While for many, coins are just another form of currency, for others, they are a little bit (or way) more. Most often, these people are coin collectors who strive to gather the most beautiful, rare, and/or expensive coins in their collections that they can. Yet, understanding a piece’s value can be tricky to the naked eye. So, they turn to various online and offline channels for help.
One such channel is the r/coincollecting subreddit. In it, people are welcome to boast about their findings, ask to determine their uniqueness and worth, as well as just admire what a variety of coins can be found in the wild. Since our list is assembled from images posted by this community, let’s jump in to see what goodies they found, shall we?
More info: Reddit
#1 A Puzzle Of Misprinted Nickels
Image credits: Far-Foundation-8112
#2 1995 Penny Struck Over A Dime
Image credits: thegiftedpanther
#3 1989 Canadian 1 Dollar Coin With A Piece Of 25 Cent Coin Stuck On It
Image credits: Just_Aside_2175
As early as 105,000 years ago, humans started collecting things. Back then, people in the Kalahari region of southern Africa collected crystals, which did not exist naturally near the area where they were found, making them a valuable collectible.
Ever since, the act of collection has evolved, and nowadays people gather various things. From books and CDs to stamps, baseball cards (or other kinds of cards), and coins—people always find something worth investing their time, money, and home space in.
#4 8 Reales Colonial Mexico Coin From A Year 1740
Image credits: Dramatic-Feedback-
#5 Indian $5 From 1909
Image credits: Slight-Opening-8327
#6 Chuck E Cheese Token Coin From 2005
Image credits: InformationPrimary32
Speaking about coin collection, there’s a whole subreddit dedicated to it—r/coincollecting. There, people can ask others relevant questions, like about a coin’s worth, share what coins they found, or simply admire what others were able to find. It was created back in April of 2010, and ever since, it has gathered 109K members, making the community the top 2% in size on the whole platform.
Today’s list was assembled from this exact subreddit. In it, you’ll find various coins from different times and places. It just shows how even a seemingly insignificant piece of metal can hold so much history within itself. Or be actually fake and just giving numismatists false hope.
If you read the last sentence, you might wonder what a numismatist is. Well, knowing the topic of this article, it’s not surprising that it describes a person who is a specialist, researcher, and/or collector of coins.
#7 A Box Of Undated Type 1 United States Coins
Image credits: Jakethecake127
#8 1 Oz. American Eagle USA Gold Coin
Image credits: Aggravating_Let_5625
#9 A 1969 Severe Off-Center Penny Planchette
Image credits: BirdSproutBean
It should be noted that the term is a rather broad one, as it encompasses not only collection but researching money too. To be more specific, various means of payment were used to exchange goods and resolve debts throughout history.
So, coin collection can be differentiated from numismatics, as usually, it focuses on solely collecting particular coins, not other forms of currency, like bills. Some research is involved in the collection, as by trying to gather beautiful, rare, and historically significant pieces, collectors have to be in the know in order to find them and/or determine their value.
Several factors help to determine this, such as the coin’s type—whether it’s a circulating one or a commemorative design.
#10 Old Brothel Coin
Image credits: frog_goblin
#11 Double-Struck 1972 U.S. Coin
Image credits: bread_with_crust
#12 1961 Proof Franklin Half Dollar
Image credits: Nice-Option-6875
The latter are designed to be collectible items, often celebrating key events and themes. Also, the commemorative designs are individually packaged and categorized into three standards: circulating, brilliant uncirculated, and proof (these ones are often struck in precious metals such as silver and gold). So, as you can see, figuring out the type can drastically increase (or decrease) a coin's worth.
Besides that, factors like official mintage (the number of coins produced), design, condition, and source matter as well. Yet, figuring out all these things might be hard to figure out by yourself.
So, it’s normal for collectors to look for help in various places, the discussed subreddit included. And while they look for help figuring out their findings’ value, we common folks get a gallery full of fascinating coins to enjoy.
#13 1874 $20 Double Eagle Liberty Head Gold Coin
Image credits: leastbadparentsever
#14 Magicians Coin From 1967
Image credits: THX-138
#15 Fantasy Pirate Coin
Image credits: thalonelydonkeykong
#16 $2 Vegemite Coin
Image credits: anonymous
#17 Fake United States Draped Bust Quarter
Image credits: ReaBllo
#18 1944-S Mercury Dime
Image credits: give-me-the-Stonks
#19 The New Orleans Mint Seated Liberty Coin
Image credits: Level_Violinist3547
#20 1964 Kennedy Half Dollar
Image credits: Ninjew
#21 1923 Peace Coin
Image credits: Ok_Efficiency1575
#22 Irradiated Dime Of 1942
Image credits: Patient_Sector_9643
#23 Possibly Fake 1881 U.S. $1 Coin
Image credits: anonymous
#24 Dollar Coin Minted Probably Between 2000 And 2018
Image credits: TheFisherman05
#25 Lincoln 1999 Coin's Vice Job
Image credits: jennacapo
#26 1940 Wheat Penny
Image credits: DayzahVu
#27 The 1867 $3 Coin
Image credits: bluepapernotes
#28 1964-D Roosevelt Dime Silver
Image credits: gr33ngiant
#29 1944-D Walking Liberty Half Dollar
Image credits: LeatherWeight4729
#30 Chuck E Cheese Token Coin From 1984
Image credits: Anon_Jones