Turning Change To Silver

Yeah, stud. Break it down for yourself. Maybe go through a portion of what you have and let go of the coins that aren't doing anything for you. I was hoarding my coins until I thought about the fact that I don't have nearly the amount of silver I wanted to get this year. I'm thinking of letting go of some $2 dollar bills, my zinc pennies and half of my nickels. What are they doing for me? Get some more ASE's that I wouldn't normally have. On paydays, I'll continue to go for Morgans. I just want to stay focused on my priorities.

stud, there are members here who can answer this much better than I can. I'm a little ashamed to say that I haven't been a good student of varieties and errors. I just do the basics and that's not a very good answer. But I want to answer you here, even at the risk of exposing my shortcomings.
A few years back I read a lot of literature about pocket change and bought the Srike it Rich book. That book wasn't worth the money, I felt. There's so much literature to be had for free. But I was actively looking at change, still am, especially the State Quarter series and Lincoln pennies. In all change, I look for the basics: doubling, overstrikes, mules, mintmarks, silver War Nickels, wheaties, etc., and anything that looks odd and out of sorts. But I have to say that in several-years' time, I've been rather unlucky or not very good at identifying things like small-date Lincolns. I keep looking for the above, however, and silver, of course.
I've had the most luck in finding Roosevelt and Mercury silver dimes and Franklin and silver Kennedy halves by looking at my change, asking bank tellers about their half-dollar and dollar coins, and by checking Coin Star machines every time I'm near one. I like the bicentennial quarters and halves you can find in change or at the bank, though if they're not silver, I guess there's only a sentimental and aesthetic benefit to them.
I'm remembering some finds as I write this. I did find a New Jersey State Quarter with a missing letter and I will have to try an dig that out to see which letter. That was exciting. And there's another State Quarter I have--North Carolina--with a reverse that looks like it was struck in several directions. I'm sorry to sound so dumb here, but I stopped collecting for awhile and stopped thinking about all of this. I started collecting again early this year.

Thanks for all of the info blackjack. you didnt sound dumb at all. your answer helps me out a lot. good luck on your future variety and error finds!

Stud, good books to check out are CherryPickers' Guide to Rare Die Varieties of United Sates Coins by Bill Fivaz and J.T. Stanton. There are two volumes; Vol I lists Half Cents to Jefferson nickels and Volume II lists Half Dimes through dollars, golds and commemoratives. These are helpful and detailed and will definitely compliment striking it rich with pocket change.

blackjack,

You can add the metal valued silver coins you pick up in your travels or roll hunting. Silver dimes or other denominations. Save these for future trades. You may be able to get an ASE with a small amount above the silver value of your silver. Unless of course you save all your silver coins regardless of the coin. Notice I didn't type 'irregardless?'

For saving I usually try to fill bigger containers. I always pick something that is hard to empty. Any time I have extra dollar bills in my pocket I always try to throw a few in there. If I can I even try to add some larger bills. any time am taking money out of the bank I ask for a few small dollar coins and add them to the change jar as well. it makes it add up a lot faster. and I often forget how much is in there. the difficulty of the jar to empty makes sure that I wont use it unless I really have to