/r/coins Frequent Coin List (FCL)

What it looks like:	What is it?
	a new US quarter. Beginning in 2022, and continuing through 2025, the US Mint is issuing new designs of the US quarter each year, focused on honoring pioneering American women. The obverses (heads side) all have a “new” portrait of George Washington facing right, by Laura Gardin Fraser. In fact it was the recommended design for the quarter in 1932, but Treasury Secretary Mellon selected the familiar left-facing John Flanagan design that was used from 1932 through 2021. The reverses (tails side) commemorate different American women who have made significant contributions in various fields. The 2023 designs include the unusual Jovita Idar quarter (shown left), which includes many inscriptions in the design, including E PLURIBUS UNUM and QUARTER DOLLAR. For more on the “American Women Quarters” program, click here. Value: These new quarters are only worth face value.
	a replica of a lepton or widow’s mite. (not a coin!) The lepton, the lowest-denomination coin used in ancient Judea, has Biblical significance, e.g., in the Lesson of the Widow’s Mite retold in the Gospels of Mark and Luke. Replicas, like this one, are mass-produced and commonly sold in religious supply stores. You can click here to see an example of an authentic lepton. Value: This item is only worth a few cents.
	an Aladdin’s Castle arcade token. (not a coin!) The same size as a US quarter, this is a game token for a now-defunct US chain of stand-up video game arcades located mostly in shopping malls during the ‘80s. Eventually acquired by Ballys and then Namco, the Aladdin’s Castle chain had 450 locations in its prime. Here’s the Numista entry for this particular token. Value: Around $1 to a collector of tokens.
	a Thai baht coin. Got a coin with curly characters and a modern-looking dude with glasses? That’s likely the late Bhumibol Adulyadej, aka King Rama IX, the beloved and popular king of Thailand (and patron saint of r/coins), whose noble countenance graces the millions of Thai coins made during his 70-year reign. He died in 2016, and newer Thai coins feature his son, Rama X. The image on the left is of a Rama IX 5-baht coin, but here are all of them on Numista. Value: $1 or less in most cases.
	replica “pirate coins”. (not actual coins!) These modern cast replicas of Spanish coins (escudos, doubloons, pieces of eight, “cobs,” etc.) are mass-produced and commonly sold as souvenirs, toys, novelties, etc., at gift shops and online. Designs differ. Two examples are shown on the left. The first shows the exaggerated guitar-pick shape common to many, which mimics the crude, irregular form of early coins (Example 1, Example 2). The second is of a token from the DREAD PIRATE board game (letters that spell the game’s name are partly visible along the edge of the coin). Value: A couple dollars as a novelty.
	modern US $1 coins. Despite many design changes, modern dollar coins never caught on with the public, and are not commonly seen in normal circulation. Clockwise from left: Eisenhower dollar (1971-1978). Coins made in 1975 and 1976 are dated “1776-1976” and have a special bicentennial reverse design. “S” issues having a silver rim are 40% silver and bring a small premium. Susan B Anthony dollar (1979-1981, 1999). The notable variant is the 1979-P “wide rim/near date” variety, which can be worth a modest premium. Presidential dollar (2005-2016). There were 4 obverse designs per year (3 in 2016) showing a different former US president; the year and mint mark are on the coin’s edge. Sacagawea dollar (2000-present). The reverse design has changed annually since 2009; the year and mint mark have been on the coin’s edge since 2009. The 2000-P “wounded eagle” die flaw, and the 2000-P “Cheerios” variety, are worth a premium. Value: Face unless otherwise stated/a variety.
	a lucky angel token. (not a coin!) A gold-toned token with an image of an angel on both sides is a popular spiritual token often distributed by Catholic Relief Services. The guardian angel design appeals to many people, and these may be carried for religious or superstitious purposes. They are not coins, and are made of non-precious base metal. Value: Generally not valuable to coin collectors.
	a toy “pirate coin” token. (not a coin!) A brass-colored, metal token with a crowned figure and what looks like a worn date (1721?) on one side and a ship sailing to the left on the other, this is actually a play “pirate coin” from a child’s activity game/toy sold through the Barnes & Noble bookstore chain. Despite its appearance as such, it is not a coin, and is made of non-precious base metal. Value: Generally not valuable to coin collectors.
	a pachinko token. (not a coin!) If you have a coin-like object with something that looks like Japanese on both sides of the coin with no other design elements, it’s likely a pachinko token. Pachinko tokens take many forms, but almost all of them have the same general “appearance” to them. You can learn more about pachinko parlors here on Wikipedia. Value: Generally not valuable to coin collectors.
	Euro coins of various denominations. We get asked about Euro coins a lot, of all denominations, so here’s some information to help clear the air. Euro coins, unless they have a MAJOR error (i.e., being off center by a significant amount), are only worth what is stated on the coin (a.k.a. face value). Each member country designs one side of the coin (known as the “national side”), and sometimes changes the design multiple times per year, this is why there are SO MANY different designs of the Euro coins. No design is more rare than another. If the center of your coin becomes loose and/or pops out entirely, this is uncommon, but can happen. There are also rumors that it may have been illegally recycled and this is why it is like this. If you have any questions about Euro coins not answered here, please post them to the sub and we will update this section when needed with the most commonly asked questions. Value: Face value.
	US Bicentennial coins. Bicentennial coinage was made in 1976 to celebrate 200 years of American independence. Generally speaking, the following applies to Bicentennial coinage: Quarters: These were hoarded in very large numbers upon release, so they generally are only worth a quarter unless they are silver. Check the edge of the coin. Is it all one silver color, or two-toned? If there is any copper color showing on the edge, even a little, it is sadly not silver. Half Dollars: These are the same as the quarter, only worth 50 cents unless silver. Dollars: As with the quarters and half dollars, only worth a dollar unless it’s silver. Value: See above list for values.
	a US wheat cent. A.K.A a wheat penny, or wheatback cent. These coins were minted from 1909 through 1958. They feature Abraham Lincoln on the obverse, and “ONE CENT” on the reverse, surrounded by two “ears” of durum wheat. They are made from 95% copper, with the remainder being zinc. The US wheat cent is typically worth a few cents – although there are some exceptions. In 1943, wheat cents were made from zinc-coated steel. The main “key date” coins are 1909-S, 1909-S VDB, 1914-D, 1922 (no mint mark), and 1931-S.There are semi-key dates including 1909 VDB, 1910-S, 1911-S, 1912-S, 1913-S, 1914-S, 1915-S, 1922-D, 1924-D, 1926-S.Any early year (before 1909-1920s) usually commands some premium – as do wheat cents in mint condition.In addition – there are other varieties and errors which may be worth more (e.g. the famous 1955 DDO) although most minor errors do not add much (if any) value. Value: If not listed above – probably worth anywhere from a few cents to a few dollars.
	a fake 1804 US Dollar Only ~15 are known to exist. Yours is a fake.
??? Or, “hey, my coin’s not on this list!”	Some tips: Do an internet search of words on the coin, together with the word “coin.” Use the advanced search feature on Numista (protip: use search filters, or search a photo). Use an app! Google Lens and Coinoscope are great. More tips in the r/coins FAQ. Here’s a link directly to the “what is this coin?” question.

