Last Time You Found A Defunct Design In Change?

Jbuck is right. Especially on eagle back quarters.

I do really mean change as in what you receive from a clerk in a store, but as long as the rolls are from general circulation coins--and not prepared specifically for a collector--they'd be okay.

As far as what I mean by defunct designs, both the obverse and reverse need to be defunct. So that does not include wheaties or Memorial cents--to me, those are still Lincolns, and Lincoln is not defunct. Same thing with the myriad variations of the Jefferson nickel and the Washington quarter--they're all still Jefferson nickels and Washington quarters, no matter what's on the back or how Jefferson's head is angled.

I've found only one "obsolete" coin in regular circulation a 1907 V nickel, and I've been collecting for 44 years... One time, while in a casino around 20 years ago, I found a dateless Buffalo nickel in my Grandma's winnings. That would be the closest I've come.

However, I have found over 20 of them in my 2016 CRH adventures. The results of my last six months of searching are included in my signature.

The only obsolete coins you are likely to find in circulation are the least likely coins to be found in circulation.

Whoa! Say what!?! Yes, just what I said!

The SBA Dollar in the only obsolete coin that you are likely to find in circulation by the OP's rules: Both the front and rear have changed.

Pennies obverse haven't changed in over 100 years.
Nickels have had Jefferson for almost 80 years.
Dimes have had Roosevelt for 70 years.
Quarters have had Washington for more than 85 years
Halves have had Kennedy for more than 50 years.

Anthony Dollars were the last design that have changed front and back in over half a century and, even with their relative rareness, are more common than any other of the qualifying coins. I still find these occasionally. They get spent, then end up at the service desk because the cashiers don't give them out, same with Golden Dollars and halves. Sometimes I will see them in the drawer and ask for them. Weirdly, at least in my area, Walgreens seems to be the place where I see them the most and they are usually all too eager to get rid of them to someone like me.

And therein lies my point, which concerns the magic of actually finding a defunct design. It's rare, but it is possible.

I haven't found much of anything lately, but I have found a couple of Buffalo nickels from CRH, and I found a 1945 merc in my mom's change about 2 years ago.

To answer the question I received a Morgan in change in 2003 from a Wendy's. The kid behind the counter asked me if I would take it because there was no slot in her drawer for it and it was sitting on top of the dollar bill slot. I know I got a Merc sometime in the last 20 years in change, but couldn't tell you when. The same for a Buffalo nickel. I also received a WLH in 1995.

On the other hand. I spend dateless type 2 buffs. I'm a coin dealer and I think it more fun to spend them than to sell them.

As an aside; as a kid in Nevada Buff's were still in circulation into the 70's and very early 80's; albeit very rarely.

Also it was not uncommon to see Franklins and the occasional WLH into the 80's as well.

Finally, a bookstore owner than keeps old coins for me got an 1847 Large Cent about 10 years ago.

Nice find!