This is NOT something that was done at the Mint. It's a privately made novelty item, known as a Magician's Coin, created by altering two normal coins and joining the pieces back together. Use a magnifier to check just inside the rim on one side of the coin -- you are looking for the seam where the two pieces were joined -- it could be on either side of the coin. They cost about $7-8 new from novelty shops and sell for $2-3 on eBay. They have no value to coin collectors, however, because they are privately made by damaging genuine coins. You can hold onto it for magic tricks and making bets.... but be prepared to run fast if you use it for a bet.

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Many years ago the Mint had all coin presses redesigned so that dies are "keyed". That is, obverse dies only fit into the obverse anvil and reverse dies fit into the reverse anvil. It's physically impossible for two same-side dies to be put into a press. While many errors including "mule" coins (half one denomination, half another) can still occur, double-headed coins are not and cannot number among those mistakes. See the related Web Links for more info.

Dan Moore The Working Man's Rare Coins

Answer More info :

Its amazing how many of these are turning up on this board. Follow the links to the previous questions. Yours is just like all the others. You can use the Search feature of this site to find many, many similar questions about how these novelty "coins" are made.

Any U.S. half dollars dated 1971 and found in circulation are only worth 50 cents. They're made of copper-nickel like dimes and quarters, not silver, and have no special value.

Circulation Kennedy halves have been struck at Philadelphia and Denver. Philadelphia halves only started to use the P mint mark in 1980, so a 1974 50¢ without a mint mark is perfectly normal. Denver halves dated 1968 and later have a small D between the date and the bottom of JFK's portrait.

A dealer would probably charge $1-2 for one in uncirculated condition.

If it's a proof coin with an S mint mark and in its original package, $2-3.

ALL U.S. coins carry these mottos so they really don't helping to ID a specific coin.

Right now it is worth about $25 just for the silver it contains. If it shows any significant wear, that's about all you can get for it, but in the highest grades it can be worth several hundred if it has no mint mark or a 'D' mint mark and possibly $2500 or more with an 'S' mintmark.

If you have a large (38 mm) silver dollar, 1922 is the most common date for Peace Dollars. The mint mark in on the tail side below the word ONE. The number of coins minted for your coin year is 51,737,000. PLEASE do not polish it. This will reduce the value greatly.

The value of a 1922 Peace Dollar is based upon the fact of the "Relief", which is the extent to which the image on the coin is raised above the background.

A Normal relief coin (the most common variety) will be priced between $17.00 and $175.00 according to wear. A mint state or proof coin can bring as much as $60,000.00.

A high relief coin that shows little wear will appraise at $2,500.00 while a near perfect condition specimen will be at $50,000.00-$75,000.00. Remember that this is for a "High Relief" Peace Dollar.

Check the related link below called "Price Guide" to see the current value.

If you have a small gold dollar, it is a commemorative Grant Memorial Dollar. There are varieties with and without a star over Grant's name which makes a difference in the price for some grades. Even if it shows a bit of wear, it is listed at $1500. $1800 if uncirculated, and if certified as MS-65. In MS-67, with the star it lists at $5500 and without it at $8000.

In God We Trvst

Many people wonder about the "Trvst" spelling on the motto.

TRVST is the normal spelling for all Peace Dollars (as well as other coins from that time period). It is NOT an error.

The use of V for U was an affectation of the time period, when designers were very fond of old Roman styles. The Latin alphabet did not have a separate letter for U; V served as a consonant, vowel, AND a number (!) You had to tell the uses apart by context. The say was true for the letter I, which also served as the consonant that we call J. The letters U and J were not commonly used until the Middle Ages.

This is NOT something that was done at the Mint. It's a privately made novelty item, known as a Magician's Coin, created by altering two normal coins and joining the pieces back together. Use a magnifier to check just inside the rim on one side of the coin -- you are looking for the seam where the two pieces were joined -- it could be on either side of the coin.

They cost about $7-8 new from novelty shops and sell for $2-3 on eBay. They have no value to coin collectors, however, because they are privately made by damaging genuine coins.

The only possible good news is that if you have an older magician's half dollar made before 1965, it would have enough silver in it that you could probably sell it to a scrap dealer for around $5 or $6.

The other thing you could do is hold onto it for magic tricks and making bets.... but be prepared to run fast if you use it for a bet.

Many years ago the Mint had all coin presses redesigned so that dies are "keyed". That is, obverse dies only fit into the obverse anvil and reverse dies fit into the reverse anvil. It's physically impossible for two same-side dies to be put into a press. While many errors including "mule" coins (half one denomination, half another) can still occur, double-headed coins are not and cannot number among those mistakes.

See the related Web Links for more info.

