U.S. Coins and Jewelry (2024)

FAQs

Is it illegal to turn U.S. coins into jewelry? ›

While you are generally free to use any type of coin for jewelry making, it`s important to be aware of the laws surrounding defacing or altering currency. In some cases, it may be illegal to alter certain coins, such as those that are considered rare or collectible.

Generally speaking, you are free to travel internationally with your gold coins. However, we recommend conducting in-depth research before doing so. Each region and country will have different regulations and requirements when it comes to declaration documents and import taxes.

The penny, nickel, dime, and quarter are the circulating coins that we use today. To learn more about the history of these coins, read The History of U.S. Circulating Coins.

The Rarest Mint Mark: 1870-CC

The 1870-CC mint mark is especially notable for several coins: 1870-CC Liberty Seated Dollar: This coin is one of the rarest, with only 11,758 pieces minted. In high grades, it can fetch upwards of several hundred thousand dollars.

Currently, with the exception of the one sold on July 30, 2002, 1933 double eagle coins cannot be the legal possession of any member of the public, as they were never issued and hence remain the property of the United States government.

The Treasury Department claims every one was accounted for and melted. None have publicly surfaced in the 45 years since. If an original 1964 Peace silver dollar were to turn up, it would be subject to immediate confiscation since it would be assumed to be stolen government property.

Although there is no federal law that explicitly states that the government can call in your gold, during extreme crises the government has the means to seize it whether it comes in the form of an Executive Order or a law.

Today, there are no specific limits on how much gold a person can own in the U.S. Whether it's bullion, coins, or jewelry, you can buy, own, and possess as much gold as you like. The only restrictions may come from reporting requirements if you simultaneously buy or sell large amounts of gold.

Yes, you are allowed to carry gold on an international flight. There is however no duty-free allowance for doing so. If you decide to carry gold on a flight then you will need to declare it and pay the customs duty.

While you may receive a $1 coin in change on occasion, for the most part, you'll have to seek them out to find them. Although some rare, historical coins like the 1794 Flowing Hair Silver One Dollar can be worth millions of dollars, saying they aren't likely to appear in your everyday change is an understatement.

What is the rarest type of U.S. coin? ›

When it comes to valuable coins, nothing compares to the 1933 Double Eagle. The Double Eagle, the last gold currency struck in the U.S., sold for a whopping $18.9 million in 2021. First minted in 1907, the coin features an image of Lady Liberty on its obverse and an eagle in flight on the reverse, Smithsonian reported.

To find silver half dollars, you'll want to find a bank with circulated coins rather than freshly-minted coins. The best banks for circulated half-dollars are big-name banks with businessmen patrons. Corporate banks deal with large amounts of circulated coins and will have more on hand.

That's what happened to several pennies produced in 1982, which pushed their value up from 1 cent to nearly $20,000. The penny in question is the 1982-D Small Date Copper Alloy Lincoln Cent, which sold at auction in 2016 for $18,800, according to Numismatic News.

The 1941 quarter has at least six doubled-die errors plus the Large-S and Small-S mint mark varieties, according to Coin Value Lookup. All these errors make these quarters worth big paychecks. Regarding finding a quarter worth $35,000, the coin sold had the Canadian “1941” imprint behind the U.S. “DOLLAR.”

Notably, all forms of United States currency are protected under federal law, including paper bills and coins. Simply put, Title 18 U.S. Code 331 makes it a federal offense to fraudulently alter, mutilate, or falsify coins in the United States.

It's only illegal to melt down cents and nickels for their metal content. Pre 1965 US 90% silver coins and the 40% clad silver coins from 1965 up are OK to melt. You could also melt down US gold but as a rule they are worth more on the market as coins than as metal.

Coin pendants can be made using any size and denomination of coins, and are typically mounted on a pendant or bezel that then hangs from a chain. In this article, you will learn more about why you should create your coin pendant necklace and how to make your own.