a new US quarter.

Beginning in 2022, and continuing through 2025, the US Mint is issuing new designs of the US quarter each year, focused on honoring pioneering American women.

The obverses (heads side) all have a “new” portrait of George Washington facing right, by Laura Gardin Fraser. In fact it was the recommended design for the quarter in 1932, but Treasury Secretary Mellon selected the familiar left-facing John Flanagan design that was used from 1932 through 2021.

The reverses (tails side) commemorate different American women who have made significant contributions in various fields. The 2023 designs include the unusual Jovita Idar quarter (shown left), which includes many inscriptions in the design, including E PLURIBUS UNUM and QUARTER DOLLAR.

For more on the “American Women Quarters” program, click here.

Value: These new quarters are only worth face value.

a replica of a lepton or widow’s mite. (not a coin!)

The lepton, the lowest-denomination coin used in ancient Judea, has Biblical significance, e.g., in the Lesson of the Widow’s Mite retold in the Gospels of Mark and Luke.

Replicas, like this one, are mass-produced and commonly sold in religious supply stores.

You can click here to see an example of an authentic lepton.

Value: This item is only worth a few cents.

an Aladdin’s Castle arcade token. (not a coin!)

The same size as a US quarter, this is a game token for a now-defunct US chain of stand-up video game arcades located mostly in shopping malls during the ‘80s. Eventually acquired by Ballys and then Namco, the Aladdin’s Castle chain had 450 locations in its prime.

Here’s the Numista entry for this particular token.

Value: Around $1 to a collector of tokens.

a Thai baht coin.

Got a coin with curly characters and a modern-looking dude with glasses? That’s likely the late Bhumibol Adulyadej, aka King Rama IX, the beloved and popular king of Thailand (and patron saint of r/coins), whose noble countenance graces the millions of Thai coins made during his 70-year reign. He died in 2016, and newer Thai coins feature his son, Rama X.

The image on the left is of a Rama IX 5-baht coin, but here are all of them on Numista.

Value: $1 or less in most cases.

replica “pirate coins”. (not actual coins!)

These modern cast replicas of Spanish coins (escudos, doubloons, pieces of eight, “cobs,” etc.) are mass-produced and commonly sold as souvenirs, toys, novelties, etc., at gift shops and online.

Designs differ. Two examples are shown on the left.

The first shows the exaggerated guitar-pick shape common to many, which mimics the crude, irregular form of early coins (Example 1, Example 2).

