Coin Roll Obtaining/Dumping - Where/When/How Q &a

I just started last week with this, but here is how I handled the dumping of the unwanted halves. Luckily, there are 3 or 4 other branches within a 5 mile radius. So at the first one, I dumped $375 worth plus deposited a check. The tellers were really cool, and asked how I got these. I told them that I obtained some from poker nights, and some from a coin collection but there was no hassle. I took another $375 to another branch and asked for cash and they were totally cool about it. At the last one, I cashed in the last $250 and the girl asked me if I knew that sometimes these were silver halves. I played dumb and said to go ahead and cash them.

I bought another $50 worth of pennies from my main branch and they asked me if I collected, and I told them yes. I told them not to worry though, as I wouldnt be bringing the unwanted coins back to that branch and the lady was relieved. I plan to map out what other branches there are and keep track on a spreadsheet so that I dont keep hitting the same ones. I run errands all over town anyway, so it makes it easy for me to split up the depositing of the coins.

As far as obtaining the coins, I already have a rapport built with my main branch so they know who I am when I come in, and they have been happy to order boxes for me or get them from the vault. I like the idea of the chocolate coins though and think on my 3rd order will bring those to them as a way to say thanks.

I ask this question because I try not to take more then $50 a time to Commerce Bank now because their Half Dollar Bag only holds $100 in halves. The change out procedure draws a lot of attention and is quite noisy. Anyone know anywhere else that has a bigger machine? I have heard of some banks that the machine holds $1000 in halves.

Anyone?
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The banks I have gone to seem to accomodate a large number of halves. I dumped $375 at two different branches and each one took them all in one try without having to change any bags. I couldnt see the make or model of the coin counting machine but it was pretty big.

I am also in an area of numersous banks or bank branches. One thing you all will soon find is the lack of cooperation with coinage situations. Many bankers are aware of the coin collecting/dealing hobby now a craze and/or boom. Word is spreading to charge for certain quantities of coins purchased or returned. At one bank near me any coins brought in over $100 there is a 10% charge for counting but ony a 5% fee if the coins are deposited in an account. Another bank I know of now will only accept coins if the person has an account and all are deposited in the account. Tellers are being told if anyone request half dollars, you don't know them, your busy, tell them we do not have or do not carry those. Banking officers I know tell me this is spreading all over and soon most and maybe all banks will start such things. They are well aware of people that just play the game of taking coins out and returning them after looking for what they want. You may want to constantly keep asking your banks about such charges. They are coming.
Or marry a teller.

I try to be as unobtrusive and polite as possible.

I never get coins and take them back the same day and try to limit returns to about 25 lbs when they aren't busy.

Most are accomodative but I find it exceedingly difficult to obtain rolls of brand new coin other than quarters.

I've only been doing this for about a week now and have learned alot about how to go about it not only from experience but mostly from this forum.

I've searched just $360 in halves thus far with a result of 10 - 40% halves, one 1976S, and one full roll of 1998D BU's. The brilliant uncirculated coins sure are pretty - especially after going through so many old dirty ones.

Most tellers have been very helpful to me in this small town in which I live. An exception was at one bank a teller informed me that they don't ever get half dollars at this bank. This being the same bank I obtained three rolls from a different teller a couple days later .

I've learned that there is at least one or two active coin roll hunters in this area. I learned about one guy from a very nice teller at my bank. She even gave me his name. This girl has been very helpful every time I've been to this branch. I believe I've identified who I will go to every time I'm looking for coins at that branch.

I've noticed that one coin roll hunter makes an X on the coin wrapper with a black pen after he/she's been through them. Another makes a black line with a marker, and me, I leave a small red X with a sharpie. I was thinking that there was another person that left a small red dot on the wrapper. But I've found silver in a couple of those rolls. For now I'm not letting pre-marked rolls slow me down because I might be looking for more than just silver as some others may be.

One small town bank I've found is very interesting. It's a Security bank and is very small and very old (looks like it was built in the 1930's). They actually have a 100 year old coin dispensing machine that holds half dollars. They use it on a daily basis when giving customers change. When I asked about rolls of half dollars she said I could have two rolls as long as I brought them back after I went through them . I said sure. This is one reason I started using the red sharpie. When I returned I brought a few additional rolls from another bank and was permitted to exchange those plus buy two more. This worked okay but I believe I've gone through all they had on hand already. Found a total of 4 - 40%ers at this bank.

The last time I went in the above mentioned bank I took my 3 yr old boy with me. They seemed much more at ease toward me when they met my son. He's such a little charmer. I told the two girls that I would have to bring them some Hershey Kisses the next time I come in as a token of my appreciation for them working with me on putting my coin collection together. After this visit they were all smiles and more than happy to help. The lesson here? If you have little ones, take them to the bank with you on occaisin - they can carry the choclates in for you .

I've not yet used a bank with a coin counter. But I haven't gotten into the quantities yet that some of you have. I'd like to order my first box or two when I get my tax return, so I may be looking for a coin counting machine in the near future.

If you are re-rolling any rolls by hand as I am you may find this useful. I've learned this one by rolling coins on the edge of my bed. Hopefully this will make more sense in a momonet. I funnel the counted coins into to a groove made by the pleats in the mattress. I then stand them all on edge all in a nice row just as they would lay in the roll. You can then place the coin wrapper at one end and gently push all the coins right into the wrapper. Takes a little practice but once you get it, 'it's like butta'. It helps if you slant the coins a bit as they're going in. Viola!- hand rolling made easy. I feel I've saved alot of time this way, especially with pennies and dimes. You can also do this fairly well on your dining room table or similar by using a towell or sheet that's been folded a few times. You can then press a groove into the cloth with the edge of your hand. A smooth sheet seems to work best because you may tend to have some trouble with the little fibers sticking up on most terry cloth towels.

Hope my 2 cents has been of some use to someone.

I live in a very small town ( population 1500) where everybody knows everybody. I have no problems going to one of the two banks (yes, two banks!) here in town and asking for any amount I want. I take my grandson's stroller along and load stuff up in that to make it easier on my back. They tell me to "Hi!" every time and treat me well. Also, I found that Commerce where I have an account is great with my coin collecting hobby,too. I always make a big deal of thanking them and sometimes I take my 20 month old grandson along--they smile and talk to him--everybody loves a baby!

Change is easy for me to dump. I buy a lot of inventory for my business from Amazon.com and Coinstar doesn't charge a fee if you take your payment in Amazon.com gift certificates.
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That's a good call. I believe they do other gift cards for other online sites as well (Eddie Bauer, Starbucks, iTunes). Otherwise you have to pay something like 8 or 9% so on $500 you lose $40-$45 right off the top.

One thing I dont think I mentioned earlier is that when I got done with the half dollars and split up bringing them among 3 branches of the bank I use, they didnt ask if I had an account there (of course 1 was making a deposit but the other two just asking for cash back). It was no hassle at all but I am going to rotate the banks that get the dumped coins of course.