Coin Collecting Club

A mintmark is an identifier on each coin that tells you where that particular coin was minted. It’s a security feature to help curb counterfeiting. So, you would ordinarily try to find the mark that is on each coin. One thing we should be aware of though is that not all coins bear this mark on them and this is because of a few factors.

Sometimes the original mints in a region will mark their coins, and that will be the unique or stand out factor for the coins for that mint. Sometimes, the marks are also just not put on purpose. A good example of this are the Lincoln cents that were minted in San Francisco and West Point mints in the 90s. You couldn’t distinguish these coins from those minted in Philadelphia. There was a problem at the mint of some sort where grease clogged up and the dye had a problem. Some coins were left with no mintmark or a very weak one that was easy to scrape away.
So, if you want to look for the mark, where are you going to look? We are told to look on the obverse of the coin, most times anyway. Sometimes though, the mark can be found on the reverse of the coin. During the Second World War, there was a shortage of nickel used to mint the 5 cent coins (nickels). Due to the shortage, silver was instead used, and the mintmark was put on the reverse side of the coin. This was a distinguisher. The placement of the mark varies from country, mint, coin and sometimes the decision of the people concerned. You will find they can decide to change the position of the mark as they wish, or go without one.

In the nineteenth century, coin bags came around to replace the wooden kegs that were used for coin storage. Maybe they came about because they were easier to haul around than a wooden keg, but to this day, they are still in use in some places.
Coin cloth bags should be used for storing coins that are easily obtainable or coins that are still in circulation. Many banks I have noticed use these bags to store coins and to haul them around.

This is an okay mode of storage for coins that are not overly unique and coins that you can easily get if you need to replace them. When you store your coins in these bags, you need to be well aware that coins sitting in a bag like will decrease in value because of the scuffing and abrasions that will occur when they rub against each other. With time your coins end up being scratched and worn down, and most times this completely takes away their value, no matter how little.

Coin cloth bags also have another side effect. Sometimes the dye used in the fabric might react with the coin, and you find there is staining that leaves marks on the coin or discolors it altogether. This is known as bag toning.

In short, what I am saying is this. No matter how attractive the idea to store your coins in these bags, you should resist the urge. Invest in proper storage for the coins you paid good money to acquire. Save your coin cloth bags for coins you really wouldn’t mind losing, if any.