Coin collectors, history buffs and others have an opportunity to acquire commemorative American Revolution bicentennial coins from the City of Washington.

The City Council, during its March 28 meeting, decided to sell the coins.

The coins were issued in 1976 to commemorate the nation’s bicentennial. The city bought the coins that year, according to Matt Rauschenbach, the city’s chief financial officer. The city has about 1,100 of the silver coins and about 800 of the brass coins, which are kept in a safe at City Hall. Each silver coin weighs 1.02 ounces. One side of each coin depicts the city’s seal.

Based on current silver prices, the silver in each coin is worth about $16, according to Rauschenbach. A brass coin is worth “much less than that,” he noted.

The council unanimously voted to sell the silver coins for $15 each, the bronze coins for $1 each and to allow city employees the first opportunity to buy the coins. Each customer is limited to one silver coin and one brass coin until April 30, after which there is no limit. The coins will be sold in the customer-service lobby at City Hall.

City Manager Bobby Roberson proposed selling the silver coins for $20 each, with bronze coins selling for $1 each. Roberson said he prefers selling them to just storing them in a safe. Councilman Doug Mercer proposed selling the silver coins for $15 each because, to him, the “coin itself is not worth the $4 differential.”

“I think you would move them faster at 15 bucks apiece. … I don’t know how much you paid for them, but I suspect you will be making money,” Mercer said.

“It’s what I call found money, that’s what it is,” Rauschenbach replied.

“They’ve been sitting in your safe for 25, 35 years,” Mercer said.

“40 (years),” Mayor Mac Hodges said. “They’ve been sitting there since 1976.”

“I was just thinking that people could recover their value at $15. At $20, they’re going to be spending something,” Mercer said.