Dan Moore The Working Man's Rare Coins http:/www.workingmancoins.com

More info :

Its amazing how many of these are turning up on this board. Follow the links to the previous questions. Yours is just like all the others.

You have a manually altered novelty item, known as a Magician's Coin, made by altering two normal coins and gluing the pieces back together, that sells regularly for a couple dollars.

Use a magnifier and examine just inside the raised rim on both sides of the coin, looking for a seam where the pieces are joined, that can be on either side of the coin.

Despite its age, 1963 $5 US Notes aren't considered rare. As of 10/2010 auction prices are in the range of face value to $7 for a bill in circulated condition. A nice uncirculated one can bring $15 to $18, though.

The bill's red ink indicates that it's a United States Note, a form of currency that was issued from 1862 to 1966. They served the same purpose as Federal Reserve Notes, so the Treasury opted to consolidate all paper money under the Federal Reserve as a cost-saving move.

The 1963 $5 United States Note (red seal) is worth $18-$20 in mint uncirculated condition and $5-$8 in fine quality. A normal, wrinkled, used note is worth exactly $5 in any store.

Despite the bill's age and (by modern standards) unusual ink color, circulated ones aren't considered scarce. They might retail for $7-8 in average condition.

If your bill is crisp and uncirculated it might retail for $15-18.

Why red printing?

The use of red ink indicates the bill is a United States Note, a type of currency issued up till 1966. US Notes were essentially identical to Federal Reserve Notes in terms of design, printing, distribution, and financial backing from the Treasury. Rather than continue to print two separate types of bills the Treasury decided that it would be more cost-effective to suspend printing of US Notes, and all bills are now green-seal Federal Reserve Notes.

Serial numbers

It's normally not necessary to provide a bill's serial number. Serial numbers are counters and a security feature but rarely affect a bill's value. Some collectors will pay extra for numbers with a special pattern, e.g. 12345678, or low numbers such as 00000015.

Look on the back of the coin to see if there's a small mint mark letter above the DO in DOLLAR. It may be blank or there may be a CC, O or S. (The M on the front of the coin is the designer's monogram and not a mint mark.)

Numismedia lists the following approximate retail values as of 01/2013:

No mint mark (Philadelphia):

Very worn condition - $33

Moderately worn - $39

Slightly worn - $40

Almost no wear - $42

Uncirculated - $50 to $34,380 depending on quality

"CC" mint mark (Carson City):

Very worn - $506

Moderately worn - $900

Slightly worn - $1,310

Almost no wear - $8,424

Uncirculated - $22,810 to $937,500

"O" mint mark (New Orleans):

Very worn - $33

Moderately worn - $39

Slightly worn - $40

Almost no wear - $50

Uncirculated - $130 to $20,000

"S" mint mark (San Francisco):

Very worn - $36

Moderately worn - $52

Slightly worn - $60

Almost no wear - $110

Uncirculated - $192 to $29,380

DISCLAIMER: The retail values quoted are the best available as of the date shown, but may vary significantly due to changes in the precious metals market. Also the wholesale (buying) price of a coin will be less than the selling (retail) price. A reputable coin dealer will be able to give a more accurate valuation based on inspection of the coin.

FAQ's about Morgan dollars

E Pluribus Unum

The motto E Pluribus Unum (Latin for "Out of Many, One") is on ALL $1 coins minted since 1878 so that's not specific enough to ID any one coin.

Silver Eagles

Silver eagles are bullion coins minted since 1986 for sale to collectors but not for spending. Morgan dollars were made for use in ordinary circulation just like dimes and quarters.

If you are hoping to improve their numismatic value, cleaning of any kind reduces the value of a coin.

So in some short words, the answer is NO, STOP, DON'T. The best way is not to do so at all. Other than brushing off surface dirt with a very soft brush, or rinsing with distilled water and patting until thoroughly dry, the cleaning of coins (if done at all) should be left to professionals.

Done incorrectly, cleaning a coin can drastically reduce its value. If the coin is very badly crudded up but valuable enough to make it worth the investment, e.g. you found it in an archaeological dig, there are professional cleaning technicians who have the tools and knowledge to restore the coin. Such techniques were used to remove 150 years of ocean calcification from the S.S. Pacific hoard, for example.

If it has any possible value as a collectible, the best advice is DON'T clean it. Any abrasive cleaner, no matter how mild, will cause tiny scratches in the surface which will decrease its value to a collector dramatically. Chemical cleaners will alter the surface and give the coin an un-natural look. Some household cleaners will make a coin shiny-new looking when first cleaned but after a few months or years they look worse than before.

