Can You Really Find Silver In Half Dollar Rolls?

Volume as in 100 dollars in half dollars...

Like others have mentioned, the key is volume searching. I consider at least $1,000 per week to be small volume. I remember back around 2010, and higher silver prices, $10,000 per week might have been considered higher volume per individual roll hunters. Companies such as Jackson metals back then might have been processing hundreds of thousands of dollars in halves per week.

I have only searched a handful of half boxes. The first one I ever searched gave up 3 90% and about a dozen 40%. After wasting a considerable amount of time and effort on a few consecutive skunk boxes, I realized that I did not have the time, money, or pickup/dump network to make it a worthwhile venture. I still pick up loose halves as they are available, but I have only gotten 1 more 40% that way.

Given the number of spikes in the silver spot price, I think it is safe to say that every silver half dollar has been pulled at least once. I know several people who dumped buckets of 40% halves back into circulation after the Hunt Brothers incident in the 80s, and a former coworker of mine spent a fair number in ca. 2008 when the silver price started to take a dive.

90% halves only enter circulation by accident. You can thank the mortality of coin collectors paired with relatives who are too lazy to do a quick Google search on the coins they just inherited.

It DOES take commitment, time (a lot), and patience. When I was roll searching for them I was amazed some could still be found, but the reality of it being hit and miss comes home pretty fast when you go through several weeks with nothing.

One other thing to remember is that most of the ones you will find are the 40% silver halves. Which at present is 2.15 of silver or a "profit" of $1.65. Don't quit your day job Its fun for the hobby aspect.

You have to be committed to the hunt or lucky these days. Halves have been so picked over that finding silver is rare. Those silver pieces found are usually the result of "new" silver being reintroduced to the system by the unknowing, uncaring or thieves.

If you want to really get into it the actual cash investment is not that bad. You need to be able to spare a couple thousand dollars for the duration of the search. Subtract from this any coins you keep after the search. Chances are that the coins you keep are going to be worth considerably more than the price you paid.

What is more expensive is the time and effort expended. You need to have a bank or supplier of raw coins as well as a way to dump the vast majority of them. If you can dump them loose for face value then there is little direct cost. If you need to roll or bag them then consider the costs of the materials.

Next, factor in the value of your time, and other indirect costs such as transportation and bribery of your bank friends.

If you are in it to make money than you will most likely be disappointed. If you are in it for the fun then you will have a blast.

Free silver is an urban legend.

There is no more free silver out there.

Jack, that's just mean!