I have an informal agreement with one of my Banks. They provide boxes of Nickels and Halves for me and I dispose of their customer wrapped (CW) coin for them. You see, most Banks pay to have their coin removed. That's why no Bank likes to be a "Dump Bank". So on occasion, I dump their Quarters, Dimes, and Pennies. I try to always take the Nickels.
So when my Bank called to see if I could pick up about $100 in CW Halves. I really didn't want to take the Halves. It's normally a waste of my time to sort through CW Halves because the Silver has been picked clean. But I said yes, I'll take them when I pick up my Nickels for the week. Well, I started sorting the Nickels first. I had I Bank Box and about $100 in CW Nickels. After finishing the Bank Box I decided to sort the Halves. WOW, was I surprised to find 74 of the 200 coins were 40%.
As soon as my heart quit racing, I realized I could have someone's collection? My thoughts were the coins could have been stolen, turned in by mistake, or something else. So I called the Bank Manager the next day and asked if she knew who turned in the Halves? She told me they were turned in on behalf of an Estate. I informed her that there was over $200 in Silver in the Halves and asked her if she would contact the Estate to make arrangement for me to return them. I did not feel right just keeping them. I felt it would be bad Karma.
After a couple of days the Manager called me back to inform me that any Silver I found was mine to keep as my reward for doing a good deed. The icing on the cake was when I opened the CW Nickels I found 68
War Nickels and about a roll of Buffalos. Nothing of any above average value but it was a great score.
I know that I may be in the minority in my thinking. But I made my decision and I would do it again. No matter the amount. If I think I have someone's collection I would attempt to return it. It helps me sleep soundly at night with a clear mind.
Posted 01/26/2015 01:28 am
