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How to Tell if Old Coins Are Type 1 or Type 2

The U.S. Mint has issued thousands of different coin designs since the 1790s, with many common issues struck in different types. Some of these types, or varieties, can be worth significantly more than other coins from the same year, while sometimes the difference in value is negligible. Most coin denominations of American coinage have seen some examples issued in different varieties over the years. By learning about the different types you may find a coin that is worth a mint.

Things You'll Need

Magnifying glass

Instructions

- 1
  Examine the reverse of the Indian Head penny for an oak shield. The Mint introduced the Indian Head design in 1850 with a laurel wreath surrounding the words "ONE CENT" on the reverse. The second variety of the coin with a shield in an oak wreath was struck from 1860 to 1864 before the reverse was changed to the previous design. Values for the coins are about the same.
- 2
  Check your Lincoln pennies for one without a bronze appearance. You could have a steel penny. The Lincoln penny came out in 1909 featuring a primarily copper composition. A second variety made mostly of steel was issued in 1943 due to a shortage of copper during World War II. Steel pennies are worth about three to four times the value of copper pennies issued in the 1940s.
- 3
  Look for a Jefferson nickel with a silver shine. The Mint struck nickels from 1942 to 1945 using mostly silver, as nickel was an important metal for the war effort during World War II. Silver nickels are worth about four to five times as much as other nickels produced in this era, which will appear duller in appearance.
- 4
  Check your Kennedy half dollars for a silver shine. The first issue in 1964 contains 90 percent silver, while the half dollars struck from 1965 to 1970 contain about 40 percent silver.
- 5
  Inspect the lettering on your 1976 Eisenhower dollar coins. The words on the reverse of the first variety were imprinted boldly, while the second variety features more delicate and thin lettering. Both varieties are worth about the same, not much more than face value for circulated coins.

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