Too Keep or Not Too Keep

[turnerscc]

I hear people talking about "Rosies", Merc's etc...

What are the best year of coins to keep? Example: 1969 and older?

What is a Rosie?


Sorry for the lame questions but I don't want to pass up something good or spend something good I get in my change from a restaurant

[dave]

A rosie is a roosevelt dime , a merc is a mercury dime , they were silver from 1964 back anything after that is clad , more than one metal and no silver . the rosie's are just fun to find , no particular one is worth that much, a merc is from 1916 to 1945 , a coulpe of good one's , 1916d is the best one , a 1942/1 is also a good one , quarters are the same and as are halfs , 1964 back are silver . allways good to find silver .

[turnerscc]

Glad I asked... I bet I have passed up a bunch of Rosies in my every day dealings with cash

Have a great weekend!

[John's Detectors]

Be sure to keep an eye out for those Kennedy Halves too. From 1965 to 1970 they still contained 40% silver. The 1964 has 90% silver content. God Bless and happy hunting Turner!

John Tomlinson,CET P=VI
John's Detectors
Blackwell,Tx.
Best Little Detector Shop in Texas!

[julieburger]

What about nickels? And are the rosies you mentioned all or just part silver? I am glad somebody asked this.

[DougsGraphics]

Originally Posted by julieburger

What about nickels? And are the rosies you mentioned all or just part silver? I am glad somebody asked this.

From mid 1942 through 1945, the US mint produced the "War Nickels" which were made from 56% copper, 35% silver, and 9% manganese. This allowed for nickel to be dedicated to the war effort (for things like rifle barrels). They are distinguished from modern Jefferson Nickels in part by color and hardness, but also by a large mint mark placed over the top of Monticello Dome on the reverse -- ensuring they could be easily retrieved from use after the war.

Most silver coins are about 90% silver and 10% copper -- a much better alloy than pure silver. Pure silver is just too soft for coinage. You can learn a lot about silver dimes from sites like Wikipedia: Dime (United States coin - Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia)

[DougsGraphics]

Oops, that link should be:

Dime (United States coin - Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia)

Happy Hunting, ya'all!

[julieburger]

Thank you I found a 1940 nickel but I guess it is just considered clad.

[Joe(TX)]

The 1940 nickel is a keeper, it is not clad! The clad coins include dimes, quarters, halves, and the Susan B. Anthony dollar coins. The years minted for these would be 1965 thru the present year. Of course, the Susan B Anthony clad coins were only minted from 1979 thru 2001(?) Also the 1965 thru 1970 halves are 40% silver and can still be found. The older Jefferson nickels are highly collected especially if found in the better grades! Dug Rosies and Mercs can be easily identifed by looking at the edge or rim, it should be a solid silver color not the clad color! Also if these are tarnished, light rubbing will expose the silver color, clads will not do this! HAPPY HUNTING.......................Joe

[Winger Ed.]

Originally Posted by turnerscc

I don't want to pass up something good or spend something good I get in my change from a restaurant

Generally,
Anything silver coin older than '64 is worth (usually- only a little) more than its face value. I forget the years they stopped wheat backed pennies & buffalo nickels, but they are 'keepers' too.

If you're getting into this, you might want to get one of those coin books.
At the least, they're interesting to flip through and read while on the 'throne', or- it could be one of the best $5-6 bucks ya ever spent.......

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