How to have fun collecting coins with special dates!

One of the things I like best about coins as collectibles is that they display the year they were minted. So you don’t have to be an expert to know how old a coin is – unlike many other collectibles like antiques, whose age can only be approximated and usually only by an expert (PBS’s Antiques Roadshow is a big hit). Sure, it takes some expertise to know the condition or grade of a coin, but anyone can tell when it was made! And because they also carry mint marks, anyone can just as easily see where a coin was struck.

Coins are valued mementos from the year they were minted

By displaying the year they were produced, legal tender coins struck by national mints become “official dated mementos” of the year they were made. This has been recognized by individuals, community leaders and government officials for centuries – and it has long been a tradition to embed a coin in the door jamb of a new home to date its construction, and to place a time capsule containing coins and other artifacts under or within the cornerstone of an important building during construction.

Collecting coins with dates from Paul Revere’s historic era is one way to collect.

A time capsule was discovered recently in the cornerstone of the Massachusetts State House in Boston during foundation repairs. When opened on January 6, 2015, it contained newspapers, an engraved silver plate, and some of America’s earliest coinage; including a copper medallion depicting George Washington, and 23 gold, silver and copper coins. Research revealed that the capsule was placed in the cornerstone during construction of the State House in 1795 by then-governor Samuel Adams and fellow legendary patriot Paul Revere.

Dated coins can commemorate and recall memorable years and events in history, as well as milestones in your own life or the lives of your loved ones. Assembling coins that bear significant dates is a popular and rewarding way to collect, and though many artifacts from bygone eras can be difficult to find and acquire, coins can be surprisingly affordable and available.

Honoring significant years in history

LCC’s 150th anniversary set commemorates battles

You may enjoy owning coins from 1848 when gold was discovered in California, 1903 when the Wright brothers completed their first successful air flight, or 1969 when man first landed on the moon.

This year marks the 150th anniversary of the final year of the Civil War (1865) and the 70th anniversary of the last year of World War II (1945). So those years are often being recalled in the media this year, and coins bearing those dates are a great way to commemorate the conclusions of those major conflicts (see 1865 Two-Cent Piece or 1865 Nickel Three-Cent Piece for the historic final year of the Civil War – and see 1945 Jefferson Wartime Nickel or 1945 Liberty Walking half dollar for the final year of WWII).

Recalling personal milestones

Coins are also a popular way to recall significant years in your own life or in the lives of your loved ones – including birth years, graduations, weddings, anniversaries and retirements. Many, if not most, people are intrigued by things from the year they were born. I have a Franklin silver half dollar and Washington silver quarter from my birth year that I tucked away with other personal items, and forgot until I rediscovered them about 7 or 8 years ago while moving. It’s a good thing I forgot about them as a kid or I’d probably have spent them along with some Buffalo nickels and Liberty Walking half dollars that I pulled from circulation and intended to save! I’ve talked with quite a few other people who have set aside coins at some point in their lives with at least the intention of saving them to mark milestone years, and this attests to the universal appeal of coins as dated keepsakes!

A popular way to “commemorate” one’s own birth, or that of a child, grandchild, niece or nephew, is with the official U.S. Mint Sets and U.S. Proof Sets issued annually since the mid-20th century and containing each year’s finest-quality U.S. coins. Mint Sets and Proof Sets also make great remembrances for graduations, weddings and other personal milestones.

Collecting first- and last-year issues

Coins from the first and last years of a series have special historical significance to collectors. So many coin enthusiasts enjoy owning the 1913 and 1938 Buffalo nickels, 1916 and 1945 Mercury dimes, and other first- and last-year coins in their collections.

Those who collect coins with particular dates often use albums that accommodate a variety of coin denominations and sizes. Littleton offers a Collection Portfolio with album pages that provides for great flexibility in the coins you collect, how you arrange them, and related items such as newspaper clippings or photographs that you might want to include.

Thanks to their extraordinary durability, coins are enduring dated artifacts from significant years in history and in people’s lives.

Do you collect coins with particular dates as tributes to important years in history, in your own life or in the lives of your loved ones? Please share your recommendations and interests with others who enjoy this popular collecting method.