Anyone here at DU know anything about coins?

[freethought]

I would post this in the 'Personal Interests' lobby of DU but there is really no place that fits this post.
I was getting a soda out of a vending machine. After the machine dispensed my soda, it spit out my change and I was surprised to see that one of the coins it spit out was a buffalo nickel. About all I know about coins is that one should keep wheat pennies and buffalo nickels. That's just about it.
This nickel has the American Bison on one side and an Native American head on the other. No date or year is on the coin. Coin also has a sort of burnished/worn appearance so I would assume it has seen alot of miles.
I'll look on the web to see what I can find. But I would appreciate any info from fellow DUers.

Thanx in Advance!

Freethought

[chaska]

1. Don't know much, except that condition is important....

The only really valuable coins (I think) are uncirculated ones.

[Richard Steele]

2. That's a big flaw in that design: the date wears off.

In that condition, it has ZERO collector value, I'm afraid.

Nice conversation piece to find still in circulation in 2006, though.

[freethought]

3. Yeah, you're correct!

It didn't take me long at all to find the information. The small area where the date SHOULD BE is totally worn off. The one piece of important information is no longer there. Damn shame.

This coin has seen a great deal of wear.

Maybe that's why its still in circulation. With no date and its condition what's the point in keeping it as a collector's item. It's just another nickel.

Too bad. I think I'll put it away someplace anyway.

[Midlodemocrat]

4. My husband collects coins

When my FIL passed away, we were going through his things and he had some very interesting, albeit worthless coins. BU (Brilliant uncirculated) is the most valuable.

A coin that has been in circulation like the one you describe is probably only valuable for its sentimental or curious value.

[ileus]

5. No matter what date the more coins you collect the better off you are

I have a small collection around 5k value. Coin collecting is a great way to learn history. dateless buffs are being bought up for use in jewelry and that's driving up their worth. I keep lots of low grade stuff around just because it's neat to buy a 1937 half dollar that cost 3 bucks.

[freethought]

6. I also have a small bunch of wheat pennies.

Never paid any attention to them. I found a small collection of them in my father's belongings after his passing. For some reason I have kept every wheat penny that I have come across. I know they're probably not worth anything. It's just something I started to do and haven't stopped.