The second is of a token from the DREAD PIRATE board game (letters that spell the game’s name are partly visible along the edge of the coin).

Value: A couple dollars as a novelty.

modern US $1 coins.

Despite many design changes, modern dollar coins never caught on with the public, and are not commonly seen in normal circulation. Clockwise from left:

Eisenhower dollar (1971-1978). Coins made in 1975 and 1976 are dated “1776-1976” and have a special bicentennial reverse design. “S” issues having a silver rim are 40% silver and bring a small premium.

Susan B Anthony dollar (1979-1981, 1999). The notable variant is the 1979-P “wide rim/near date” variety, which can be worth a modest premium.

Presidential dollar (2005-2016). There were 4 obverse designs per year (3 in 2016) showing a different former US president; the year and mint mark are on the coin’s edge.

Sacagawea dollar (2000-present). The reverse design has changed annually since 2009; the year and mint mark have been on the coin’s edge since 2009. The 2000-P “wounded eagle” die flaw, and the 2000-P “Cheerios” variety, are worth a premium.

Value: Face unless otherwise stated/a variety.

a lucky angel token. (not a coin!)

A gold-toned token with an image of an angel on both sides is a popular spiritual token often distributed by Catholic Relief Services. The guardian angel design appeals to many people, and these may be carried for religious or superstitious purposes.

They are not coins, and are made of non-precious base metal.

Value: Generally not valuable to coin collectors.

a toy “pirate coin” token. (not a coin!)

A brass-colored, metal token with a crowned figure and what looks like a worn date (1721?) on one side and a ship sailing to the left on the other, this is actually a play “pirate coin” from a child’s activity game/toy sold through the Barnes & Noble bookstore chain.

Despite its appearance as such, it is not a coin, and is made of non-precious base metal.

Value: Generally not valuable to coin collectors.

a pachinko token. (not a coin!)

If you have a coin-like object with something that looks like Japanese on both sides of the coin with no other design elements, it’s likely a pachinko token. Pachinko tokens take many forms, but almost all of them have the same general “appearance” to them. You can learn more about pachinko parlors here on Wikipedia.

Value: Generally not valuable to coin collectors.

Euro coins of various denominations.

We get asked about Euro coins a lot, of all denominations, so here’s some information to help clear the air.

Euro coins, unless they have a MAJOR error (i.e., being off center by a significant amount), are only worth what is stated on the coin (a.k.a. face value).
Each member country designs one side of the coin (known as the “national side”), and sometimes changes the design multiple times per year, this is why there are SO MANY different designs of the Euro coins. No design is more rare than another.
If the center of your coin becomes loose and/or pops out entirely, this is uncommon, but can happen. There are also rumors that it may have been illegally recycled and this is why it is like this.

If you have any questions about Euro coins not answered here, please post them to the sub and we will update this section when needed with the most commonly asked questions.

Value: Face value.

US Bicentennial coins.

Bicentennial coinage was made in 1976 to celebrate 200 years of American independence. Generally speaking, the following applies to Bicentennial coinage:

Quarters: These were hoarded in very large numbers upon release, so they generally are only worth a quarter unless they are silver. Check the edge of the coin. Is it all one silver color, or two-toned? If there is any copper color showing on the edge, even a little, it is sadly not silver.
Half Dollars: These are the same as the quarter, only worth 50 cents unless silver.
Dollars: As with the quarters and half dollars, only worth a dollar unless it’s silver.

Value: See above list for values.

a US wheat cent.

A.K.A a wheat penny, or wheatback cent. These coins were minted from 1909 through 1958. They feature Abraham Lincoln on the obverse, and “ONE CENT” on the reverse, surrounded by two “ears” of durum wheat. They are made from 95% copper, with the remainder being zinc. The US wheat cent is typically worth a few cents – although there are some exceptions. In 1943, wheat cents were made from zinc-coated steel.

The main “key date” coins are 1909-S, 1909-S VDB, 1914-D, 1922 (no mint mark), and 1931-S.There are semi-key dates including 1909 VDB, 1910-S, 1911-S, 1912-S, 1913-S, 1914-S, 1915-S, 1922-D, 1924-D, 1926-S.Any early year (before 1909-1920s) usually commands some premium – as do wheat cents in mint condition.In addition – there are other varieties and errors which may be worth more (e.g. the famous 1955 DDO) although most minor errors do not add much (if any) value.

Value: If not listed above – probably worth anywhere from a few cents to a few dollars.

a fake 1804 US Dollar
Only ~15 are known to exist. Yours is a fake.

???

Or, “hey, my coin’s not on this list!”

Some tips:

Do an internet search of words on the coin, together with the word “coin.”
Use the advanced search feature on Numista (protip: use search filters, or search a photo).
Use an app! Google Lens and Coinoscope are great.
More tips in the r/coins FAQ. Here’s a link directly to the “what is this coin?” question.