Numismatic irony

rhedden · February 12, 2015 2:27AM

The 1916-D dime is a key date that many of us covet, while it's cousin, the 1916-D quarter, is so disgustingly common that dealers almost can't give them away. Who says a quarter is worth more than a dime?

Can you think of any more examples of numismatic irony?

MisterSmithGuesser · February 12, 2015 2:36AM

Not sure that this is necessarily "ironic"...

But the 1955-P Roosevelt dime had a lower mintage than the 1949-S, which is considered key to the silver series and always commands a higher price. The reason is that 1955 Roosevelts were hoarded in high numbers when they were issued. Today, you can still easily find OBW of 1955 P, D, and S dimes.

Unknown · February 12, 2015 2:38AM

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braddick · February 12, 2015 2:40AM

<< <i>A nickel is bigger than a dime, but worth less. >>

Yet the metallic content is worth more.

guitarwes · February 12, 2015 3:47AM

"A nickel ain't worth a dime anymore." -Yogi Berra

winky · February 12, 2015 4:17AM

It's a dime day for me.

ricko · February 12, 2015 4:24AM

Environmentally damaged coins (tarnished) are worth more than clean 'as minted' coins. Cheers, RickO

Unknown · February 12, 2015 4:38AM

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DeliaBug · February 12, 2015 4:44AM

I'll play.

FDR made it basically illegal for citizens to own gold. Then we did this:

okracer · February 12, 2015 5:36AM

.....They made the cent smaller, and it bought less.....

......oh, wait, that isn't ironic........

Overdate · February 12, 2015 5:57AM

Off the top of my head, the only example of numismatic irony I can think of is the 1943 cent.

lasvegasteddy · February 12, 2015 7:32AM

the dump in simi has a rarer coin then most collectors...

sparky64 · February 12, 2015 8:30AM

2 sliver nickels are worth more than 1 silver dime.

Coinstudy · February 12, 2015 9:18AM

Under the laminate of a silver dime is a Bronze core.

ProofArtworkonCircs · February 12, 2015 9:55AM

<<2 sliver nickels are worth more than 1 silver dime>>

I can beat that.
3 silver nickels are worth more than 2 silver dimes.

lasvegasteddy · February 12, 2015 10:01AM

coins minted for circulation are illegal to possess and are seized if found

MrEureka · February 12, 2015 10:08AM

People complain that it's hard to find rare coins.

Cocoinut · February 12, 2015 10:54AM

The 1909-S Indian Head cent has a mintage of 309,000, a PCGS pop of 20 in MS66RD or better, and a valuation in the PCGS price guide of $13,000 in MS66RD.

The 1909-S VDB Lincoln cent has a mintage of 464,000, a PCGS pop of 212 in MS66 or better, and a valuation in the PCGS price guide of $15,500 in MS66RD.

Yes, I know it's all about supply and demand, but it's ironic nonetheless.

Jim

SPalladino · February 12, 2015 10:59AM

"Anybody who would spend $40 billion in a race to the moon for national prestige is nuts."
- Dwight D. Eisenhower

And yet the US coin bearing his likeness on the obverse pays tribute to the Apollo accomplishments on the reverse.

BryceM · February 12, 2015 11:04AM

The US discontinued the half-cent in 1857 due to insufficient buying power.

It would buy roughly what a dime does today.

COALPORTER · February 12, 2015 11:44AM

Do you mean more along the lines of an 1878-S half and 1878-s Morgan ?
They half is worth way more and the key date.

Walkerfan · February 12, 2015 12:17PM

1921-S Walking liberty Half Dollar---$45000 in MS 64

1921-S Morgan Dollar---$145 in MS 64

lostincoins · February 12, 2015 12:50PM

A minted coin with quality control issues (error coin)is worth more than a perfectly minted coin in most cases.

lordmarcovan · February 12, 2015 1:05PM

At the Fort Frederica National Monument near here (and some of the other national parks), they used to sell cast replicas of colonial coins like George II halfpennies and Spanish reales.

(And they might still, in some places. I'll bet the Castillo de San Marcos in St. Augustine still sells replica cobs. Interestingly- and annoyingly- none of these replicas bore the "COPY" stamp.)

The last time I saw these cast replica King George halfpennies for sale at Fort Frederica, they wanted close to twenty bucks for one in the museum gift shop.

Meaning that a FAKE coin was being offered in a US Government venue (as a replica, though not marked as such) for about FOUR TIMES what you could buy an average circulated example of the REAL thing for.

If that ain't numismatic irony, I dunno what is.

Overdate · February 12, 2015 1:48PM

Clad coins have reeded edges to discourage shaving them for their metal content.

Silver war nickels do not.

Overdate · February 12, 2015 1:53PM

On 1979-1999 dollar coins, "In God We Trust" appears prominently next to the portrait of Susan B. Anthony, who was widely considered to be an atheist.

dogwood · February 12, 2015 2:12PM

The 1913s Barber Quarter is the most common coin based upon PCGS population of the series in G4 (221) despite having the lowest mintage in the series (40,000).
Edit- spelling

Barberian · February 12, 2015 10:47PM

Lowball coins.

ricko · February 12, 2015 10:56PM

<< <i>People complain that it's hard to find rare coins. >>

That is excellent.....Cheers, RickO

MisterSmithGuesser · February 17, 2015 8:33AM

Money doesn't grow on trees, but banks have branches.

Shamika · February 17, 2015 8:55AM

Great thread. There are some very smart people on these boards.

WillieBoyd2 · February 17, 2015 9:59AM

As to "In God we Trust" coins, a number of Americans depicted on coins had little or no religious beliefs.

breakdown · February 17, 2015 11:32AM

The buffalo (or to be annoyingly precise, American bison) who served as the model for the reverse of Fraser's iconic nickel, a symbol of American freedom and the Old West, lived in a zoo in New York City.

ebaybuyer · February 17, 2015 11:37AM

the mint has probably the worst customer service that there is, yet there is always a line of people trying to buy the latest junk

Numismatic irony

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