2 Roll Dime Break

I purchased 2 rolls of dimes from the bank and these are my results:

• Pre 1969  EF - AU : 0
• Silver Coins (1964 - Older): 0
• Total EF - AU Coins For Albums: 6
• Key Find(s): 2010P (Unc)

Verdict: I've toyed around with collecting a set of circulated dimes and decided to get a couple of rolls from the bank.  If anything, the potential for silver coins sounded tempting.  The 2 rolls I opened were customer rolled dimes.  One thing I noticed with these coins, was the considerable amount of wear they displayed. Many of the coins has rust spots on them or were badly discolored.  The copper was showing through many of the pieces.  After searching the 100 coins, I found 6 I might want to keep for a collection.  To be fair, these 2 rolls may have come from the same person, so I can't give a good determination of the series.  I may take another stab at this run in the future.

50 Roll Cent Bank Box Break # 4

I purchased a 50 roll box of cents from my bank and these are the results: 

• Wheat Cents: 15
• Canadian Cents: 18
• "S" Mint Marks: 5
• Copper Lincoln Memorial Cents: 30%
• Total EF - AU Coins For Albums: 31
• Key Find(s): 1958D(AU)

Verdict: These were machine rolled cents. The box produced the best copper results to date with a larger number of wheat cents.  There were multiple corroded/green cents in the box. I pulled a large quantity of key error dates and will inspect them in the future.

5 Roll Nickel Break # 3

I purchased 5 rolls of nickels from my bank and these are the results: 

• Pre 1959: 1 (1940)
• "S" Mint Marks: 1 (1969S)
• Total EF - AU Coins For Albums: 15
• Key Find(s): 1940(AU), 1966(Unc.) 1971D(AU)

Verdict: These were customer rolled nickels that produced great results. There were multiple corroded and cruddy pieces mixed in with the brillant older coins, so I believe these may have been part of an estate cleanout.  The only thing that would of made me happier would of been a war or buffalo nickel in the lot.  I was completely floored with the 1940 and 1966 copies!

50 Roll Cent Bank Box Break # 3

I purchased a 50 roll box of cents from my bank and these are the results: 

• Wheat Cents: 8
• Canadian Cents: 2
• "S" Mint Marks: 5
• Copper Lincoln Memorial Cents: 28%
• Total EF - AU Coins For Albums: 28
• Key Find(s): 1973(AU)

Verdict: These were machine rolled cents that might of come from someone's penny jar they were saving for many years.  There were plenty of dates from the 1960's including at least 30 1969D copies.  There were multiple corroded/green cents in the box.  The box produced better than average copper results. I pulled a large quantity of key error dates and will inspect them once my magnifier arrives.

5 Roll Nickel Break # 2

I purchased 5 rolls of nickels from my bank and these are the results:

• Pre 1959: 5 (1938S, 1946S, 1952, 1956, 1951)
• "S" Mint Marks: 2
• Total EF - AU Coins For Albums: 10
• Key Find: 1938S

Verdict: These were customer rolled nickels that produced great results. There was multiple corroded pieces mixed in with the old coins, so I believe these may have been sitting around in a can for many years.

Coin Roll Hunting Tip: Sorting Like Dates

One way to make the hunt for errors easier is sorting the dates of the coins prior to looking at them for errors.  This will allow you to examine all of the same date / mint mark and compare the coin with your reference material.  I use an inexpensive tray I purchased from A.C. Moore for under $3.

Coin Roll Hunting Tip: Getting Rid Your Unwanted Change

What do you do after you sorted through all that change?  All of those unwanted zinc cents really add up. You could roll the coins but that would take time away from searching new rolls. Some coin roll hunters open up accounts at other banks to "dump" rolled change or take advantage of a free counting machine in the bank's lobby.  Another option is to take the coins to the Coinstar machine.  If you want to get past the 9.8% service fee these machines charge, you can opt for a gift card to merchants like Amazon.  This works well if you were already going to make purchases through these vendors.

50 Roll Cent Bank Box Break # 2

 I purchased a 50 roll box of cents from my bank and these are the results: 

• Wheat Cents: 6
• Canadian Cents: 4
• "S" Mint Marks: 3
• Copper Lincoln Memorial Cents: 25%
• Total EF - AU Coins For Albums: 35
• Key Find: 1964 (AU) 

Verdict: These were machine rolled cents and they may of been partially searched for wheaties and nice memorial coppers.  There were multiple corroded/green cents in the box.  The box produced average copper results. I pulled a large quantity of key error dates and will inspect them once my magnifier arrives.

