the Mercury dime with portraying Benjamin Franklin in 1938 was delayed awaiting after the war, Franklin eventually finding a home on the half buck ten being later.

In 1946, following the casualty of Franklin Delano Roosevelt, a new devise with a portrait of the former President was issued. It was proper that this denomination was chosen to perpetuate his recall, as during his lifetime he was a significant influence in the March of Dimes battle against polio.

Even in its finishing years, this was a coin with authentic buying right. Armed with a Mercury dime, youngsters in the1940s had their choice of a 52-page comic book, a double-dip ice cream funnel, two Hershey bars or two bottles of Coca-Cola. Remaining in circulation right awaiting the end of silver coinage, Mercury dimes were a known glimpse as behind as the 1960s.

SPECIFICATIONS:

Diameter: 17.9 millimeters Weight: 2.50 grams Composition: .900 silver.100 copper Edge: Reeded Net Weight: .07234 degree unmixed silver

BIBLIOGRAPHY: Breen, Walter, Walter Breen's Complete Encyclopedia of U.S. and Colonial Coins, F.C.I. Press/Doubleday, New York, 1988. Lange, David W. The Complete Guide to Mercury Dimes, DLRC Press, Virginia Beach, VA, 1993. Taxay, Don, The U.S. Mint and Coinage, Arco Publishing Co., New York, 1966. Vermeule, Cornelius, Numismatic Art in America, The Belknap Press of Harvard University Press, Cambridge, MA, 1971. Yeoman, R.S., A Guide Book of United States Coins, 47th Edition. Western Publishing Co., Racine, WI, 1993.

Coin Information Provided Courtesy NGC.

Jefferson Nickels 1938 to present

Still in production nowadays, the Jefferson Nickel has become a relaxed coin to generations of Americans. Introducing in 1938, it is the only one of our nearby coins being made in its previous composition, however this continuity was interrupted sketchily by the crisis of World War II. After more than six decades of minting, this humble coin continues to principle the realm's third leader.

Thomas Jefferson was a man of countless talents, and he possessed an unceasingly snooping life. His achievements in architecture (his own home, Monticello, being but one example), pooled with his triumphs as a statesman, scientist and philosopher, have earned for Jefferson a lasting bequest as one of the greatly great records in American memoirs. It was seemingly inevitable that once George Washington had been grateful with a circulating coin in 1932, Jefferson could not be far behind in achieving such recognition.

Thomas Jefferson was natural in Virginia, in what was then Goochland (now Albemarle) County. Raising in a prosperous home, he took occupied advantage of the educational opportunities this untaken him. Though he was proud to explain himself as just a gentleman planter, he began a long and illustrious career of community sacrament in 1769 by joining the Virginia House of Burgesses. The arrival of the American War of Independence six time later found him an organ of the Second Continental Congress. In this volume he became the principal dramatist of the Declaration of Independence. Returning to Virginia to operate as its governor during the dying time of the war, he later rejoined the Continental Congress for the designate 1783-84.

Among the most urgent issues of the day was settlement of the land's war debt and the establishment of fiscal logic. Jefferson devised decimal currency logic, the principal points of which were ultimately adopted some days later. Jefferson then became America's minister to France in 1785, frequent home winning the choice of George Washington as the first head of the national republic. Jefferson's idiom as secretary of royal found him regularly at odds with the dominant Federalist gang, and this only intensified during his vice presidency under President John Adams (1797-1801).

A Republican, Jefferson succeeded Adams, serving two terms head of the USA (1801-09). Highlights of his presidency included the Louisiana Purchase of 1803 and America's battles against the Barbary pirates. Retirement for Jefferson was anything but subdued, and among his achievements were the founding of the University of Virgina and the fabricate of its buildings. He maintained a lively and stimulating correspondence with numbers around the world, awaiting fall claimed him at his beloved home of Monticello in 1826. In a remarkable coincidence, his temporary chop on July 4, fifty days to the day after the signing of the Declaration of Independence. In an even better twist, old rival John Adams also succumbled on that very same day.

Early in 1938, the Treasury Department announced an open competition for designs to return those of the tide five-cent case. No persuade was given for retiring James Earle Fraser's Indian Head/Buffalo Nickel, but that object had achieved its lawful least production of 25 existence, and therefore no legal barrier stood in the way of replacing it. The new coin would prize Thomas Jefferson, and the competition system specified that its facade was to star "an authentic likeness" of the third president. The system auxiliary essential that the transpose of the coin represent "a representation of Monticello, Jefferson's historic home near Charlottesville."

The contest was open to someone who could provide models that would work within the Mint's practical requirements, and these specifications were provided in the broadcast announcement. Of some 390 models submitted, those of German-American sculptor Felix Schlag were elected, and he was awarded the $1000 prize in April of 1938.

