Collecting Coins by the Roll

Everyone fantasizes about finding a Picasso in the attic or a letter signed by George Washington in an old steamer trunk, but what about finding a $4,000 Civil War-era Seated Liberty in a roll of Kennedy half dollars? It happened in 2013. And it points out the lure for a special breed of coin collector—the roll collector.

Roll Collectors

Roll collectors are the “pickers” of the numismatic world. These treasure hunters buy rolls of coins in the hope of finding high-silver or rare coins mixed in with the common ones. And it happens often enough to keep hundreds of collectors coming back for more.

Valuable Coins Hidden in Rolls

There are more valuable coins out there than you might imagine. Lincoln Wheat cents, Buffalo nickels and 90% silver coins show up regularly. Besides high-silver and vintage coins, there are a surprising number of mis-struck and low-mintage modern coins that carry extra current or potential value. One example is the State Quarters. Each state had a commemorative quarter produced for ten weeks only over a ten-year period from 1999 to 2009, minted in the order of the state’s admission to the Union. And while billions of the coins were made, there was a significant variation in the number produced for a particular state, making the smaller issues relatively rarer and more valuable to collectors trying to build a full set. While the cash premium may seem small, a 25-cent coin that sells for a dollar has a 400% gain over face value.

State Quarter Mis-Strikes and Mistakes

Granted, it would take a lot of quarters to add up to a significant monetary gain, but what about the mis-strikes? Because so many state quarters were being made so quickly, mistakes happened, and several made it into circulation. For instance, there are two different mistakes on 2004-D Wisconsin quarters, both involving an extra leaf on the corn stalk on the coin’s face. One version has the extra leaf pointing upward, the other down. Similar mistakes are found on at least eight other states’ coins, but our favorite is the 2005-P Kansas quarter where a die break caused some coins to proclaim “IN GOD WE RUST.” It’s about a $50 mistake in your favor if you find one.

Where to Buy Coin Rolls – Banks

So where are places to find rolls of coins? Banks are an obvious starting point, and probably the easiest way to buy rolls. They assemble loose coins into rolls for inventory or for sale back to the Federal Reserve. In the process, they don’t look at designs, dates, mint marks, or condition. To them they’re just money. But they’re taking in thousands of coins every day from customers that include armored car services, retailers, and individuals cashing in coin jars. A surprising number of valuable coins turn up in the drawers of convenience stores, liquor stores, and fast-food places for reasons that range from comical to depressing.

Where to Buy Coin Rolls – Coin Sellers

Coin sellers also offer rolls and larger bags of coins in various denominations and designs, generally in random mintages. They may or may not contain a “find,” but at least will be “as advertised” and may increase in value over time.Experienced collectors can give you ideas for the strategy that’s right for you.

Whether you’re a seasoned collector or just getting started, be sure to browse our selection of U.S. coin rolls available online!

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