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What's the oldest coin you've spent at face value?

lkeigwinlkeigwin Posts: 16,895 ✭✭✭✭✭
I like to spend some old, not-so-valuable circulated coins just for fun. Don't you love stumbling across an old wheatie or silver dime? I spent a 1919 Lincoln the other day and I have some buffalo's I'll spend next month.

What's the oldest coin you've put back in circulation? Intentional or accidental? Why'd you do it?
Lance.

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    I once spent a 1919 Cent knowingly just to see if anyone would notice. I'm sure I've also spent many 1939 Nickels over the years as that's probably the earliest coin and denomination I wouldn't bother setting aside.
    A lie told often enough becomes the truth. ~Vladimir Lenin
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    phehpheh Posts: 1,588
    Countless, no-date buffalo nickels.
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    fcfc Posts: 12,805 ✭✭✭
    wheaties... a variety of dates before I started putting them away.
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    RichieURichRichieURich Posts: 8,621 ✭✭✭✭✭
    1912-D V-nickel, in AG.

    An authorized PCGS dealer, and a contributor to the Red Book.

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    1910 lincoln that had seen better days
    "If you hit a midget on the head with a stick, he turns into 40 gold coins." - Patty Oswalt
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    lathmachlathmach Posts: 4,720
    1890s Barber coins and 1890s and early 1900s Indians and V nickels.
    A girl at a convenience store near my home was getting into collecting, so I'd buy my Sunday paper with old coins.
    She'd buy them out of the till.
    Of course that was when silver was under $3 an oz., and I couldn't sell my nice VG Barber Halves for even $4.50.

    Ray
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    guitarwesguitarwes Posts: 9,308 ✭✭✭

    I've spent some 1890's Indian Cents.

    @ Elite CNC Routing & Woodworks on Facebook. Check out my work.
    Too many positive BST transactions with too many members to list.
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    OnlyGoldIsMoneyOnlyGoldIsMoney Posts: 3,546 ✭✭✭✭✭
    At 11 years old I spent a handful of Indian Head Cents in a gumball machine. I spent them after I tried to improve the look of the coins by dipping them in ammonia - they developed some interesting AT colors.
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    STONESTONE Posts: 15,275
    I've spent a couple 1890's IHC's just for kicks once.

    They were just culls, but still!!!
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    foodudefoodude Posts: 3,591 ✭✭✭
    1910 Lincoln Cent.
    Greg Allen Coins, LLC Show Schedule: https://forums.collectors.com/discussion/573044/our-show-schedule-updated-10-2-16 Authorized dealer for NGC, PCGS, CAC, and QA. Member of PNG, RTT (Founding Platinum Member), FUN, MSNS, and NCBA (formerly ICTA); Life Member of ANA and CSNS. NCBA Board member. "GA3" on CCE.
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    ambro51ambro51 Posts: 14,345 ✭✭✭✭✭
    I dont know if this counts, but I spent the Bashlow restrike CSA cent I was carrying in my pocket, trying to "circulate" and brown it down. By mistake of course!



    wonder where it is today????
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    DNADaveDNADave Posts: 7,346 ✭✭✭✭✭
    I've given common Morgan's as tips more than once. Just for the heck of it.
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    robkoolrobkool Posts: 5,934 ✭✭✭✭✭
    A few beat up Jefferson nickels from 1939-1959...
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    phehpheh Posts: 1,588


    << <i>I've given common Morgan's as tips more than once. Just for the heck of it. >>



    What kind of reaction do you get to that? I would think it would be pretty varied.

    As a collector, if you ever get irritated at your local dealers, go spend a thousand bucks in Kennedy halves and Ike dollars around town. Give it a week and then go cherrypick them while they are on the telephone for the better part of the day.
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    ConnecticoinConnecticoin Posts: 13,275 ✭✭✭✭✭
    Damaged 1880s Indian Cents.
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    messydeskmessydesk Posts: 20,742 ✭✭✭✭✭
    Dateless buffalos and slick Liberty nickels. The earliest readable date I can recall spending is 1903.
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    OKbustchaserOKbustchaser Posts: 5,570 ✭✭✭✭✭


    First, some backround...
    Growing up in the 60's in small-town Oklahoma and working as an automotive fueling specialist (gas pump jockey), I often received obsolete coins that dated back to seated Liberties and occasionally even a bust coin or two. (In fact, this is what got me started on bust halves.) Later, after college, I went back to said small town and asked a couple of elderly gentlemen who had been regular customers if they had been "priming the pump" so to speak and seeking a new collector. Never could get either to admit it but I still think so.

