Coin Encyclopedia: 152 U.S. Coin Profiles

Coin Encyclopedia · 152 profiles · Published November 7, 2026

By Muhammad Sajid · Founder, The Diggin Dave

Every coin in this encyclopedia has its own profile — the date and mint mark, the mintage, the grade-by-grade figures from our own guide, the live silver or gold floor, and the verified auction records behind the famous examples. There are 152 profiles here, from the 1856 Flying Eagle cent to the 1933 Saint-Gaudens double eagle, grouped by denomination and series below. Start with the coin in your hand: find its series, open its profile, and run it through the Coin Value Checker for an instant estimate.

Two things to know before you browse. First, the numbers on every profile update live — grade values come from our Worker and the silver and gold floors move with the live spot, so a profile never goes stale while you read it. Second, a dash (—) is an honest gap, not a zero: it means our November 2026 review holds no researched figure for that grade yet, and none was invented to fill the space. Figures are collector estimates, never financial advice — the full method is on the Methodology page.

Cents

Flying Eagle Cent (1856–1858)

The Flying Eagle cent ran only three years, and the 1856 was a pattern barely released — which is why it leads every want list. The eagle in flight, borrowed from the Gobrecht dollar, lasted until the Indian Head took over in 1859.

Indian Head Cent (1866–1909)

The Indian Head cent carried the same portrait for half a century, from the Civil War years to the first Lincoln cents. Key dates hide in plain sight — the 1877, the 1908-S, and the 1909-S that closed the series.

Lincoln Cent (1909–1995)

The Lincoln cent is the coin most Americans have actually held, and its key dates are the most hunted in the hobby — doubled dies, low mintages, and the 1909-S VDB that started it all. Ninety years of wheat and memorial cents, one profile at a time.

Nickels

Buffalo Nickel (1913–1937)

James Earle Fraser's Buffalo nickel put a Native American portrait and an American bison on a five-cent piece — and the 1913 Type 1 to Type 2 change, the three-legged 1937-D, and the 1918/7-D overdate keep collectors checking every date.

Jefferson Nickel (1938–1950)

The Jefferson nickel replaced the Buffalo in 1938 and has run ever since. The early years hold the keys — the 1939-D, the 1950-D, and the wartime silver 1943 that collectors still pull from circulation.

Half Dimes

Seated Liberty Half Dime (1853–1867)

The smallest silver coin of the Seated Liberty series — fifteen and a half millimetres of 90% silver. Arrows beside the date mark the 1853 weight cut; the legend obverse of 1860 finished the design.

Dimes

Barber Dime (1894–1901)

Charles Barber's Liberty Head dime is a short, sharp series: the 1894-S, struck just 24 times, is the most valuable dime in American numismatics. The other keys are quieter — low-mintage New Orleans and San Francisco dates.

Mercury Dime (1916–1945)

Adolph Weinman's Winged Liberty is the dime most collectors picture first — and the 1916-D is the key date that defines the whole series. Full Bands, overdates, and the 1942/1 are the details that separate a common dime from a great one.

Roosevelt Dime (1949–1996)

The Roosevelt dime has been pocket change since 1946, but its silver years hold real keys — the 1949-S, the 1955 with the lowest mintage of the series, and the 1996-W struck only for mint sets.

Seated Liberty Dime (1844–1873)

Seated Liberty dimes ran for nearly forty years, and the branch-mint keys — above all the Carson City dates — are the ones that make the series. Three profiles here, each a different corner of the same long run.

Quarters

Barber Quarter (1896–1913)

The Barber quarter is the toughest of the three Barber denominations to complete in high grade. The 1896-S, 1901-S, and 1913-S are the keys, and even common dates are scarce with full detail.

Seated Liberty Quarter (1842–1873)

Seated Liberty quarters are the workhorses of the series — long-running, widely collected, and quietly scarce in high grade. The Carson City dates are the ones that stop collectors in their tracks.

Standing Liberty Quarter (1916–1927)

Hermon MacNeil's Standing Liberty is the most beautiful quarter America ever struck — and the 1916, with its bare-breasted first design, is the series key. Full Head examples are the standard every collector chases.

Washington Quarter (1932–1950)

The Washington quarter began as a one-year bicentennial issue in 1932 and never left. The 1932-D and 1932-S are the keys; the 1937-D doubled die is the variety that rewards a careful eye.

