What is the value of an 1803 Louisiana purchase nickel?

Answer 1

Uh, turn the coin over. You'll see the actual date - 2004.

It's one design in the Westward Journey series minted to commemorate the 1803 Louis and Clark expedition. With mintages in the hundreds of millions, a coin you get in change has no added value (and probably never will). Uncirculated rolls are selling generally in the $3 to $5 range at coin shows.

Answer 2

First verify that the back side really is struck upside-down. Hold the coin with Jefferson's face upright. Your fingers should be holding the coin on the right & left sides -- NOT at the top & bottom. Now when you flip the coin over like the page of a calendar, the shaking hands or keelboat should be right-side-up facing you. (The Jefferson head becomes upside-down on the side away from you). This is known as a "coin turn".

If you were holding the coin at the top & bottom and you flip it side to side like a book page, the shaking hands or keelboat would (normally) be upside-down facing you, while the Jefferson head would remain right side up (on the back side). This is called a "medal turn".

If you did the above "coin turn", and the shaking hands or keelboat design is now upside-down, then you have a rare rotated die error -- perhaps worth hundreds of dollars. If you did the "coin turn" and the shaking hands or keelboat is now right-side-up, you have a normal coin.

Rotated Die StrikesWhen you say it is upside down, are you turning it side-to-side like turning pages in a book, or top-to-bottom? The reverse should be upside down when turning side-to-side, but if it is not you have a rotated reverse which could be fairly valuable, but nothing to plan your early retirement around. Search eBay for other modern coins (probably statehood quarters have shown up) with "rotated" in the description.

The simplest and most obvious thing to do is to look at other coins in your change. This question comes up very frequently and can almost always be addressed by simply looking beyond the one coin in your hand at the moment. In fact, ALL current circulating U.S. coins have the sides oriented oppositely when flipped side to side like a book page.

Some countries (Canada, U.K, EU) use what's called "medal rotation" where both sides are oriented the same way when flipped side to side. Neither is right or wrong, they're just different.

Answer 3

I thought the coin was just wear and tear and you were right. Newer date. But I do have a legit coin collection. I was from my brother that died too young in1973 I have his coin collection. Some in wrapped in protectective and all put into a coin collection type of coin selectin book. I know the non copper pennies from WW2 are worth quite a bit more than a penny. I can take picture of the collection. It is not huge, but probably rare. I know enough about coins to know some of these are rarely rare and a collecor shoujd know about them.

Answer 4

Whether it is upside-down or not depends on which way you turn the coin.

Coin turn -- if you flip the coin from top to bottom, on U.S. coins the back side image should appear upright.

Medal turn -- if you flip the coin from side to side, on U.S. coins the back side image will be upside-down.

If you turn the coin with a "coin turn", and the back side image is upside-down, then you have a very rare error that will be worth hundreds of dollars. You would need to get the coin certified and encapsulated -- check out http://www.pcgs.com

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Dan

The best thing to do is to try the same flip with other coins from your pocket change. If they all are oriented the same way then you have a normal circulation nickel worth five cents. All U.S. coins in current circulation use "coin turn" orientation, regardless of the design. Other countries (Canada, U.K., EU, for example) use "medal turn". Neither use is right or wrong, just different.

Answer 5

Assuming you're referring to one of the newly issued nickels .... If you are flipping it top-to-bottom (as opposed to side-to-side), then you have a very rare rotated reverse error. If certified, these can sell for over $100 However AFAIK there are no reports of rotated die 2004 nickels. The best thing to do is to compare the turn with other coins from your pocket change. If your nickel does not have the same orientation as the others when flipped the same way, you've make quite a profit. If the coins are all the same orientation, you're five cents richer.

Answer 6

The coin was not made in 1803 but in 2004 and it's a nickel spend it.

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Unless it's in a sealed mint set, it's only worth a nickel. If you're collecting the coins now is the time to pull them out of circulation before they get too much wear on them. The best time to collect any coins is when they first come out, not only are they in better condition, but you won't have to buy them in the future because you saved them when they were new, then they will be worth something. So unless it's in immaculate condition, it's just a nickel, so spend it.

Answer 7

The coin is still in circulation and is very common, spend it.

Five cents. They were made in the millions. You can easily find one in your pocket change.