Contents of Paperweight May Carry Heavy Price

Question: For years I have been using a paperweight on my desk--a U.S. silver dollar, which in retrospect I imagine was one of the few I ever brought back from Las Vegas a number of years ago. However, on looking at it--it does not shine like the Vegas silver--with a magnifying glass, I was surprised to find it was dated 1799. Everything is clear to tread, and there is no mutilation. At the Hollywood Library, only one book listed it, and it gave only the degrees of grading or condition. Nowhere did it give a clue to any price value. Can you give me a ballpark figure of its possible value?--W.L.

Answer: The earliest United States dollar was issued in 1794. Certainly 1799 is desirable, as are all of the early dollars. It’s hard to believe that anyone would transform such a coin into a paperweight, even in Las Vegas. It’s important to find out whether your coin is genuine. Many coin dealers can help you with this, or you can go to a certification service. If genuine, your 1799 $1 is worth $300 and up, depending upon condition.

Q: What is the market price for the 1986 proof silver Eagle and gold Eagle coins? How about the 1989 proof version for both?--R.E.B.

A: Proof 1986 silver Eagles are now selling for about $30. Proof gold Eagles for the same year are about $429. This is a popular United States bullion coin that essentially will fluctuate in price along with the spot price of gold and silver. With the passage of time, however, you can also expect it to become a collector piece, which should add to its value.

The 1989 edition is being offered for $585 for the 1-ounce proof gold and $23 for the proof silver. Since its inception in 1986, there has been a drop-off in Eagle orders. The Mint only produces as many as are ordered; in 1986, 446,290 gold proofs were sold. The number dropped to 87,133 in 1988. If the pattern continues the Eagle could become a rather low-mintage piece. Only time will tell.

Q: I have two gold coins: a $10 1906 Liberty and a $5 1913 Indian; also a 1928 Irish florin and several quarters, 1934 to 1944. I would like to know the estimated value of these coins.--J.R.

A: Your $10 gold piece is worth $225 and up; the $5 gold piece is $200 and up; the Irish coin is worth about $12, and your quarters are worth 75 cents each and up, depending on condition.

Coin News

When you can’t have the real thing, either because it’s too expensive or too rare, sometimes a reproduction will have to do. Paper money fanciers can enhance their collections with a souvenir card (pictured) depicting the back of the Series 1891 $1,000 silver certificate. Depicted on this card, issued in conjunction with the recently concluded American Numismatic Assn. convention, is an offset vignette from the Centennial Share Certificate of 1876. The card, identified as ANA ’89 Item No. 974, is $5.50; a postal service canceled version (ANA ’89 Item No. 975) is $5.75 from the Bureau of Engraving and Printing, Mail Order Sales, Room 602-11A, 14th and C streets S.W., Washington, D.C. 20226.

Twelve of Israel’s most important historic and holy sites are being commemorated in a series of silver medals. Four of the medals commemorate Jerusalem, while others depict Bethlehem, Nazareth, Capernaum, Mt. Tabor, Armageddon, the Jordan River, Tomb of Rachel and Masada. These medals are also available in gold, from $110 to $135, and bronze for $12 each. For specifics or to order, contact Intergold, 23326 Hawthorne Blvd., Skypark Ten, Suite 150, Torrance, Calif. 90505; telephone (800) 472-6327.

The Coin of the Year, Britain’s 1989 gold proof Britannia, is now available to North American collectors. The coin will have lower mintages than last year. Only 2,500 four-coin sets have been authorized for worldwide distribution, and 1,500 two-coin sets containing the 1/4-ounce and 1/10th-ounce coins have been authorized. There will be no individual 1/2-ounce or 1/4-ounce proof Britannias this year. The other denominations will be limited to 1,000 individual 1-ounce proofs and 1,500 individual 1/10th-ounce coins. The four-coin proof set is $1,595; the two-coin proof set is $340; the 1-ounce coin is $875 and the 1/10-ounce coin is $100. Order from the British Royal Mint, P.O. Box 2570, Woodside, N.Y. 11277-9864; telephone (800) 221-1215.

Alpert cannot answer mail personally but will respond to numismatic questions of general interest in this column. Do not telephone. Write to Your Coins, You section, The Times, Times Mirror Square, Los Angeles 90053.