    I now do the same thing. It is really cool to see the look when you spend a large cent or cull silver. Who knows...maybe the next Bustchaser is out there right now. I have spent half cents and large cents back to the 1830s. Two centers are always fun. I have been known to leave seated material from half dime to half dollar as tips. (But I prefer to spend obsoletes over the counter so that I can see the reaction and possibly strike up a conversation.) I have spent every Morgan than I have ever received. Never spent one of my silver bust coins...yet! Guess I need to hit a few junk boxes at the next show I attend.
    Just because I'm old doesn't mean I don't love to look at a pretty bust.
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    droopyddroopyd Posts: 5,381 ✭✭✭


    << <i>I'm sure I've also spent many 1939 Nickels over the years as that's probably the earliest coin and denomination I wouldn't bother setting aside. >>



    I think I'm with you on that one. Possibly I spent a few older Lincoln cents when I was real little and before I started collecting, like maybe 3 or 4 years old. I don't recall ever deliberately spending any "obsolete" coinage like Mercury dimes or Buffalo nickels.
    Me at the Springfield coin show:
    image
    60 years into this hobby and I'm still working on my Lincoln set!
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    OuthaulOuthaul Posts: 7,440 ✭✭✭✭✭


    << <i>Countless, no-date buffalo nickels. >>


    Plenty of those, along with V-nickels. It's funny to see the look on the cashier's face when they put it in the draw. Then, while you're leaving, look back over your shoulder to see them take it out of the drawer.

    Cheers,

    Bob
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    BochimanBochiman Posts: 25,790 ✭✭✭✭✭
    I remember that Russ said he spent at least a 2c piece....not sure if he did it recently, or back when it was freshly minted image

    I've been told I tolerate fools poorly...that may explain things if I have a problem with you. Current ebay items - Nothing at the moment

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    CocoinutCocoinut Posts: 2,547 ✭✭✭✭✭
    I guess this qualifies as "spending".

    I had an interest in coins as a kid in the 1950's, and set aside the older and/or not-so-common coins in a pickle jar. When the jar was about 2/3 full, my parents decided the money would be better off in a savings account, so we hauled it all off to the bank. There were lots of Buffaloes, Mercuries, Standing Liberty quarters, and Walking Liberty halves. I remember that one of the halves had the mint mark on the obverse, so it was a 1916 or 1917.

    Jim
    Countdown to completion of my Mercury Set: 1 coin. My growing Lincoln Set: Finally completed!
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    BECOKABECOKA Posts: 16,961 ✭✭✭
    Probably some late 1800's Indian Cents.
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    RussRuss Posts: 48,514 ✭✭✭


    << <i>I remember that Russ said he spent at least a 2c piece....not sure if he did it recently, or back when it was freshly minted image >>



    Spent seven of them.

    Russ, NCNE
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    yellowkidyellowkid Posts: 5,486
    As a kid in the 50's I routinely spent Walkers, Mercury Head dimes, Buffalo nickels, and Standing Liberty quarters. Two instances I remember distinctly was spending an indian head penny at the corner market for candy, and another time a silver dollar(peace). I caught hell for that but I sure was popular with the other kids that day!
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    dorkkarldorkkarl Posts: 12,691 ✭✭✭
    probably 187X indian cent

    K S
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    BU 1878 S Morgans. What else could I do with them? (this was back in 1963.)
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    dizzyfoxxdizzyfoxx Posts: 9,823 ✭✭✭
    I once spent a Liberty nickel because I could find a value for it in the generic guide and figured it must not be worth much. I looked everywhere but just could not find what one dated 1913 was worth.
    image...There's always time for coin collecting. image
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    BillyKingsleyBillyKingsley Posts: 2,661 ✭✭✭✭
    A wheat cent from, well, I am not sure. I think it was 1941, but it may not have been. It was too moldy to be sure.

    I treausure my old coins (I have so few) so unless they are so bad that they are actually disgusting to come in contact with, and you fear that even the slightst touch with another coin would damage the other (I'm not talking about a rub/bag mark, I'm talking serious stuff like mold, corrosin, etc) then I keep it.
    Billy Kingsley ANA R-3146356 Cardboard History // Numismatic History
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    ArizonaJackArizonaJack Posts: 4,029 ✭✭✭
    Like most of you folks, I'll say a teen wheatie. A dateless or partial date buffalo.

    Why throw them in a bucket when you can enlighten someone and perhaps start a new collector off for 10 or 15 cents.
    " YOU SUCK " Awarded 5/18/08
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    BlindedByEgoBlindedByEgo Posts: 10,754 ✭✭✭✭✭


    << <i>I've given common Morgan's as tips more than once. Just for the heck of it. >>



    It is customary at my friends' golf course that the group tips the forecaddie at the end of the round, usually $40-$60 per foursome.

    I always offer my ballmark (a circulated Morgan or Peace dollar) in place of my $10-$15 share, and I've never been turned down.
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    atarianatarian Posts: 3,116


    << <i>I've given common Morgan's as tips more than once. Just for the heck of it. >>



    Do you ever do that auto part stores? Thats where i got my 1922 from. to this day i have yet to go back there to get the light for my car that i paid for and forgot.
    Founder of the NDCCA. *WAM Count : 025. *NDCCA Database Count : 2,610. *You suck 6/24/10. <3 In memory of Tiggar 5/21/1994 - 5/28/2010 <3
    image
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    SaorAlbaSaorAlba Posts: 7,593 ✭✭✭✭✭
    I have spent a Peace dollar, like a 1923 last year - deliberately as a tip.
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    BarryBarry Posts: 10,100 ✭✭✭
    Dateless Buffs. Cashier never even noticed.

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