what coin would a non-collector..........

librtyhead · December 31, 2005 5:59AM

...............recognize as a rare coin?The 1943 copper penny comes to mind.

TheRaven · December 31, 2005 6:01AM

I would probably say Seated material as that was likely never seen by any non collector.....

fc · December 31, 2005 6:06AM

any bust gold screams to me rare and cool.

LucyBop · December 31, 2005 6:09AM

<< ...............recognize as a rare coin?The 1943 copper penny comes to mind. >>

there has been 4 non collectors that I have dealt with and they all mention the 1955 Double Die cent.

nwcs · December 31, 2005 6:28AM

It depends on what you consider recognition. I think most people would not recognize a 1943 copper sent has been rare or precious. But I bet if you showed them a 1955 doubled die cent and I'm sure they would know that that was very rare. Or the famous Washington - Sacajawea mule quarter. I think most non-collectors would need something very evident and very obvious to be able to see that it is not a normal production coin.

Man · December 31, 2005 6:36AM

I got a coin blog geared towards non-collectors and the number one question is

I found a 1944 penny is it valuable? I get this question 5 or 6 times a day.

After that it's 1943 "silver" penny, I have only once been asked about a 1943 copper.

Most non-collectors only think WWII era coins are collectable.
Or as nwcs mentioned high profile mint errors.

nwcs · December 31, 2005 6:42AM

Don't forget the early 1880s Morgan dollars from San Francisco. Most people think those are worth a heck of a lot of money even when vastly worn. After all is from the 1800s! Although every once in awhile you do get surprised. One friend of mine showed me some coins and while most of them were quite common there actually were several Carson City mint morgans that while worn were actually quite nice and worth at least a couple hundred bucks. It sure was nice to tell them they had something worth more than $15.

morganbarber · December 31, 2005 6:46AM

EVERYONE loves the "55 DDO.

nwcs · December 31, 2005 6:51AM

And of course most people or at least familiar with 1937 3 legged buffalo. Although I tend to doubt that people could actually pick it out if shown to them without someone pointing it out.

Conder101 · December 31, 2005 2:18PM

Probaby the number of most recognized, at least by description or name, is the 1913 V Nickel closely followed by the 43 copper cent. However most of them would not recognize them if they saw them. On the other hand most every non-collector seeing a pre-1900 Morgan dollar will think it's rare.

michael · December 31, 2005 2:39PM

larger demonination gold coins pre 1900

BECOKA · December 31, 2005 3:53PM

It amazes me how many people have never seen a gold coin period and had no idea that the mint even produces them now. I would have to say that anything gold goes.

construct · December 31, 2005 6:25PM

The 1933 Double Eagle comes to mind. It's been in the news often enough, and I've had non-collectors ask me what I thought about the stories.

Deadhorse · December 31, 2005 6:41PM

<< The 1933 Double Eagle comes to mind. It's been in the news often enough, and I've had non-collectors ask me what I thought about the stories. >>

Yep, same here. That and the 1913 nickel seem to be the most famous. The copper 1943 cent comes in a consistent third, I'd think.

Coxe · December 31, 2005 7:24PM

<< It amazes me how many people have never seen a gold coin period and had no idea that the mint even produces them now. I would have to say that anything gold goes. >>

The Mint does not produce gold coins, hasn't in over 70 years. Those eagles are masquerading as coins.

The two coins most likely to be recognized by non-collectors as valuable are the 1955 DDO cent and the 1913 Liberty nickel. I do not agree with the 1943 copper cents. Sure, some people have read a news story on them, but the vast majority of non-collectors today would probably choose the steelie as the valuable one if they were placed side by side.

ttown · December 31, 2005 11:13PM

Every non-collector I know will bring out a bunch of circulated coins and think they all are rare. Most fell just because it's old that it's very collectable and rare even in Fine condition. Then you have the HSN crowd that gets their coins because of all the hype of the rare modern coins that are limited editions

Barry · December 31, 2005 11:38PM

Morgans - I'm sure everybody has a relative who found some Morgans in the back of a drawer and they think they hit the jackpot/

ChangeInHistory · December 31, 2005 11:40PM

<< And of course most people or at least familiar with 1937 3 legged buffalo. Although I tend to doubt that people could actually pick it out if shown to them without someone pointing it out. >>

''

That coin was actually mentioned in an episode of My Wife and Kids.

mojorizn · December 31, 2005 11:43PM

All my non collector friends know about the '09-S VDB Cent. The '55 double die is a close second.

