By Charles Morgan for CoinWeek …..
I have to admit, I haven’t been as good an advocate for circulating coins as I should be. I’ve become so accustomed to using electronic payments that I can scarcely remember a recent instance when I actually spent cash and receive coins in change. That ends today. I’m going to make it a point to use cash at least once a week in order to review the currency I get back in change and report whether any of it is collectible. Maybe together we can get a sense of what to look for and what can go back out into the world.
Today’s transaction netted me a $1 Federal Reserve Note, three Washington Quarters, a Roosevelt Dime, and a Lincoln Cent. Let’s break each of these coins and bills down and see if the $1.86 I received in change has any collector value.
Series 2021 $1 Federal Reserve Note. Serial Number E 29856478C
Condition: Very Fine | Collectibility in this Grade: Low
Series 2021 Federal Reserve Notes were the first notes issued in United States history to carry the signatures of two women: Treasury Secretary Janet Yellen and Treasurer of the United States Lynn Malerba. Yellen was the first woman to serve as Treasury Secretary and Malerba, the lifelong chief of the Mohegan Tribe, was the first Native American to serve in the role of Treasurer. At her swearing-in ceremony, Malerba commented that her signature carried her maiden name of Roberge in honor of her parents, who raised seven children in the face of severe financial hardship. In spite of these long odds, Malerba attended college and ultimately earned her Doctor of Nursing degree from Yale University.
Before serving as Treasury Secretary, Yellen served as the 15th Chair of the Federal Reserve. An accomplished economist, Yellen spent most of her career in government service and earned a Masters and Doctorate from Yale.
As for the note itself, despite being just a few years old, it has been folded and creased many times. The paper is intact and some of the note’s original skin is still present. Still, this isn’t a collectible note, not in this condition. Generally, one will want an uncirculated example of a modern note – Star Notes being especially interesting. A fun way to collect each modern series is by Federal Reserve Bank branch. This may require eBay for branches remote from you, but as a collector who can find Richmond notes quite frequently, I’m going to put this note in my wallet and spend it.
2000-D Virginia State Quarter
Condition: Extra Fine | Collectibility in this Grade: Low
The 50 State Quarters were produced from 1999 through 2008. The popular series honored each state in the order in which they were admitted to the Union, starting with Delaware and concluding with Hawaii.
This 2000-D Virginia Quarter has seen quite a bit of use, which is unsurprising given that the coin is 25 years old and the quarters are heavy hitters in circulation. The coin’s surfaces are heavily marked with scratches in key focal areas, and the reverse is stained and dirty – an easy candidate for a coin in my change that goes back into circulation. The State Quarters were heavily collected by the general public, especially in the program’s first year. In at least one case, a BU example can be purchased easily for $1.50. If one wanted a collection of only circulation pulls, I’d wait until a nicer one turns up.
1993-P Washington Quarter
Condition: Very Fine | Collectibility in this Grade: Low
This 1993-P Washington Quarter is even more beat up than the 2000-D. Thirty-two years of heavy usage has worn the coin down to a grade of Very Fine, although the heavy scratches behind Washington’s head and across his cheek and forehead are enough to downgrade the coin to a details grade.
Uncirculated quarters from this date sell for about $1.50; this one is worth 25¢. Into the to-be-spent pile, it goes.
1986-P Washington Quarter
Condition: Very Good | Collectibility in this Grade: Low
Three quarters from three different decades. That’s not too bad. With this 1986-P, we see what 39 years of wear will do to a copper-nickel-clad quarter. Wholesome wear all around, but the hair and feature details are worn off In most areas. When I began my collecting journey in the early 1980s, this was the look that we’d see for most 1965-67 coinage. That this “look” has now fully encroached upon the quarters of the 1980s shows the passage of the time and how the coins of your youth will also gradually wear down and disappear. It’s when we acknowledge this truth that the collecting bug really sets in.
This isn’t a great 1986-P Washington Quarter as far as a change pull goes, but it is a Very Good one. I’d be tempted to hold onto it to fill my coin album hole for now and hope that a nicer one comes along so I can upgrade it. A Brilliant Uncirculated example might set you back $1.50, but one in this condition, if purchased on eBay, would probably cost you double face. So, let’s call this a 50¢ circulation find.
2017-P Roosevelt Dime
Condition: About Uncirculated 58 | Collectibility in this Grade: Low
After seven-plus years of circulation, this 2017-P Roosevelt Dime still has much of its original skin, picking up a few cuts here and there. I’d say, as a circulation find, if this coin were from the 1980s or ’70s, then you’d have a keeper, so long as you’re trying to fill your album with coins pulled from change. Fresh rolls of 2017-Ps exist; of course, you can get the Mint Set for about $35. This coin has a collector value of about 85¢ if you list it on eBay.
2023 Lincoln Cent
Condition: Mint State 63 Red | Collectibility in this Grade: Moderate
I put this 2023 Lincoln Cent in the moderate collectible category because it is still technically in Mint State. There is no sign of rub, but the coin exhibits several contact marks and it is spotted. Unfortunately, both issues are inevitable for Zincolns. Fresh rolls of 2023s with brighter, less banged-up coins are still out there, and if you wanted to spring for the annual Uncirculated Coin Set, you’d get this and every other circulation strike from 2023. However, those sell for about $25 to $30, which seems like a bit much.
There is a scarce 2023 Lincoln Cent variety worth looking for. The United States Mint produced a limited amount of pennies with an extra “V” located to the left of the V.D.B. initials on the bust truncation. The presence of that error would turn this ordinary penny into a collectible coin worth $70 or more. Sadly, my example did not have this feature.
With the cent taking its final bow in 2025, I expect to see many new collectors come into the hobby looking for pennies before they disappear. It may seem impossible that these coins will one day no longer circulate, but the clock is ticking. Might not be a bad time to make a visit to the bank and get a box of rolled coin and start your collection today. Or you could do like I did, and take a closer look at your change.
How Did We Do Today?
When you pull coins from change, you shouldn’t expect to hit any home runs. But whenever you can find a coin that teaches uyou something new, you’ve advanced your position in the hobby. I bet you didn’t know about the importance of the dual signatures on the Federal Reserve Note, and you might not have heard about the rare 2023 Lincoln Cent variety.
I’ll be back next week with another pull. Until then, let me know in the comments what cool coins you found in change this week!
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