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 Replies: 10 / Views: 192 |
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New Member
United States
4 Posts |
When coin roll hunting nickels, I have heard of folks using different criteria for which common coins to keep. Some keep everything before 1964, some everything before 1960, some only keep mint state, etc. Right now I am keeping common dates before 1964 (when mintages exploded) but only if they are in better condition. I'm not sure of my justification other than they are getting harder to find and they look good. I am curious about what you other nickel hunters keep (in terms of common dates) and why? Thanks!
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Pillar of the Community
United States
1298 Posts |
 Yes, everyone will have different criteria! As long as you enjoy it, though, use whatever criteria you like! I personally like Die Trails, I imagine that there may not be a lot of people who actively search for them, as I do. That said: I keep everything prior to 1940. Nickels from the 40's and 50's, I only keep those which have a mintage of less than 50 million - and I'm considering lowering the mintage number to 40 million. All other years need to be some sort of variety (doubled, die clash, die trail, etc) or error, or look nice enough to catch my eye, for me to keep. |
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Pillar of the Community
 United States
6525 Posts |
I have a jar of 1938-1949, and another jar of 1950-1959. I will probably never use them for anything, but I figure that I am always learning about obscure coins like counterclashes. If nothing else, they would make it easy for a kid to fill an album.
I save very nice examples of 1960-1979 coins, verified under magnification. Also 1982-1983 nice specimens, and 1990-1999 in MS/AU with well defined steps. I have rolls for toned coins, because I know folks like them.
Some day, I will comb back through all the rolls that I am stashing, and cut them down to just the best examples.
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Pillar of the Community
United States
1659 Posts |
For nickels, pre 1946. Cents, only wheats. Others, only silver.
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Pillar of the Community
United States
1191 Posts |
I'm surprised no one has mentioned the 2009 or 2024. Their mintage isn't low compared to the old ones but they really are pretty uncommon in circulation. The Jefferson nickel is unique. It's such a long series and most people don't seem to be too interested. However it has some 35% silver and you can still find most dates by going through rolls. Someday the series may wake up if silver gets too pricey and nickels pick up in popularity! |
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Pillar of the Community
United States
6525 Posts |
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New Member
 United States
4 Posts |
Thanks for all the feedback. I think I will continue to keep all pre-1964 (unless they are culls) in tubes, keep 2009 and 2024 in tubes and keep other high grade examples in 2x2s. I really enjoy the nickels. What I have to watch out for being too lenient with evaluating condition and keeping too many!
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Moderator
 United States
15446 Posts |
to the CCF I searched 394,800 nickels from local bank rolls and complied 2 complete circulation strike sets, so lots of nickels searched. I kept everything prior to 1960, with the common date coins stored in bulk. I kept in separate containers all foreign finds (lots of them), Liberty V nickels, Buffalo nickels, War Silver nickels, Jefferson with less than 10 million mintage (there are 9 of these) and all 2009. I placed into 2x2 the rare error coins I found such as the 5 Cud examples and some strong die clashes. I stopped nickel searching in 2016, so no examples of the 2024 for me. Best of wishes with your hunt.  |
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Bedrock of the Community
United States
19167 Posts |
Good discussion. I keep everything from 1959 and earlier.
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Pillar of the Community
United States
1496 Posts |
The old Whitman albums, which many of us started with, were dated 1938-1961 and 1962-present. That's one reason folks kept pre-1962 nickels, because they belonged to the "older nickels" album and that was a natural "break point." As you said, it's around the same time mintage numbers went through the roof.
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Pillar of the Community
United States
2913 Posts |
It isn't just the older coins worth keeping. As others have stated, the 2009 and 2024 coins from both mints are well-worth saving in any condition due to their low mintages. You will also occasionally find and want to save modern S-mint proofs (and even Philadelphia mint proofs) circulating. Save all high grade 1982-1983 dated coins (in demand because no mint sets were produced those years). As for the older coins, I also save the 1960-1963 issues from Philadelphia and I save any that are 1965-1971 except 1970-D and 1971-D. These are actually pretty hard to find and you can get a premium for rolls on ebay. As for the pre-1960s, I would save ALL of them except 1940, 1941, 1946, 1954-D, 1957-D, 1958-D, and 1959-D (except for those in AU or better condition). CRH Nickeloholic. 1,600,000 nickels searched in eight years! Have found FOUR complete Jefferson sets!
Edited by John77
Today 1H 24M ago
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Replies: 10 / Views: 192 |
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Posted 06/18/2026 9:14 pm