Half Dollars

Barber Half (1892–1915)

The Barber half is the Liberty Head half dollar, struck for nearly a quarter century. The 1892-O Micro O — a quarter-dollar punch used on a half-dollar die — is the series crown jewel.

Franklin Half (1949–1963)

The Franklin half is the last silver half dollar struck for circulation in quantity, and the shortest complete series to collect. Full Bell Lines separate the common from the choice, and the 1955 Bugs Bunny is the variety everyone looks for.

Kennedy Half (1964–1998)

The Kennedy half began in 1964, months after the assassination, in 90% silver — and it is still struck today. The 1964 Accented Hair, the 1970-D, and the 1998-S matte proof are the dates that matter.

Seated Liberty Half (1855–1878)

Seated Liberty halves are big silver coins with a long, quiet run — and the Carson City dates are the ones with stories attached. The 1870-CC and 1878-CC are the keys of this small group.

Walking Liberty Half (1916–1938)

Adolph Weinman's Walking Liberty is the half dollar that became the Silver Eagle's obverse. The 1921 issues are the keys, and the 1916-S and 1938-D are the dates that complete a set.

Silver Dollars

Morgan Dollar (1878–1921)

The Morgan dollar is the most collected coin in American numismatics — dozens of dates and mints, Carson City keys, and the 1921 that closed the series. Eighteen profiles here, from the first Carson City strikes to the final year.

Peace Dollar (1921–1935)

The Peace dollar was struck to mark the end of the First World War, and its high-relief first year is one of the great designs of the century. The 1928 is the key date — the lowest mintage of any Peace dollar ever struck.

Seated Liberty Dollar (1851–1852)

The Seated Liberty dollar of 1851 and 1852 is a two-year whisper — just 1,300 and 1,100 struck, the rarest regular-issue silver dollars of the 1850s. Both profiles here are among the scarcest coins in this encyclopedia.

Gold Dollars

Gold Dollar (1849–1856)

The gold dollar is the smallest gold coin America ever struck — thirteen millimetres of 90% gold. The 1849-C is the first Charlotte gold dollar, and the branch-mint dates are the ones that carry the premiums.

Quarter Eagles ($2.50 Gold)

Indian Quarter Eagle (1911–1926)

Bela Lyon Pratt's Indian quarter eagle is the only U.S. coin with an incuse design — the devices sunk into the field instead of raised. The 1911-D is the key; the 1926-D is the scarce late date.

Liberty Quarter Eagle (1848–1854)

The Liberty quarter eagle is the $2.50 gold piece that carried the Coronet design through the Gold Rush years. Two profiles here: the 1848 and the 1854-S, the first San Francisco quarter eagle.

Half Eagles ($5 Gold)

Indian Half Eagle (1909–1929)

The Indian half eagle is Pratt's incuse design at five dollars — and the 1909-O is the key, the only New Orleans Indian half eagle ever struck. The 1929 is the final year, struck just before the Depression ended the series.

Liberty Half Eagle (1838–1854)

The Liberty half eagle carried the Coronet design for seventy years. The 1838-C is the first Charlotte half eagle, and the 1854-S is the first San Francisco half eagle — two firsts in two profiles.

Eagles ($10 Gold)

Indian Eagle (1907–1933)

Augustus Saint-Gaudens' Indian eagle is the ten-dollar counterpart to the double eagle — and the 1933 is the final year, struck as the gold standard ended. The 1907 is the first year of the design.

Liberty Eagle (1870–1883)

The Liberty eagle is the ten-dollar gold piece that financed the Gilded Age. The 1870-CC and 1883-O are the Carson City and New Orleans keys of this pair.

Double Eagles ($20 Gold)

Liberty Double Eagle (1854–1879)

The Liberty double eagle is the twenty-dollar gold piece of the Gold Rush and the Civil War — the largest regular gold coin of its day. The 1854-O, 1870-CC, and 1879-O are three very different corners of the same series.

Saint-Gaudens Double Eagle (1907–1933)

The Saint-Gaudens double eagle is the most beautiful coin America ever struck — and the 1933 is the most famous coin in the world. The 1927-D is the rarest regular issue of the series.

Values are estimates, not financial advice. This encyclopedia is for education — learn the coin first, and get a professional opinion before buying or selling.