I was just wondering if I should even bother keeping a collection of US circulated coins, such as coins I get from when I break a dollar. (I was going to see how many different years I could get, rather than for value...)
Hi Orps I look at my change all the time. For me it is the thrill of the search, you never know what you might find. There are still some good old coins out there.
Quite honestly, the only point to collecting at all (as opposed to collecting for the purpose of resale/making money) is the doing what you like. You could collect circulated 2005 pennies and see how many you could get if it makes you happy. It's the reason people used to collect bottlecaps, and just about every other assorted item. If there's some other unmentioned goal other than "seeing how many different years you could get" then...
"circulated" doesnt mean not UNC. UNC coins can be in change for a while, just gently. i know i just yesterday pulled a 1997 Washington Quarter out that had full breast details on the eagle. :thumb:
What you like Most of the coins in my world coin collection were just somebodys pocket change at one time. My US coins I have 2 different books for each denomination, one I put really good stuff, from mint sets or dealers, the other I fill with whatever I get in change, trying to get every date and mint mark I can find. I got my grandkids blue Whitman folders so they can do the same thing. We'll compare our circulated collections at visiting time, when I go back to Kentucky or they come out here to Oregon. It's fun to find stuff in your change. JonySky
Thanks guys, I'm mostly in this for enjoyment! I have about half a dozen '05 pennies which I just happened upon in my pocket, which are in great shape, just with a scratch or too or a blemish around the edges. Who knows, maybe they'll be worth something when I'm 80 years old. But otherwise I'm just going to get as many different years as I can from pocket change. It's fun because meanwhile I've been learning about during the different years the changes they did in the coins, like how they didn't use the P and D mintmarks until....I beleive the 80s, I'm not sure. Thanks again.
If you except the proof sets and similar stuff made just for collectors, ALL the coins in our collections have been pocket change at one time, even the outstanding hammered coins we can see those days on another thread or the ancients. Happy holydays Cucumbor
1983-p jefferson nickel Hi Can anyone tell me why the 1983-p jefferson in u.n.c. cost so much. They did not make a mint set that year, and they did put circulated coins out in public.So why the high price. That coin is selling for $4.50 can you tell me why?
samjimmy provided the best answer that I have seen. You may want to consider it in your plans. The important parts are "doing (collecting) what you like" and "It should make you happy". You have all the time in the world to change or add to this arrangement as time goes on, but keep these two things in mind at all times. Oh yes, welcome to the forum.
Because finding uncirculated examples is not as easy as with other dates. Finding "nice" unc examples is even harder.
I collect circulated coins all of the time from pocket change and bank rolls. Other than the occasional silver coin, very little of it is worth more than a small amount over face value, but it is an enjoyable pastime. I consider it more of a "pure" collecting activity than purchasing uncirculated coins at the prevailing market price, which to me is more closely related to investing than collecting. Anyone can buy an MS65 by simply placing an internet order and paying for it. Finding a 90% silver quarter in VF condition from circulation or bank rolls takes work and dedication.
What they ^ said. And don't forget that you can find interesting errors and world coins in your pocket change, too. It's a great feeling to go through a handful of change from your pocket and come across something that makes you go, "How the heck did that get there?" I've got two binders full of coins, almost all circulated, none of them worth much, but I love 'em.
When I was younger, I used to collect mostly "minor coins", all coming from pocket change. I think I have 8 or 9 hundred of them, and never bought any. It's great to travel across so many countries throught their coinage. Cucumbor
I save all of the 1999 quarters I get in change. I wrap em up and I'll sell them on Ebay someday, hopefully for a profit!
Collecting from "Pocket Change" While I agree with the above post, I have to add my 2 cents! I recall when I was a kid and everyone in the "coin" industry laughed at me for collecting common found in the pocket change. Well, in 1964 things changed didnt they! All that silver was now being taken out of circulation and I had already culled out my Roosevelt, Mercury, Washington, Franklins, and a few Walkers from Circulation. One never knows what tomorrow will bring. I say if you like something collect it. 2005 pennies, matchbooks, pencils, whatever. Go for it. Collecting is for enjoyment. ENJOY
I have several hundred wheat pennys I found in my change. I always look and pull anything of interest, I have even found some error coins. BUT I do have some real nice uncs as well. I just love to search and collect
I started collecting from pocket change in 1957. There was nothing of any value because there had been millions of people scouring change for rarities even since before WW II. Anything of real value was gone by 1945 and this was when the real assault on rare coins started. I was the most disappointed when the coins were changed in 1965. Suddenly we went from being able to find anything from four or five different mints dating back into the 19th century to all the new junk coins having no mintmark and the prospect of having only the 1965 date for the rest of time. By the end of 1966 they had changed the date and soon dating was normal again and mintmarks were back. There was still little reason to collect these coins since they were so numerous and the mint would release brand new coins years after they were minted. Unless you were paying a lot of attention there were no varieties or much of anything special. As the years went by, things changed. Many varieties emerged and many of these "common" coins became very scarce in high grade or even just in nice attractive condition. Still people weren't looking at them. In 1997 when the states quarters became official it seemed that there would be an immediate run on the circulating quarters since these would soon be obsolete. While interest has picked up there is still no real run on these. There are numerous circulating rarities and one doesn't hear about the major coins getting found so there isn't a lot of looking. There are the key dates starting to get noticeably tougher so there is some interest. There are lots of coins in circulation which will be considered important in the future and many will have prices to match. Even grade rarities are possible to find in circulation; try finding a nice attractive '69 quarter in XF/AU. While the coin is hardly rare in unc, attractive specimens are tough in any grade and even VF's are quite scarce.
