Posted on 03/13/2007 10:30:47 PM PDT by Between the Lines
DENVER - Mary and Ray Smith can't make heads or tails of a new presidential dollar coin they found last week. It doesn't have either. A week after the revelation that some of the coins slipped out of the U.S. Mint without "In God We Trust" stamped on the edge, the Smiths said Tuesday they found one with nothing stamped on either flat side.
It does have "In God We Trust" on the edge. What's missing is the image of George Washington on the front and the Statue of Liberty on the back. Instead, the Smiths' coin is just smooth, shiny metal.
"We're just so excited," Mary Smith told The Associated Press. "I'm just dumbfounded that we actually found something significant."
Mint spokesman Michael White said officials had not confirmed the Smiths' find. But Ron Guth, a coin authenticator with Professional Coin Grading Service of Newport Beach, Calif., said after examining it he is certain the coin is authentic.
"It's really pretty rare," Guth said. "It somehow slipped through several steps and inspections."
The couple, who live in Fort Collins north of Denver and collect coins, bought two rolls of the presidential dollars March 7 after hearing about the earlier mistake. Mary Smith said she thought they might find a "Godless" dollar of their own.
The faceless dollar could be worth thousands of dollars, maybe more, Guth said. The value will depend on how many similar misprints are found, but the Smiths' will always be worth more because it will be the first one independently authenticated, he said.
The first "Godless" coins went into circulation Feb. 15.
The Mint struck 300 million presidential coins, about half in Philadelphia and half in Denver. The Smiths' coin bears a D, meaning it was produced by the Denver Mint. The "Godless" coins were all believed to have come from the Philadelphia Mint.
The Smiths said that when they get their coin back from Guth, they'll stick it in a bank vault for at least a while.
One of a group of the misstruck new presidential dollar coins, left, that has the "In God We Trust" lettering stamped on the edge, but showing no presidential face, is displayed next to a new presidential dollar showing President George Washington at the Professional Coin Grading Service offices in Santa Ana, Calif., Tuesday, March 13, 2007.
Gad! Why all the fuss over the first Bill Clinton dollar?
It "is" what it "is".
The Liberal attack continues. Now they deface George Washington.
"Gad! Why all the fuss over the first Bill Clinton dollar?"
Now, THAT'S funny!
They've finally found a way to promote these dollar coins.
I still don't have one of the femnazi dollar coins, never been given one in change.
I guess you've never used a vending machine at the Post Office.
/somewhat plagiarized from a funny Simpson's episode
Correct.
Bill Clinton is on the $3 bill.
I am series, I still have a few of them.
Figured it would be rejected as postage, so threw it away.
It was annoying to be out that 24 cents.
By the way old buddy, do you mind if I go though your waste paper basket?
I'd like to get a job at the US Mint. Those guys make a LOT of money. Heck, it would be worth it just for the employee discount.
I thought the Bill Clinton Dollar had "heads" on both sides.
Stradi-who-vius?
I think God's a bit miffed that He's been relegated to the edge.
Try Department of Energy. Free gasoline just by showing your ID.
Thanks for the good laugh!
Disclaimer: Opinions posted on Free Republic are those of the individual posters and do not necessarily represent the opinion of Free Republic or its management. All materials posted herein are protected by copyright law and the exemption for fair use of copyrighted works.