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Replies: 34 / Views: 4,166 |
Pillar of the Community
United States
5408 Posts |
The original Half Dollar Roll Hunting thread was started back in 2007 and currently extends to over 1600 pages. In recent years that thread has come to be dominated by posts from hunters who process half dollars by the $500 box: 2 boxes per week, or 5, or 10, or 20. Many posts discuss strategies for turning in ("dumping") the thousands of unwanted coins back to the banks, hopefully without annoying the bank personnel. It seems like roll hunting has become an industrial-level process, complete with special equipment for transporting hundreds of pounds of coins. Some bulk hunters find large quantities of silver halves along the way and I'm definitely impressed (and envious) about their success. My modest roll-hunting operation generally involves dropping in at banks and buying whatever loose coins or rolls the tellers have on hand. The scores are small but somehow satisfying. If other roll hunters are content with small-scale hunts then maybe you will consider adding to this thread. I myself will continue to check out the "big boy" posts on the 1600-page topic but it seems I have little to contribute there. That being said, I recently picked up 5 rolls of customer-wrapped halves at a local Chase Bank. These 100 coins included at least 70 proof halves, dating from 1970 to 2010. A single 1970-S was the only silver coin (40%) but I was amazed at the sheer quantity. I'm keeping about 40 of the better coins; the rest were too impaired from circulation and I will redeposit those. I also found a few NIFC business strike coins, plus two clad commemorative halves: a 1986 Statue of Liberty and a 1991 Mount Rushmore. This little score made my day!   Edited by Jaobler 08/06/2019 12:12 pm
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Bedrock of the Community
United States
37822 Posts |
Nice score,I bet you got a little shot of adrenaline John1 
( I'm no pro, it's just my humble opinion ) Searched 5+ Million Cents Since 1971
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Moderator

United States
96232 Posts |
Excellent score! 
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Bedrock of the Community
26893 Posts |
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Bedrock of the Community
United States
17900 Posts |
Amazing finds. I'd get back to that bank real quick for quarters and dimes!
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Pillar of the Community
United States
4133 Posts |
I think you found my dump.
When I listen to LED ZEPPELIN...so do my neighbors... Roll hunting since '77 Dirt fishing since '72
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Pillar of the Community
United States
5408 Posts |
Made a bank run while vacationing in Kona, Hawaii last month. No silver, but I did find two nice 1987-D coins that were worth keeping. Hope I didn't violate any USDA regulations by importing these from the Aloha State!  
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Moderator

United States
96232 Posts |
A beautiful pair! 
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Pillar of the Community
United States
5408 Posts |
Stopped at a Wells Fargo where the teller said they had $1200 worth of halves. Bought just 4 rolls to start and they looked thoroughly searched. They were not machine-rolled, so probably they were turned in by a customer. I'll go back to buy some more but I'm not expecting much.
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New Member
31 Posts |
I follow a similar strategy and have been doing it for 8 years - boxes often are too picked over and don't generate the returns. Worked out well for me so far.
Regarding the proofs, I'd hold onto all of them and find a coin dealer to buy (or trade) the rest from you. Even with common dates and severe impacts, impaired proofs get a premium over face value.
Also look for die varieties ("No FG"), Not intended for Circulation (years 2002 - Date), Die rotation and other varieties - they often appear in Customer Wrapped Rolls
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Pillar of the Community
United States
4133 Posts |
Always buy them all. I've found dozens of solid silver rolls over the years using this strategy. You just never know what's in the mix.
That, and the tellers will love you for it.
When I listen to LED ZEPPELIN...so do my neighbors... Roll hunting since '77 Dirt fishing since '72
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Pillar of the Community
United States
5408 Posts |
Went back to that Wells Fargo for $200 worth. As expected, this is a thoroughly searched lot, all dating 1971-2001, no proofs, no standout BU coins, all identical wrappers. Several 1974-D coins had "WE TRUST" highlighted with red marker indicating the previous owner checked for the DDO variety. Maybe I'll ask the teller if she has any rolls with different wrappers; if not I won't get any more.
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Pillar of the Community
United States
2141 Posts |
Quote:Several 1974-D coins had "WE TRUST" highlighted with red marker indicating the previous owner checked for the DDO variety. I run into this a lot where I live, except it is almost always BLACK marker used in the motto.
CRH Nickeloholic. Almost 1,300,000 nickels searched in five years! Already have found THREE complete Jefferson sets!
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Pillar of the Community
United States
5408 Posts |
Quote: Always buy them all. Usually sound advice. I went back and spoke to the teller who confirmed that she received 3 boxes of halves from a customer, all hand-rolled coins with the same wrappers. After going through $240 worth of these well-searched coins I concluded that pond was fished out. Doesn't mean they won't have anything good when I check back in a few weeks!
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Pillar of the Community
United States
5408 Posts |
Visiting my son in Houston again, so I've stopped at several random banks. Very few halves and the ones I found were already well-searched. Looks like central Houston is pretty well fished out. 
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Moderator

United States
96232 Posts |
Bummer.  At least not a totally wasted trip. You got to see your son. 
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Replies: 34 / Views: 4,166 |
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