Ten Dollar Roll Of Kennedy Half Dollars

Hey, thanks for the feedback.

As far as going back and getting another roll, I doubt that there are any. When I picked this one up, the teller told me that I was lucky, and they hardly ever had any in. I guess I just went in at the right time.

Does anyone feel strongly one way or the other as to whether I should try and get a little money out of these and get some other coins that I might find more interesting, or keep them?

I am personally leaning towards keeping them, because I just happened across these opposed to buying them, but there are some other coins out there that I would like more.

The question about getting selling for what amounts to over $45 in silver content (based upon today's price) for $5.50 out of you pocket is purely up to you. Myself, I know that I wouldn't be able to get that much from a dealer. It would probably be closer to $40, but still for that you could get yourself a pretty nice coin depending upon what your interest is. The problem for you would be to determine what and where your interest lies.

Just to go out and pick a coin without knowing its value could be very ill advised. What is it that you want to collect and what is also interesting to you. You could go out and get some nice morgan or Peace dollars but without knowing their value you could be overspending.

Before you buy any coin go out and look at the values on numismedia.com to see what you should be spending. Research is your friend.

Further, there is no better feeling that to spend your money on coin rolls like you did and to hit it lucky. Basically what you found is free money. Even though the bank teller said that it was you lucky day (which it was) there still is the chance or probability that there is more there.

When it comes to Kennedy half dollars there is more to them that those that are silver. There are a number of recent years (starting in 2001 I believe) where the mint had stopped distributing them for general circulation purposes. Those that are in good condition (more research on your part) are worth more than face value. This is where research on your part is most important.

To find out what makes a good condition half dollar take at look at the photograding that is on pcgs.com for more knowledge.

However, first you have to decide what and where your interest lies - bullion (silver content coins) or numismatics (filling up a coin album with the coins that you like).
This is definitely one hobby where you can go in many directions at the same time, but first arm yourself with some knowledge. If you decide to delve further maybe invest in some reference material. The first book of which that I would recomment to you is the Red Book.

What ever you decide the choice is yours. I'd like to know where you decide to roam.

Stick on here for awhile and you will also get a lesson.

Welcome.

ghostrider,

Thank you for the well thought out post.

As a general rule, I didn't really decide to start collecting coins from the bullion standpoint, more along the lines of the "neat!" standpoint.

I doubt that I will ever be a large investor, bullion or otherwise. Just a small hobby to fill up some free time.

As far as trading the coins in, there isn't really any place nearby (I live in the boonies), and 40 dollars is more than likely very optimistic about what I might expect to get for them.

Is the only real value to these (and they are in pretty circulated condition, no fooling anyone there) their intrinsic silver value? I assume so.

My main interest lies in collecting US coins that were in circulation, which I have been trying to research, but there doesn't seem to be a good resource for beginners showing coins that were only really for commemorative reasons, and ones that were meant to be in circulation.

I spent around 30 dollars on ebay and bought an eagle penny, a Two Cent Piece, a Mercury dime, an Indian Head penny, a large cent, and a liberty head nickel. I probably got rooked a little, but being in a rural community, ebay is my cheapest, and easiest option for buying coins.

I believe I have decided to sell some of the coins, if the situation ever arises, to collect some other coins that interest me, and keep the rest for sentimental reasons.

Who knows, maybe some day I will be able to pass them onto children, or grandchildren. That would be pretty cool.

Thanks to everyone who posted here. Your advice and support is invaluable to a newcomer to the scene like me.

Unless the coins are in AU or better shape, cash them in for their silver value. We hunt rolls every week and save up the silver we find and cash it in in big chunks. You may want to consider doing that also.

Talk to the head teller. Ask her if she can order boxes of halves for you. It is 500.00 for a box. If so, get a box and go through them. I would also suggest getting an account at TD bank as they have coin counters. That way you don't have to re wrap the coins to turn them back in. We have accounts with several banks so that we can get multiple boxes. The more you go through, the better the odds of finding good stuff.

And yes, that was an above average roll for theses days. Years ago, that was average if not below average. Too many people looking for silver now.

I see you've gotten a lot of good advice.

Since you aren't able to easily buy coins in person, I will add a little more advice.

Stick around here, and when you get enough posts, you can trade with people on this site -- or sell coins here.

But I think that if you keep those lucky finds you will always have a reminder of one really good day in your life.

Regarding half dollars in my area, I find very little '64 Kennedy's, but a slew of the 40%ers. I think that most people know about 64 being the last of the 90%ers but forget about those pesky 40%ers.

I find very few of the NIFC's from either Denver or Philadelphia, but they are out there. However, I'm finding none from San Franscisco. So my only place to get these coins is from a local coin store, coin web sites (like here) or the annual coin show that coins here in April or May.

That is an awesome score out of $10 in coins.

Many of us end up going going through several thousand dollars of halves to come up with half as many as you found in one roll.

If you are not into silver halves you could trade them at your local coin store for some other coins you like better for your collection.