Unsearched Horde, But....

"That is one thing that has always perplexed me. When people talk about or show what their parents/grand parents left them, it is often worn-down, very common coins."

That's because most people stash away coins and notes only after they know that "they're not making these anymore". There would be little reason to do so otherwise.

This made me think of a situation a few months ago when I was in my coin store and a couple was buying a bunch of junk silver. The sad part was that they had no idea about anything when it came to coins except that there was a certain amount of silver in each one and that was the important part. I have been going there for as long as I have lived here and know that there is nothing of value in what they bought and feel sorry for the relative that finds it in 40+ years thinking they found the jackpot.