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 Replies: 10 / Views: 1,130 |
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Pillar of the Community
 United States
6451 Posts |
One of the remaining items in pop-pop's little hoard of silver is four unopened rolls of bicentennial halves. How should I approach those coins? There is a pretty good chance that he stuck them in the box uncirculated, straight from the mint or bank. In researching bicentennial 50c coins, it seems that the two clad circulation issues from P and D have no major DDO, DDR, RPM, or other varieties. It does, however, seem like there are few graded coins in MS66, very few in MS67, and zero MS68-70. It seems obvious that you wouldn't grade entire rolls. So what's the move here? Should we even open the rolls, or are they worth more in the wrappers? |
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Moderator
 United States
187582 Posts |
I am usually sentimental and like to leave things as they were given to me, but roll wrappers (unlike other holders) obscure their beauty. There is no way I could not resist opening them up and taking a look.  |
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Pillar of the Community
United States
2270 Posts |
From a financial standpoint the best bet is to open the rolls and check the Denvers for the DDO and all for high grades. Just take the rest to the bank. The odds are poor that you'll have anything. I should point out that wholesale on these is $20 per roll but very few dealers will buy them at wholesale or any significant premium. Very nice rolls of these coins are unusual so if the end coins look nice then they might be worth setting aside. Time don't fly, it bounds and leaps.
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Pillar of the Community
 United States
6451 Posts |
The curiosity is also giving me a nudge, but curiosity killed the cat. I have never really dealt with MS coins before. I do know that even the tiniest scratch can drop the point value of a coin considerably. I am also just concerned on a basic level about exposing the coins to air and humidity, how to store them after opening, and so forth.
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Bedrock of the Community
United States
24898 Posts |
Brandmeister, I see asking prices on ebay for original bank wrapped uncirculated 1976 Kennedy halves in the $25 - $35 range. Are they truly unopened? That is the question. I have a roll of 64 Kennedys inherited from a grandparent and it's going to remain unopened. Inordinately fascinated by bits of metal with strange markings and figures
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Pillar of the Community
United States
2270 Posts |
Quote:
The curiosity is also giving me a nudge, but curiosity killed the cat. I have never really dealt with MS coins before. I do know that even the tiniest scratch can drop the point value of a coin considerably. I am also just concerned on a basic level about exposing the coins to air and humidity, how to store them after opening, and so forth. There's very little danger of damaging the coins if you are careful. The coins already have numerous scratches all over them. Indeed, most will even have chicken scratches around the edges because the planchet wasn't completely struck. They are usually made with scratches and then they get brutalized by the mint before they leave the door. Most of the coins also have various strike defects caused by poorly adjusted, weak, or worn dies. This date comes nicer than most but they were not intended to be "collectible" so most have multiple problems. Time don't fly, it bounds and leaps.
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Pillar of the Community
United States
6451 Posts |
Hondo, I can only know a few things for certain. The halves were in the box with the silver coins he pulled from circulation over the years. The rolls are machine wrapped, although all they say is $10 Halves. On all four rolls, all the coins on both ends are bicentennials. The end coins all seem to have nice luster and no obvious dirt, tarnish, fingerprints, circulation scratches, wear.
I would tend to assume that all the halves are P. We are not far from Philadelphia. Beyond that, I cannot know anything for certain until the rolls are opened. Worth mentioning, I did not find pictures of Mint or FR rolls for '76. My guess is these were bank wrapped, but I don't know that. My mom was a bank teller back in the day, and he probably had her bring these home for his collection.
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Bedrock of the Community
United States
24898 Posts |
Brandmeister, one way to look at it is that you have four of these rolls. Crack one to see what's inside. At the very least it will satisfy your curiosity.
Inordinately fascinated by bits of metal with strange markings and figures
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Pillar of the Community
United States
6451 Posts |
That's an interesting proposal! If all the coins inside are pristine, then I know the other three are probably pretty good quality, too. That might be a project for this weekend. Thanks for the idea. =)
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Moderator
United States
94728 Posts |
Yep, that would be a great way to start - one roll at a time, then you can always save one or 2 in the rolls as-is.
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Pillar of the Community
United States
5767 Posts |
Congrats on your Pop Pop's coins.
As far as grading, I believe they will accept rolls to be graded where you can stipulate the minimum grade you actually want to be slabbed. This saves you $ on grading all coins in a roll but still lets valuable ones be graded.
Words of encouragement are one of the major food groups.
We need to consume them regularly to thrive and grow.
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Replies: 10 / Views: 1,130 |
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Posted 08/10/2023 1:46 pm
