Dad's Stash

OK. I've mentioned on here before that while alive, my dad bought coins at the flea market every Monday for about 20-25 years. While home over the weekend, my Mom brought it up and said there are hundreds of rolls of wheat pennies in some steel boxes stored in various rooms of the house. She said they all had dates on the rolls.

I went through two steel boxes - just amazed. There are rolls from 1909 (no S VDBs darnit), 1910, 1913, 1915, 1917, 1918, 1919, etc. Just a few years missing. Not many D mint rolls until the 30's and up.

Many of the wrappers were falling apart. There were several rolls labeled BU - I just popped open an end and yes, BU on the end.

I had no time to really go through it all. I did tell Mom that there were several hundred, probably thousands of dollars of wheats just in the two steel boxes (about 150 rolls each) that I went into. And she needed to decide what she wants to do with it. She had contemplated taking them to the bank - thank goodness she didn't.

She had already deposited (face value) about $600 in State Quarter rolls from 99-06 (Dad passed in 06). She said the teller told her she had a customer who'd be thrilled to get those. I told her not to take ANYTHING else to the bank, if she needed money to call.

I did go through the 1909 rolls - they are all regular 1909's - same with the 1910's and 1913's. Since I'm not a big Lincoln collector or loaded with Lincoln knowledge, what would you guys say these would be worth by the roll? They are all circulated with the occasional AU example, mostly in what I'd call VG to F condition, clear dates, decent detail left on reverses, etc. There is almost NO corrosion.

By her guestimates - there are probably another 300-400 rolls in a safe in the garage..........(rolling my eyes......) She said he used to pay $.55 a roll in the 80's for these, but over the last few years he paid $1 each.