Letters to the Editor: Sept. 17, 2019

Congratulations

I just wanted to congratulate Active Interest Media on the acquisition of Numismatic News. I am sure you will live up to and surpass subscriber expectations.

Dom Cicio
Groveland, Fla.

Major Mint Error

I have found a major mint error but don’t know who to report it to. It’s one of those very cool things that you want to scream from the mountaintops. On the other hand, I want to find some for each of my grandchildren before the rush starts.

James McKinney
Address withheld

Response to Nickel/Nickel Statehood Quarters

In response to Ronald Lainko’s inquiry about “nickel/nickel” Statehood Quarters from the Aug. 6 issue of Numismatic News. There are at least three possible reasons:

1. Total Mint error in producing coins on the wrong planchet. (A small amount of coins could have been minted and released undetected by inspectors).

2. In relation to no. 1, the coin could have been produced on a planchet meant for a foreign country, which is a “customer” of the Mint. (The Mint has contracts with several foreign countries to produce coins for that country).

3. The coin is counterfeit. Except for China (PRC), counterfeiters cannot spare the expense of having the correct composition for their product.

Bill Tuttle
Cleveland, Ohio

U.S. Mint Customer Service

I ordered 25 Mint sets on July 3 and received them on July 11. Twenty four pennies were missing. I called the Mint the same day I received my order and they said that I would get a paper to fill out. At the time I’m writing this, it is now Aug. 8 and I have not gotten the paper.

Jerry McConnell
Yreka, Calif.

ATB Quarter Collectors

One of your contributors in an email referred me to this magazine for the price lists showing values of “uncirculated rolls” of quarters.True, the magazine shows values of Uncirculated Rolls of each denomination including the 50 State quarters (1999-2008).The “America the Beautiful” quarters series, however, is now in its tenth year (2010 - 2019) with one last quarter in 2021 and is not listed.Don’t you think after ten years whoever determines the value of coins for the magazine should be publishing values of uncirculated rolls of the ATB series of quarters?The mintages for both series of quarters is in the hundreds of millions i.e. comparable and is available in the annual Red Book.

Further, there are several kinds of Uncirculated Rolls of quarters. Some are Mint wrapped or purchased directly from the Mint at a mark-up.Some are uncirculated with the String or Loomis wrappers and found, if you’re lucky, at local banks.Then there are the special postal cancellations on rolls obtained by attendees of the Mint release ceremonies who run to the local post office afterward, not to mention rolls signed at the Mint release ceremonies by the designer of the reverse and/or Mint dignitaries.

Do these release ceremony special rolls command even a one-dollar premium? People come from all parts of the country to attend theMint’s release ceremonies.Please give us, ATB quarters collectors, some recognition.

Thank you for your consideration.

Anne (last name withheld)
Boston, Mass.

Editor’s Note:

Hello Anne,

Thanks for reaching out to us and for providing great feedback! We will be sure to get this over to our pricing team.

1834 Half Dime Value

For many years I have depended on the Official Red Book for my coin activities.Now I need help.

I have a half dime coin dated 1834 with 5c on the reverse. The Red Book lists only the1835 with 5c and later. I am at a loss on how much my coin is worth.

Hopefully you can inform me where to go for information about it, or direct me in how to approach this.

I am not a pro collector, far from it.

Thank you in advance.

Howard Stegmann
Address withheld

Editor’s Note:

Hi Howard,

According to our most recent Coin Market, printed in the Sept. 3 issue of Numismatic News, the 1834 half dime ranges in price from $50 in G4 condition up to $2,000 in MS65 condition. The condition of your coin will determine the value within that range.