However, any surface dirt SHOULD be removed before storing the coin in an airtight holder for preservation. Do this by letting it soak in soap (not detergent) and distilled water. Detergents and tap water usually contain contaminates that may react with the coin. Then use an artist's camel-hair brush to gently sweep away any loosened dirt and let the coin air dry on a soft cloth. If any additional cleaning is required, it should be done by an experienced professional conservator. In fact, most collectors and dealers will pay far less for a coin that's been cleaned than for one that's in its original condition, even if it's dirty. Think of what happens on Antiques Roadshow where someone proudly shows off the cleaning job they did on an old table. Then one of the Keno brothers tells them that they HAD a $20,000 antique, but their "fixing" with turpentine or whatever took its value down to $1,500....

Here is the best solution: DO NOT USE COIN CLEANERS LIKE BRASSO, TARNX, ETC!!!!!!!!Don't use any abrasive substance, or try to clean it by rubbing, scratching, or scraping! If you soak your coins, use distilled water, and you can add a bit of soap. however, the soap solution can damage proof coins or and upper-grade coins with copper in it. For coins that won't be damaged, rinse them thoroughly and air dry. Another solution is to soak a coin in olive oil for several months. The oil will eventually dissolve the crust. However, badly corroded coins have permanent damage inside. The same goes for ancient coins with patina on it. Acetone is usable, but use it in a well ventilated area. You can also use vinegar and let it soak. That will also clean it.

As for Proof coins and Uncirculated coins, don't try to clean them. Get a replacement, or keep it as it is.

Facts from Coin Collecting 101 (Alan Herbert) "If there is any possibility that these coins have any numismatic value, cleaning them will just reduce that value to the amount of silver they contain. They may look good when first cleaned (if you don't use a magnifier), but almost any coin that has been cleaned will look worse in a few years than it looked before the cleaning. Drying with a paper towel will leave hundreds of tiny scratches, destroying the natural surface."

A Different Answer:

Most of the answers given so far concern themselves with any potential damge that may be done to the surface of the coin. Pristine uncirculated coins, proof coins and the such may suffer somewhat from improper cleaning methods, however, a tarnished silver or copper coin has already been damged even before you clean it. Tarnish is corrosion and even on silver it will leave tiny pits in the surface of the metal. The heavier the tarnish, the worse the pitting. This is why when an older coin is cleaned with chemicals the original luster never returns. So by cleaning a coin you probably do a little damage depending upon how you do it but in the end you are simply exposing the damage the tarnish/corrosion has already done. I don't know why so many collectors do not realize a tarnished coin is , in fact, damaged by the tarnish and thus should be worth less than the untarnished coin.

Below is a price guide based on condition

Good (Heavily Circulated. Possible tears, stains, holes. WORST CONDITION)= $45-55

Very Good- Fine (A well circulated note. Showing much folding and wrinkling. Minor stains but no major defects) = $55-$80

Very Fine-Extremely Fine (Some Circulation. Minor creases and folds. Somewhat clean and Chrisp)- $80-$120

Almost Uncirculated- (The note displays no evidence of being passed through general circulation. Could have ONE very minor fold in the corner or a slight mark. More than one impairment and it is not considered AU) = $120-$160

Uncirculated- Perfect- This is the highest grade. A note that has not been handled or passed through general circulation. Displays no folds, marks or pinholes. Generally this is the largest gap in value because uncirculated through perfect notes are always more difficult to obtain) = $160- $350 (Notes Grade as GEM or PERFECT are very rare and would bring considerably more)

Any apparent Confederate paper money should be checked by an expert to make sure it's not a copy. Until the Hobby Protection Act required the word COPY to appear on reproductions, enormous numbers of replicas were printed. Many were sold as souvenirs; in the 1920s one firm gave away high-quality photocopies as promotional items.

The 1936 Mercury Dime was minted at 3 US mints: Philadelphia which is shown as 1936-P in this list; Denver which is shown as 1936-D in this list and San Francisco which is shown as 1936-S in this list. To determine which coin you have it will be necessary to locate the mint mark. This will be a small letter located on the reverse [tails] side of the coin just to the right of the letter "E" in the word "ONE". The letter "D" is for the Denver mint. The letter "S" is for the San Francisco mint. If there is no letter there, the coin was minted at Philadelphia. Please note, the world price for silver bullion has an effect upon the values of most circulated coins in this list. The circulated and uncirculated values for this coin are shown in the following list:

Circulated Grades.........1936-P............1936-D.............1936-S

G4..................................$4.....................$5....................$4

F12.................................$4.....................$6....................$4

EF40...............................$5.....................$10...................$5

Uncirculated Grades

MS60................................$12..................$28...................$25

MS63................................$15..................$37...................$29

MS65................................$23..................$52...................$38

MS67................................$85..................$375.................$340