Need Advice On How To Begin Sorting US Circulated Coins

Coins that have nice eye appeal are what I go after even in circulated condition. For what you are putting together, I'd avoid coins with grime or dirt and coins with scratches all over the obverse and reverse.

Now faded detail can be a good thing if all other devices such as lettering and design elements lack detail in some places and strong in others. This is known as a " Struck Through Grease" error where grease was on the die during the striking process thus resulting in parts of the coin to have smooth detail as opposed to a weak strike.

D mint marks on circulated coins, especially the older quarters and nickels, may have really no detail and can look like a blob of metal. It doesn't matter as long as you have a mintmark you can make out.

Start out with one folder and go from there. Take your time and have fun!

I am from Sydney ( not Nova Scotia) was visiting some friends in the 'burbs of Las Vegas. I spied a large bikkie barrel, and I was perceived as being 'high falutin' coin collector. I was invited to have a look at current change and found nothing of value.

But I did have a lot of fun. I sorted every coin by denomination, then by type, and realised that I could get a complete States Quarters collection in one fell swoop! I separated those out and sorted them by State. I got 48 out of the 50, and the only reason that the set was incomplete was at the time, the last two types had not yet been issued!

I handed over $12 with a smile, and the 48 came back to Australia with me. About a year later, the two missing types turned up in the post! Yay!

I think I might have engendered enough interest in some folks in 'Vegas to add two more happy souls to the coin collecting fraternity!

Thanks for all of your input!

I do have the Red Book. I went straight to the Quarter Dollar section and didn't read the beginning. Not much to get excited about for Quarters 1965 to present, except for defects and the like. I'm gonna read the beginning of the book, does look interesting.

I'm a little perplexed about the reasons for not using the "Push-in" folders I have. I did look at the albums, but they seemed too expensive to get all the ones I would need. I'm putting coins that have circulated for years, vending machines, hands, bathroom floors, doggie digestive system, the elements, etc.. Seems funny to worry about the handling of the common circulated coin at this point, especially since I'm not cleaning them or anything. I will still entertain the possibility of the Albums, but should I get them for these coins that aren't worth more than their face value?

I definitely don't want to toss coins that may have some value to them. I'll hold on to them until I read more, I guess. Too bad there aren't photos of Valuable defects vs. Ordinary Non-valuable defects. I have a few quarters that have a faint arc-like strike/scratch on the flat part of the face side. Looks like it's the same degree of arc as the coin itself, but I don't know for sure. :-/

I'm off to read more. :-)