Unfortunately, I've had to clean out my grandparents house in Pittsburgh. My grandfather passed in 2022 and my grandmother passed this March. While doing so, I have come across several coins that I have never seen before. Some are $1 coins dated 1881, 1900, and 1901. My grandfather also had two - $20 gold coins dated 1924 and 1925 turned into jewelry items. One was used on a money clip that he used to use until the money started to run too thin to use it and the other as a pendant with added gold and diamonds most likely for my grandmother. I do not recall ever seeing her wear it. The two gold coins are held in place by little tabs on each piece and appear like that those tabs could be lifted up to remove the coins. There is one John Adams $1 coin and an undated Buffalo nickel. I also went through the change pile and separated anything dated 1965 or older for silver as I believe that's when the use of silver ended. Please see attached pictures. Can anyone tell me what these are and what they might be worth?

Additionally, I have a pile of Wheat Pennies. Earliest one I believe is 1904. Is there anything I need to look for on those?

Thank you

The first three coins together are common Morgan silver dollars. The 1881 could pass for AU(About Uncirculated)58 to MS(Mint State)61, the 1900-O maybe EF (Extremely Fine), and the 1901-O maybe VG (Very Good). The "O" stands for the long defunct Mint in New Orleans.

The last two gold coins (1924 and '25) are the Double Eagles that could fetch you a few thousand dollars in un-moslested conditions. Problem is, they have been altered/damaged.

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Problem is, they have been altered/damaged.

I ran into this as well with a gold coin (forget denomination) that my aunt had mounted from her 1925 birth year. Apparently the dings from mounting are very undesired by collectors, plus the patina comes on differently on perimeter.

It was still valuable, but not as much as I'd expected.

If you're set up on eBay, you can sell there. If you value your rating/reputation just be sure to include VERY accurate pics and descriptions. I had one wizard who accused me of misleading the listing, but wouldn't accept a full refund with apology, is the only negative rating I've had in 25 years.

Those Double Eagles are still worth their weight in gold. (.9675 tr oz). Spot as of now would be about $2,215.00 ea.

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Originally posted by steelcityfishanddive:
Wheat Pennies

There are other "Key" dates but to start"

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How can you tell if a penny is a VDB?
First, check under the date and see if there is an S mint mark present. Then look at the coin's reverse to see if there are the initials VDB at the bottom of the coin under the wheat ears. The 1909 S and the 1909 SVDB are the best.

The "undated" Buffalo Nickel is so because the date has been completely worn off. It's supposed to be on the Indian's shoulder location. Not much you can do about it.

Here is info on the John Adams 2007 dollar coin to see if yours is rare and more valuable than its face value, https://coins.thefuntimesguide...n-adams-dollar-coin/

Right now spot on gold is $2294. Was over 2300 earlier.

https://silvergoldbull.com/

Those double eagles might be worth more than spot even 'damaged' as jewelry items depending on the frame eg could be gold as well.

Was the jewelry made to get around the confiscation of gold in the '30s? Make it jewelry and then it falls into some kind of exemption?

The Morgans are common date retail on those right now $33-$35. The presidential dollars honestly are just face value unless they are still in the Mint set or in the uncirculated rolls and then maybe 10%-15% over face value. The 2 $20 gold pieces have a little value above spot simply because they are Pre-33 gold but not more than 2%-4% above melt. Your best bet on those pieces is to sell as jewelry, weigh them to calculate the melt value of the gold and add a little above to sell.

If you would like to learn more about the coins there is an app for your phone called "coinfacts" by PCGS that would give you a rough idea of coin values. I would agree with what others have said. Generally the $20 ones would be worth a few hundred above the gold content if they were in good shape (or thousands more in perfect condition) but yours have been modified so probably worth just about gold values.

That app actually has a photo guide too to help tell you how good of condition they're in.

Your worn pennies are probably not worth much unless there is a key date. That app would help you there too.

I’d send the pics of the gold coins to David Troung here on the forum. He will give you a good honest reasonable price and make it a pleasant easy experience. Email is in his profile.
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^^ this was what I was going to suggest.

Thank you all. Quite the rabbit hole the coin world is. I figured an email to Dave was going to be warranted as I have some jewelry that needs to be looked at as well. I'll download that coinfacts app to assist me.

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Originally posted by steelcityfishanddive:
...I also went through the change pile and separated anything dated 1965 or older for silver as I believe that's when the use of silver ended.

That's not completely accurate. Hopefully this helps you keep all of the right stuff:

1964 (not 1965) and older quarters, dimes, and half dollars contain 90% silver.

1965-1970 half dollars contain 40% silver.

1935 & older dollar coins contain 90% silver.

1971-1978 Eisenhower dollars contain 40% silver.

1942-1945 "wartime" nickels contain 35% silver.

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The "undated" Buffalo Nickel is so because the date has been completely worn off. It's supposed to be on the Indian's shoulder location. Not much you can do about it.

^^^^^^^^^^^^^^
True. You can purchase acid that will make the date visible. I doubt that it will increase the value, but a coin shop will know for sure.

Looks like you have some neat stuff!

Thinking the Adams dollar doesn't fit with the other coins.

Is it an error of some kind? A few of them were missing the lettering on the rim or the sides weren't turned properly.

Looks good either way.