50 Roll Cent Bank Box Break

I purchased a 50 roll box of cents from my bank and these are the results: 

• Wheat Cents: 12
• Canadian Cents: 8
• "S" Mint Marks: 5
• Copper Lincoln Memorial Cents: 27%
• Total EF - AU Coins For Albums: 75
• Key Find: 2000 Off Center 

Verdict: These were machine rolled cents and they produced ok results.  I found some really nice AU cents including a 1960D, 1964D, and 1970.  The box was light on Lincoln Wheat Cents but produced decent copper results.  I pulled 8 Canadian cents with the oldest being a 1957.  I pulled a large quantity of key error dates and will inspect them once my magnifier arrives.

10 Roll Cent Break

 I purchased 10 rolls of pennies last week from my bank and these are the results: 

• Wheat Cents: 9 
• "S" Mint Marks: 6
• Copper Lincoln Memorial Cents: 25%
• Total EF - AU Coins For Albums: 10
• Key Find: 1962 (AU)

Verdict: These were customer rolled cents and they produced odds results.  I found some really nice AU cents including a 1962, 1968, and 1973.  There were multiple "S" mint marks in the rolls.  On the other hand, many of the coins were severely corroded or run over by a car; including a 1973S that could of graded MS 65 (RD) if the face wasn't scratched off.  This lot of coins seems to of been from a hoard of cents that either fell in the street or got mixed with some pennies collected by the homeless.

10 Roll Nickel Break

 I purchased 10 rolls of nickels last week from my bank and these are the results: 

• Pre 1959: 9 
• "S" Mint Marks: 4
• Total AU Coins For Albums: 144 

Verdict: These were customer rolled nickels and they produced good results  I was able to get many of the coins needed for the 2 sets including "S" mint marks.  One interesting note was the condition of the coins from the 1980's.  They showed considerable wear.

5 Roll Nickel Break

I purchased 5 rolls of nickels from my bank and these are the results:

• Pre 1959: 1 (1957)
• "S" Mint Marks: 0
• Total AU Coins For Albums: 11 

Verdict: These were customer rolled nickels and it seems they might have been searched. There was multiple corroded pieces and no were near the amount of pre 1959 pieces or "S" mint marks as I have been getting.  I did get some of the missing coins for the 2 sets we are putting together.

Storage Solutions

Dansco 8100 Lincoln Cents 1909 - 2009 w/ Proofs

This is a very nice leather album with plastic covers for both the front and back of the coin. Easy to insert the coin as well.  There is also a model (7100) that omits proof coins. There is also an optional slip cover for the album that provides additional protection.

Dansco 8113 Jefferson Nickels 1938 - 2006 w/ Proofs

This is a very nice leather album with plastic covers for both the front and back of the coin. Easy to insert the coin as well.  There is also a model (7113) that omits proof coins.  There is also an optional slip cover for the album that provides additional protection

Jefferson Nickels Album 1938 - 2012 w/o Proofs

This is a great ablum for both adults and kids.  Full color illustrations and plastic covers for both the front and back of the coin.  There is also historical information for both Thomas Jefferson and the US nickel.

Warmans Lincoln Cents Folder 1959 - 2009

A basic folder for storing Lincoln memorial cents.  This folder is inexpensive for children & adults.  Children may need assistance inserting coins into this folder.

What Are My Motives?

Not long ago, I started thinking about ways to diversify my net worth while protecting myself against inflation.  I thought about investing in gold, but I am currently priced out of that market.  I also thought about silver and did buy some, but it is not cheap and there is a premium being associated with each transaction.  I wanted to get into a metal cheaply like the silver coins being minted in the early 1960's (1964 and back).

The current silver colored coins being minted in the U.S. today are copper-nickel clad.  Given the composition, weight, and denomination the current nickel could be a good investment. The nickel currently contains between $.05-$.07 of copper-nickel clad.  Another option would be to sort though pennies and save all cents minted 1981 and older as these are 95% copper. The nice thing about saving nickels is there is no sorting required.  All nickels in circulation currently have the same composition.  This may change in the next year or so as the government is investigating alternative metals.  The US Mint spends more to create the nickel than it is worth.

I currently search rolls of cents and nickels.  These are the items I am saving from the "hunt".

Nickels - Everything!  Nickels are currently made of 75% copper & 25% Nickel (Until further notice that is!).  I am also working on 2 Jefferson 1938 - Date sets with my kids.  This has proven to be a fun activity.

Cents - I am currently saving all pre 1981 cents for the copper value, high quality cents for a couple of albums we are doing as a family, and sorting certain dates for inspection of errors.

 I plan to post my finds here and hope to here from others as they set out on this low overhead treasure hunt!

Resources I have found useful:

http://www.survivalblog.com/nickels.html

http://www.coinflation.com/

http://www.numismaster.com

Striking It Rich With Pocket Change

A Guidebook Of Lincoln Cents

Complete Guide To Buffalo And Jefferson Nickels

http://www.lincolncentresource.com/

Coin Show Radio