What's My Coin Worth? Finder

A worked example: the 1964-D quarter

Suppose you have a Washington quarter dated 1964 with a small D on the reverse, just below the wreath. Choose Quarter, type 1964 and pick D. The finder returns the 1964-D Washington quarter, marked as a circulation strike, with its silver content of 0.1808 troy ounces shown beside it. That figure comes from fixed facts: the coin weighs 6.25 grams and is 90% silver, so it holds 5.625 grams of pure silver, which is 0.1808 of a 31.1035 gram troy ounce.

Now change the mint mark to "No mint mark". The list changes to the Philadelphia quarter and the 1964 proof, also from Philadelphia. Both came from the same mint, so the strike type is what separates them. That is why the finder lists circulation strikes first: they are what turns up in change and old jars.

What each input means

The denomination buttons group coins the way the Mint does. Penny covers every one-cent coin from the 1793 large cents to the Lincoln cent. Gold coin covers gold dollars, quarter eagles, three-dollar pieces, half eagles, eagles and double eagles. The last button gathers the odd denominations: the two-cent piece of 1864 to 1873, the silver and nickel three-cent pieces and the twenty-cent piece of 1875 to 1878.

The year box wants the date struck into the coin, which is not always the most prominent number. State quarters from 1999 to 2008 show both a statehood year and the year of issue on the reverse, so a Delaware quarter reads 1787 as well as 1999. Bicentennial coins carry the dual date 1776-1976 and should be entered as 1976.

The mint mark menu lists every letter used on US coins: P for Philadelphia, D for Denver (or Dahlonega on gold before 1862), S for San Francisco, O for New Orleans, CC for Carson City, W for West Point and C for Charlotte. "No mint mark" is a real choice because most Philadelphia coins carry none. "Not sure / any" shows every coin of that year, which is the safest setting when the letter is worn.

Reading the results

Each result carries a label. Circulation means a regular business strike made for change. Collector means a proof, special mint set or other coin sold directly to collectors. Variety means a recognized die variety or error of that date, such as a doubled die or an overdate. If a variety appears in your list, open its page and compare the diagnostics with your coin under magnification before you assume you have it. Most coins of any date are the normal variety.

Common mistakes when looking up a coin

The most frequent error is mistaking a designer's initials for a mint mark. The VDB on the reverse of 1909 cents stands for Victor David Brenner. The FG beside the Lincoln Memorial is Frank Gasparro. The JS under Roosevelt's neck on the dime is John Sinnock. The M on the truncation of Liberty's neck on a Morgan dollar is George T. Morgan's initial. None of these is a mint mark.

The second mistake is reading a worn date wrongly. Buffalo nickels carry their date on a raised area of the design and Standing Liberty quarters dated 1916 to 1924 have raised dates too, so both wore away quickly and many survivors show only part of the year. Tilt the coin under a single light before you type a digit you are guessing. If you get "No match", recheck the denomination as well: a twenty-cent piece is easily taken for a quarter, but its edge is plain rather than reeded.

Frequently asked questions