Recently, I organized an “Ask J. Money Day,” where folks sent in questions on any topic, and I responded to them. One reader asked about the value of paper currency, which I’ll cover in a separate post, but after chatting with her for a bit, I discovered she had a historical gold coin from her family’s past.

I thought you’d be intrigued by this story, so here’s the highlight 🙂

As a CPA, it’s no surprise that I have a passion for coins and currency! Back in the 1950s, my mom worked as a bank teller and collected a lot of older currency that passed through the bank. She’s held onto her “collection” all these years, and I’m considering buying it from her at a fair market price. She could use the money, and it would be a fantastic foundation for starting my own collection.

Currently, my collection is mainly comprised of a single coin—a 1913 gold Indian Head $2.50 piece—along with numerous random items that likely have minimal value. I’ve even thought about becoming a certified treasure hunter by getting a metal detector to find more coins!

Having just one coin isn’t bad, especially since Indian Head coins from 1913 can be valued between $300 and $1,000, depending on their condition. Looking at hers, it’s likely worth around $300-$350. Her response was priceless!

She said the coin might have been in mint condition originally, but nearly all her cousins wore it in their shoes when they got married. Some of them weren’t exactly small people! She’s lucky the coin hasn’t been flattened to the size of a quarter.

This is what I adore about collecting; you never know where these coins have traveled! Uncovering their stories, both historical and personal, is what makes collecting so enjoyable. Who would have thought this coin served as a good luck charm at weddings—and in a shoe, of all places! 🙂

That yellow stuff on the note is old cellophane tape, showing its age. It reads: “I purchased this $2.50 gold piece for $5.00 while working at 1st Nat’l BK., 1958.”

Smart move, Mom 🙂