How often do you find a proof coin in circulation?

About 2 months ago, I found a Saratoga ATB quarter in a roll of quarters. I doubted it at first because while the coin looked prooflike, but I was hoping not because the regular strike S quarters are often worth more. I got to studying and it was a proof quarter.

My friend also has found 2 proof pennies in circulation, both of which I have bought off of him. I've talked to many others at one of my local coin clubs and they said they've found proofs in circulation.

Have you found any in circulation? If so, how common are they?

*Please note that this is the only proof coin I've found in circulation.

 

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Pics please?

 

Hopefully I can get a good one pretty soon. I use 2 different devices, and the one I take pictures with struggles sometimes. The coin is quite awesome, though!

 

Very uncommon in circulation, but it happens. I have maybe three or four that either I found over the years or a friend did and thought I'd like it. Of course, it's always going to be only an impaired proof, so the value would be very little over face unless you found a very rare date (think 1895 Morgan).

 

When I was coin roll hunting very often 10 years ago, I found proofs fairly regularly. Half dollars yielded a lot for some reason, then quarters, then nickels. In all my coin roll hunting, I found maybe two proof dimes and a few pennies.

 

Always hard to photograph proofs with their mirror finish
I’ll have get that boxful out when back in Syracuse

 

As others have mentioned, fairly often roll hunting halves. Here's some from a partial roll I have:

 

I would love to see some pics too. Bet they are beauties.

 

I agree. Mine would be known a bit like an impaired proof because its cameo contrast is gone. Heh, even the 2011-S proof I bought off my friend has turned red-brown.

 

Especially without cameo contrast. They can get even harder when circulated. I know on YouTube, someone showcased a 1971-S half dollar that looked literally like a regular strike, it was so worn. Probably a PR50 at the best.

 

Really? I've looked through hundreds of halves, and I haven't seen a proof. I have, though, found a bunch of Bicentennials, and a 2021 with a grade of at least MS-66 DMPL. Seriously, I mean DMPL, not prooflike.

In all honesty, you were quite lucky to find cameo proofs in circulation IMO. The quarter I've found has absolutely no contrast whatsoever.

 

I used to look through $1,000 in halves nearly every week. Looking through that many, I found probably 30-40 proofs in all. I didn't care about them, so I never counted them. I just sold them for double their face value.

 

Uhhhh....... whaaaaaaaaaat? $1,000? You must've been extremely busy! I feel booked some days when I have just a box of pennies; I can't imagine for $1,000 in halves.

Did you finally any silver?

 

I was 15-18 years old and did not play many video games, so I had a lot of time on my hands. I did find silver, but almost exclusively from customer wrapped rolls. I found mostly 40% silver and a few 90%. I only ever found two Franklins and nothing older. Some coin roll hunters go through a lot more. There is one member here that posts enough finds that I am convinced he must go through an incredible amount a week.

 

Not playing much video games? That sounds like the reason I'm so devoted to coins.

Anyways, I've looked through likely $200 or maybe even $300 in hand wrapped rolls, and while I've found Bicentennials and post 2001s, I haven't seen a single silver coin, not even the one I want.

And that one I want is a 1971 40% silver half dollar.

 

In 2010 when silver went to almost $50 an ounce, it seemed like people started coin roll hunting harder than ever. That may just be my perception. You will eventually find one if you keep at it. Most of the boxes I ordered through the bank were "skunks." My best was going to a local bank and finding six solid rolls of 40% silver halves. So many people seem to be searching rolls, I think your best chance is when someone takes a relative's stash to the bank with no thought of looking for old coins. You could also offer to buy the bags from the coin counting machines but be careful. I have been burned because they do not always count right. I lost $60 from one bag only to find one silver. Here in Chicago, nobody will sell me even one roll of change without an account. I tried eight different banks and finally admitted defeat. With three children three years old and under and being a full-time student, I don't have time anyway!

 

That's weird that they won't sell you change. I've got three banks around that will sell me change without a problem, one with multiple locations.

Honestly I've been trying to find silver in bank rolls, but after months of looking I haven't seen a thing. I have, though, found some interesting coins like early Jeffersons, and once a 1972 Kennedy half that I'd grade AG-3. I truly should've kept that; that'd be an actual lowball coin!

 

Only a few ever,both impaired.

 

Unfortunately those impaired proofs, like mine, often don't bring in much compared to the 69s and 70s, or the same grade silver proofs. I'm pretty sure mine was free of wear, but its value is likely shot because it no longer has cameo contrast. I don't think it would even get an "obverse cameo" designation at ANACS.

 

I also went through two boxes a week ($1000) for several years. You can see pics if you search through this thread https://www.cointalk.com/threads/roll-searchers-post-your-results.10176/
From about 2010-2015. Times were good then. I tried getting back into a couple years ago and my area is hunted out it seems.
And it takes about 15 minutes a box to search and about 10 minutes a box to dump into the machine (at TCF then, now I use a credit union). So a couple hours on a Saturday is the only commitment.