1968 Canadian 25-cent struck in two metals

What is the silver content of the 1968 Canadian 25-cent coin?

The 1968 25 cents were struck in two metals. 71.4 million were made in .500 silver, and 88.7 million were pure nickel. You can tell them apart with a magnet, as the nickel is slightly magnetic.

I’ve heard that there is a $1,000 reward for a certain variety of the 1964 nickel. I have one, so will you get the reward for me, please?

I’m sorry to disappoint you, but I know of no variety of any kind in the minting of the 1964 or 1964-D nickels that is worth $1,000, or even a significant fraction of that figure. The only one I can think of off-hand is the “PLURIDUS” variety, attributed by the Mint to die abrasion. It is worth upwards of $50 to $75, depending on the grade. I don’t know of any legitimate offer of a “reward” for coin varieties either.

Weren’t there actually three different date sizes for the 1960 cents – a small, medium and large date?

This is another situation akin to the problems with the different mintmarks on the 1979 and 1981 proof coins. Shortly after the small-date 1960 and 1960-D cents were first reported, enthusiastic collectors reported that there were three sizes and for a time the medium dates were advertised right along with the small. Later it was conclusively proved, based on Mint records, that only two different sized dates were used for 1960. The so-called medium date was merely a large date die that had been heavily abraded, altering the shape and appearance of the digits.

What is meant by a “Bugs Bunny” half dollar?

“Bugs Bunny” is a nickname or slang term for a die clash that appears across Benjamin Franklin’s mouth on the half dollar, giving him the appearance of having buck teeth. The die clash is damage to the die from its hitting the opposing die without a planchet between them. This damage from the reverse design is then transferred onto the struck coins. Even less well-known is that examples of the die clash are readily found for other dates and mints, but the 1955 got all the publicity and glory.

Is it unusual to find missing stars and missing letters in “INDEPENDENCE HALL” on the reverse of the Bicentennial Kennedy halves?

Missing letters and stars are quite common on the Kennedy Bicentennial halves. It’s a combination of a die design problem and dirt filling the die and preventing the coin metal from entering the letters and the stars. They are too common to have any collector value, although most minting varieties that occur on the Bicentennial coins carry a premium – if the same variety has value on a regular date coin.

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