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How to Find Out What a Certain Coin Is

When you come across a strange coin, you may want to figure out exactly what kind of coin it is. To do that, you need to figure out the coin's country of origin, denomination and date of mint to come up with an idea as to its overall value. Other things to pay attention to are the physical condition of the coin and the presence of any mint marks.

Instructions

- 1
  Find out where the coin originated. Search the coin for any obvious indicators such as the words "United States of America." Try to place any unfamiliar text on a coin by conducting an Internet search. Coinage almost always carries some indication as to its country of origin.
- 2
  Determine the denomination of the coin. This info is usually written on one of the faces of the coin. For example, the words "One Dime" appear on the back of U.S. dimes. Words like "Shilling" and "Farthing" also indicate denomination. Again, an Internet search can help you place any unknown terms.
- 3
  Search for a date. The date a coin was minted is generally present on one of its faces. Once you know what type of coin you have, the date can tell you the most about its potential worth.
- 4
  Search the coin for any other seemingly significant details. Some coins bear a mark, usually a single letter, that tells you at which exact mint they were created. You should also take note of the images on the front and back of the coin, as well as any other words.
- 5
  Take the coin to a coin dealer if you are having trouble finding any information about it, and ask if he can help you with its identification. Coin dealers can help you identify the coin and likely tell you what it's worth.

Coin Collecting