Mojo

Cameonut · January 1, 2006 12:29AM

<< All my non collector friends know about the '09-S VDB Cent. The '55 double die is a close second. >>

Why the '09-s VDB cent over everything else? I don't know, but it comes up in conversation far more often than any other single coin.

majorbigtime · January 1, 2006 1:17AM

Fifty years ago, it would be the 1913 Liberty Nickel, hands down, due to B Max Mehl's extensive advertising.

Today, probably the 1933 Saint.

JRocco · January 1, 2006 1:29AM

No question----The 55 DDO Lincoln

GTS · January 1, 2006 2:10AM

Non collectors I've bumped into..... think coin collectors go through change all day looking for some needle in a haystack.They don't know the US ever had gold coins. Nor can they understand the depreciation a rare coin will have, when compared to the very same coin in Uncirculated Gem.
GTS

Edited by GTS because i'm stupid

xbob · January 1, 2006 2:16AM

<< Morgans - I'm sure everybody has a relative who found some Morgans in the back of a drawer and they think they hit the jackpot/ >>

I agree with Barry on this one! That's my opinion also. Morgan's are the epitome of a "rare" coin to non-collectors.

Any Saint wil probably seem rare, recognized by the popularity of the '33.

Some dabblers may also know of the 1909 S VDB cent also.

Other old coinage will probably be more unrecognized rather than considered rare by most non-collectors.

dizzyfoxx · January 1, 2006 2:25AM

<< there has been 4 non collectors that I have dealt with and they all mention the 1955 Double Die cent. >>

That's probably one on the top of the list.

Shamika · January 1, 2006 2:43AM

<< On the other hand most every non-collector seeing a pre-1900 Morgan dollar will think it's rare. >>

Yep, I was going to say the same thing. Even 1943 steel cents are assumed to be rare by 90+% of non-collectors.

Among "knowledgable" non-collectors, the 1909-S VDB could be considered a candidate. Of course, you've now got to define "rare".

carl · January 1, 2006 6:58AM

I agree that just about any non collector would know about the 55DD Cent. Just wonder what a person would say about a coin with BC after the date?

my3cents · January 1, 2006 7:08AM

being as immersed in the hobby as most here are, we sometimes think that the general public knows more about coins than they do.

I have shown some relatives of mine worn buff nicks and indianhead pennies and all they ask is "WOW! How much is that worth?!" They have heard of these coins but have actually never seen them.

So, I would think that for the most part, the "general public" has heard of and is familiar with a Buffalo Nickel.

Years ago, I thought the 43 cents were rare - now I own many of them both in Gem and circ.

Coxe · January 1, 2006 8:57AM

<< Morgans - I'm sure everybody has a relative who found some Morgans in the back of a drawer and they think they hit the jackpot/ >>

Definitely. I have had a few non-collectors ask me to appraise their cache of rare silver dollars only to find well-circulated common ones. One woman I used to work with showed me hers, essentially a handful of 1921-P in VG to VF. Then she pulled out her treasure. She thought I would be amazed that an 1887-P, over 100 years old, existed and hadn't been reduced to dust over the elapsed century. The hard part is telling them what they are worth. "Well, they have kept up with inflation."

jonathanb · January 1, 2006 2:48PM

I think that most of the answers on this thread are over-thinking the question. There isn't a chance in the world that someone would even know what a 1909-SVDB was, let alone recognize it as valuable. Same for most of the other suggestions.

I do agree with the 1943 copper cent and the 1955 DDO. That's mostly due to those pieces having had excellent press over the last 30-40 years.

My vote would be for a Spanish colonial gold piece, preferably hammered. Everyone recognizes pirate treasure!

jonathan

LincolnCentMan · January 1, 2006 2:51PM

Most non-collectors think any pre-1986 gold coin is rare when they see them.
David

Cam40 · January 1, 2006 2:56PM

i think the`55 ddo 1c and 3-legged buffalo 5c about the most universally known `rare` coins imo
but not to anyone halfway in the know about coins...then its the `13 V 5c, `33 xxeagle 1877 ihc.....`16d 10c,. `69 ah pf69dcam 50c.....

VirtualWon · January 1, 2006 3:16PM

..............recognize as a rare coin?The 1943 copper penny comes to mind. 

I'm not sure they would be able to tell the difference between old and rare myself!

PerryHall · January 1, 2006 7:12PM

If you want to impress a non-collector, show them an ancient coin and tell them how old it is. Then tell them that similar coins can be purchased for only a few dollars.

what coin would a non-collector..........

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