Q: How could I go about finding information on a coin dated 1795? It's a French franc and in fairly good condition. Any help would be appreciated. Thanks - Chuck
A: The "Red Book" on French coins is by Victor Gadoury and is published annually. For pricing information I would suggest the 18th-century edition of Standard Catalog of World Coins. You need to determine the exact condition, the mint mark and any appropriate privy marks before looking up a value.
Q: Can you please tell me if there is any value to an 1861 British half penny with Queen Victoria on it? Thank you. -- Pixie Smith
A: There are seven varieties of the 1861 halfpenny. A worn specimen of the common variety has a value of perhaps 25 cents. You need to determine the condition and the variety of your coin, then look it up in the 19th century edition of Standard Catalog of World Coins by Krause Publications, Coins of England and the United Kingdom by Seaby Publications or Coincraft's Standard Catalogue of English and UK Coins 1066 to Date by Richard Lobel.
Q: Hi. I'm not a coin collector, but a friend of mine says that 1969 Canadian dimes are very rare. Is there any truth to this? -- Chris
A: There is a very rare Large Date variety of the 1969 Canadian 10-cent coin known from perhaps four specimens. An illustration of the variety compared to the normal or Small Date variety appears in the Charlton Standard Catalogue of Canadian Coins by Charlton Press.
Q: I am looking forward to your listings for the German Empire's coins and would like to know if it is possible to find out the prices for coins such as the 1963 John F Kennedy $5 coin piece and coins such as 1895 and 1896 German 1-mark pieces? If I were to comprise a list of all my German Coins, how would I go about find out the value of them and adding to the collection to make it more valuable so that I may pass it on to my children as a family heirloom? Thanks for any help you maybe able assist with -- Liz.
A: The best way to value your German coins is by looking up their values in Standard Catalog of World Coins by Krause Publications or their more specialized publication Standard Catalog of German Coins. The only published "trends" values of German coins appears in the monthly Swiss magazine Munzen Revue.
Q: Was given a coin with 1981 "Prince of Wales and Lady Diana Spencer" with their portraits on one side. On the other side is "D* G*REG*F*D* ELIZABETH" heavy enough to be silver, 1.5" in circum. by .1" thick. What do I have? Thanks for the help. -- Michael Harrington
A: There are medals as well as coins and I haven't seen an image of your Specimen; however you probably have the 1981 United Kingdom 25-pence circulating commemorative coin marking their wedding. This coin was struck in copper-nickel for circulation and in sterling (.925 fine silver) in special collector presentation cases.
Q: I am writing in regards to a coin that my friend has. He would like to know some history on it and its value, if any. It is a copper coin about the size of a quarter. It says Britannia on the back and King George II and profile of a Roman Emperor. The other side has a woman with some type of rod or spear, and I believe an olive branch. Cannot find any cash amount on it, however (penny, nickel, etc.). The date on it is 1752. I would appreciate you contacting me with any information on it or sending me in the right direction. Thank you for your time. -- Carmen Austin
A: You are describing a British farthing, halfpenny or penny of George II with Britannia seated on the reverse. The diameter will determine the denomination. The farthing or quarter penny is about the size as our cent. The other denominations are larger. According to Coins of England and the United Kingdom by Seaby Publications, the halfpenny and penny are common. No farthings are indicated to have been struck that year.
Richard Giedroyc is a numismatic writer, researcher, auction cataloger and coin dealer. He has been in the hobby and business most of his life, now having more than three decades experience in this fascinating hobby field. During this time Giedroyc has been the owner of Paris Bergman Galleries, owner of Classical Coin Newsletter, international editor of Coin World and owner of Giedroyc-Anderson Interesting World Coins. He is currently a numismatic consultant. He has written more than 2,000 byline numismatic stories and contributed to several coin catalogs. Richard Giedroyc can be contacted at P.O. Box 4154, Sidney, OH 45365-4154.
Richard Giedroyc is a numismatic writer, researcher, auction cataloger and coin dealer. He has been in the hobby and business most of his life, now having more than three decades’ experience in this fascinating hobby field. During this time Giedroyc has been the owner of Paris Bergman Galleries, owner of Classical Coin Newsletter, international editor of Coin World and owner of Giedroyc-Anderson Interesting World Coins. He is currently a numismatic consultant. He has written more than 2,000 byline numismatic stories and contributed to several coin catalogs.
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