Felix Schlag's portrait of Jefferson was based on a limestone bust sketched from life by famed French sculptor Jean-Antoine Houdon. Schlag's dramatic perspective spectacle of Monticello was discarded by the Federal Commission of Fine Arts, which acted in an advisory gift on all matters of open art. Besides recommending a more conventional, altitude scene of Jefferson's home, the commission suggested that Schlag's stylized, Art Deco print be replaced with a more traditional Roman draft. Schlag complied with its requests, submitting revised models for reassess in July of 1938. After a few more changes were made to the print, principally enlargement of the worth FIVE CENTS, the models were official. With all these delays, production of the new coins did not begin awaiting September, and the first examples were free to circulation two months later.

The Jefferson Nickel skinned a left-facing bust of the president, dressed in a coat of the interlude and draining a peruke wig. Arranging in arcs around the border are the motto IN GOD WE TRUST to the left, with LIBERTY and the year to the right, separated by a sole star. On the reversal is a front elevation notice of Jefferson's home, with the name MONTICELLO beneath it. Around the border are the folklore E PLURIBUS UNUM above and UNITED STATES OF AMERICA below. Beneath MONTICELLO is the assess FIVE CENTS. Beginning in 1966, Schlag's initials FS happen below the truncation of Jefferson's bust.

The mints at Philadelphia (no mintmark pending 1980), Denver (mintmark 'D') and San Francisco ('S') the coined Jefferson Nickels from 1938 onward. Mintmarks appeared to the right of Monticello through 1964, when their use was hovering due to a nationwide coin famine. Mintmarks were restored opening in 1968, however since that year they have been located beneath the time, to the right of Jefferson's peruke. San Francisco poised coining operations after 1954, but Jeffersons posture the trendy 'S' mintmark were again made for circulation in 1968, 1969 and 1970. Beginning in 1971 and continuing to the present day, San Francisco has struck only proof examples for collectors.

Mintages from all three mints have speckled over the course of the string, with some of these records being small by modern values. The dates considered "key" coins due to their low mintages compose 1938-D, 1938-S, 1939-D, 1939-S and 1950-D. None are correctly bloody, however, as the Jefferson Nickel chain coincides with the era in which Americans preserved rolls and even intact bags of uncirculated coins of every court. Instead of date rarity, the focus in collecting Jeffersons is on superb condition. Until the overdue 1980s, when lowering of this coin's relief resulted in consistently pointed strikes, most Jefferson Nickels were seldom found with all minutiae discreet. Specifically, the steps of Monticello are typically incomplete, and coins having "bursting steps" catch intense aerial relevance.

The novelty of the Jefferson Nickel caused most examples to be saved by a bizarre civic during its first few years, and coins of this category did not become an usual display in circulation awaiting about 1940. Shortly thereafter, the beginning of World War II prompted the rationing of many commodities, certain metals among them. Nickel was decidedly valued for use in armor plating, and Congress prepared the deduction of this metal from the five-cent slice, efficient October 8, 1942. From that date, and lasting through the end of 1945, five-cent pieces tire the expected invent but were minted from an alloy of copper, silver and manganese. It was expected that these emergency coins would be withdrawn from circulation after the war, so a prominent distinguishing facet was added. Coins from all three mints weary very large mintmarks above the field of Monticello, and the letter 'P' was worn as a mintmark for the first time on a U. S. Coin. These "war nickels" proved rather satisfactory in circulation, and they were not immediately withdrawn. Instead, they remained a customary view until the mid-1960s, when rising silver prices caused them to be hoarded for their gold merit.

While a generous coin in its own right, the Jefferson Nickel serves an additional intent in honoring a strictly great American. In this character, it is expected to continue for many years to come. For collectors, completion of the Jefferson cycle skeleton an inexpensive and attainable goal.

SPECIFICATIONS:

Diameter: 21.2 millimeters Weight: 5 grams Composition: .750 copper.250 nickel (1938-42, 1946-) .560 copper.350 silver.090 manganese (1942-45) Edge: Plain

BIBLIOGRAPHY: Breen, Walter, Walter Breen's Complete Encyclopedia of U.S. and Colonial Coins, F.C.I. Press/Doubleday, New York, 1988. Taxay, Don, The U.S. Mint and Coinage, Arco Publishing Co., New York, 1966. Wescott, Michael, with Keck, Kendall, The United States Nickel Five-Cent Piece, Bowers and Merena Galleries, Wolfeboro, NH, 1991. Yeoman, R.S., A Guide Book of United States Coins, 52nd Edition. Golden Books Publishing Company, New York, 1998.

Coin Information Provided Courtesy NGC.