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 Replies: 26 / Views: 3,700 |
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Valued Member
United States
397 Posts |
Hi, I just found and joined this forum. I'm relatively new to coin collecting, having started a few months ago, mainly focusing on US cents. I've hunted quite a few boxes' worth of pennies now, which seem to be the best performer for me, compared to nickels, dimes, quarters, etc. The oldest ones I had been able to find were a couple of 1909-P wheat cents, until I found a 1901 IHC and an 1891 IHC in the same customer-rolled batch just the other day. The IHCs were probably a fluke, since the probability of finding two of them in the same batch is minuscule. I guess my question is what are the oldest coins I can reasonably still find in circulation? Is it still possible to find pre-1880 IHCs or even a Flying Eagle cent from circulation? What's the earliest cent you've ever found in circulation? I guess more recent examples would be good, since it was easier to find older cents back in the 1960s or something. Sorry for my noob question, but this is something that I've been wondering about for a while now. Cheers! |
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Moderator
 United States
187702 Posts |
 to the Community! |
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Bedrock of the Community
United States
19120 Posts |
You likely ran into someone's collection dump--or partial dump. Some collectors enjoy placing old, viable coins back into circulation. I've done that in the past--in my case a dozen or so old wheat cents added to a few wrapped rolls several months ago. The oldest IHC I've come across in circulation was from the late 1890s--perhaps 10 years ago. |
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Pillar of the Community
United States
2460 Posts |
Quote:I guess my question is what are the oldest coins I can reasonably still find in circulation? Is it still possible to find pre-1880 IHCs or even a Flying Eagle cent from circulation? What's the earliest cent you've ever found in circulation? it's not unheard of to pick very old coins from circulation. surf around on these boards and you'll see that ppl are still finding IHC, wheats, buffalos, old silver, etc., from rolls, pocket change and in some cases off the ground!  oldest? late 1800s thru early 1900s is not unreasonable. one member recently picked a Flying Eagle cent from somewhere. someone else scored nearly a full roll of IHC. just last week I picked an 1891 IHC from the ground, meaning it was still in circulation until someone lost it or tossed it. that was my oldest find. there are still lots of interesting things to pull from circulation! keep at it! and.. |
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Pillar of the Community
United States
4233 Posts |
I don't think I've ever found an IHC in circulation. I think 1910 or 1911 Lincoln was my oldest circulation find, probably decades ago. I haven't seen any Wheat cent in years, but I don't roll search, just regular change. If you're asking what the oldest possible is, it's the luck of the draw. People inherit (or steal) collections and spend them, and as said, others deliberately dump an older low value coin into circulation to give someone a thrill. I did find an 1876 half dollar and 1858 Half Dime in the clean out pit at a recycled newspaper mill back in the late 1970s, but that wasn't really from circulation. (Lots of weird stuff got into old newspapers) |
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Pillar of the Community
United States
7273 Posts |
My brother recently got a 1902 IHC in change which he gave to me. My oldest was an 1917 wheatie that I got at Trader Joe's. Once I saw it I asked for all the cents, there were a few 1920 and 30's wheats and a few steel wheats that the cashier put in the dimes. Probably a dump of someone's collection. My brother used to work at a local bank branch in high school so about 25 years ago, one of the older customers deposited a few silver Morgan and Peace dollars, my brother called the manager and they told her to sell them at the coin shop down the street. She said it was her husbands and she had more and didn't know what to do with them after he passed. He doesn't remember the dates other than a few had 18 as the beginning. |
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Valued Member
 United States
397 Posts |
Wow, thank you for the replies and welcome! I would love to find a Flying Eagle cent in circulation. I also metal detected a bit, but couldn't find anything but clad. It's really nice of long-time collectors who put things back into circulation, as a way of paying it forward, I suppose, to help out the new collectors. Once I got a sizable collection dump from customer rolls, which was mostly 40s and 50s wheaties and helped me fill in quite a few years/mints I was missing. Cheers! |
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Pillar of the Community
United States
3323 Posts |
Fun finds! I found a 1909 Lincoln as a youngster. Recently, I found a 1916 in a Coin Star return. I have a handful of wheat cents ready to go back to the bank next time I visit. "Nummi rari mira sunt, si sumptus ferre potes." - Christophorus filius Scotiae
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Pillar of the Community
United States
751 Posts |
I first learned what the dates on coins meant in late 1989 (I was 4). Early the next year my younger brother, who was turning 3 around then, found a 1918 cent on the ground. I did the math and thought "Wow--this is older than my parents!" I convinced my brother to give me that cent and thus my coin collection started. I still have that 1918 cent, which is stained on the back and probably grades a G-VG. For a Lincoln Cent type coin (wheat reverse) I chose the 1919 one in MS(63) because the thought of replacing that 1918 one made me sick. In the late 1990s I found a 1938 Jefferson nickel in circulation, but since 2000 I haven't found that much before 1960. It doesn't help that I lived outside of the USA for the last 12 years. Edited by Adam590
01/16/2023 5:01 pm
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Pillar of the Community
United States
2365 Posts |
I convinced my brother to give me that cent and thus my coin collection started.Oh, never ever get rid of your first coin! It's a inspiration and will bring back so many memories! Loved your story. 
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Valued Member
United States
416 Posts |
Quote:
there are still lots of interesting things to pull from circulation! I hate to be a downer, but I find this not to be true anymore, not that I scour my change like I did as a kid decades ago. Back then (late 70s early 80s) I would gobble up lots of wheats and silver dimes/quarters, the occasional buffalo or Indian cent, that kind of thing. No more. Not a one in many years. I love the idea of putting stuff back out there for someone else to find, that is dedication to the hobby! |
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Pillar of the Community
United States
2200 Posts |
I've been collecting since 1972, and it was only a few years ago that I got an IHC in change--I believe it was a bent 1883. Every now and then I find a Wheat cent in change. I also look for Jeffersons before 1959, and they occasionally pop up. The last time I got a silver (pre-1965) Roosevelt dime was about 30 years ago. I've never found a pre-1965 Washington quarter in change. You're correct, it was much easier to find old coins a few decades ago. Now: you said you'd love to find a FE cent in change? I'd say the chances of that are very low. But, ya never know... that's one of the pleasures of this hobby--when the unexpected happens. Keep looking, man!  |
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Pillar of the Community
United States
630 Posts |
1838-O Seated dime in 1963 at Paul's Foodland on Blue Hill Ave (my grandfather's store) |
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Pillar of the Community
United States
4085 Posts |
You don't see much pre-1965 except for nickels and cents. I've gotten an Indian in change once, still get the occasional wheat cents but not many. I don't see many nickels pre-1960 but do pull one out occasionally and have also gotten a silver War Nickel, a Buffalo or two and once even a Liberty "V" nickel in change. I think I've gotten a couple of silver dimes and a couple of silver quarters over the years from change. So they are out there, but it's few and far between. |
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Pillar of the Community
United States
756 Posts |
large cents were circulating in america after world war II. some were even redeemed through federal banks as late as the 1960s.
for the most part the coins in circulation today are older than they were when I was a kid. 1965 was the cutoff then and it still is today. those 1965 quarters keep circulating and they arent getting any younger.
my oldest find is a 1831 capped bust dime in vg that I got in 2018.
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Pillar of the Community
United States
2460 Posts |
Edited by MrPink2018
01/16/2023 7:08 pm
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Replies: 26 / Views: 3,700 |
Posted 01/16/2023 3:45 pm
