Went through my change jar...

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Nightf10182003

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Found some free time and after reading all the posts here, I went through my change jar for the first time and looked for coins. I took out anything that was older than me which isn't very old seeing as I was born in 1975. I also found several Bicentennial Quarters that I took out. Anyway, I guess the oldest thing I found was a Nickle from 1951 and many quarters and pennies from the early 60's. I checked out price guide sites and I couldn't make heads or tales of how to price these things out. My only dilemma now is do I open the safe and recheck the 2 years of rolled coins that I have stored in there!!! :o hehe.
 

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rjnail

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Nov 25, 2005
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THAT NICKEL IS FROM MY TIME, NOT TO NEW N NOT TO OLD,,,LOL
 

Bavaria Mike

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Feb 7, 2005
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Quarters and dimes up to 1964 are silver but you probably know that. I would open the safe only if cabin fever sets in and you get really bored, LOL! HH, Mike
 

Silverseeker

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Nov 25, 2004
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Indian Wells Valley, CA
Here's a few tips for pulling out worthwhile coins from circulation.

Pennies (1958 and older) ?Wheats are all keepers to most people, but you don't find any key dates until the 1920's

Nickels ?(pre 1960 was my rule) ?1941-1945 as well as 1950d are the only Jeffersons with much value though.

Dimes ?(1964 and older) ?Silver

Quarters (1964 and older) ?Silver

Half Dollars ?(1970 and older) ?40% silver ?(1964 and older) ?90% silver: ?My percentages may not be exact since this is from memory.
 

JakePhelps

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Jul 7, 2005
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and dont forget error coins ;) I keep any nickels from the 1950's and older. I made a post somewhere about minting varieties you might wanna read that one :)
 

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Nightf10182003

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I really appreciate all the tips. I actually knew nothing about coins at all...but I will save that info...
 

urbss

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Sep 15, 2005
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Cresson, PA
I used to only save older coins, but now I look at every coin closely because there are some coins that are worth something that are not all that old (like JakePhelps mentioned regarding the other thread).

I have changed my opinion on nickels though. I don't spend any nickels, I save every one of them. Someday I will give them all to my 1 year old son.

Here is my thinking:

Back in the late 30's when the Buffalo Nickel was phased out and the Jefferson Nickel was introduced, I'm sure you could find both kinds of nickels in your pocket change, right? Well, with the new nickels that are being introduced now, I'm sure all the old style Jeffersons will still be in circulation for a while, but I bet they will begin to get harder and harder to find in years to come. So, I'm keeping every one that I can find.

My dad talks about something similar when they phased out the Mecury Dimes. He used to catch a bus and it costed a dime. He always made sure he had a dollar to give the driver and the driver would give him 90 cents in dimes. He would then separate the Merc's and keep them. Now he has a bunch of Mercury dimes.

What do the rest of you think about keeping nickels?
 

Z

ZumbroKid

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Coin searching can be fun, sometimes rewarding. Anyone know where to get a coin book for the smaller nickles? Mine fall out of the holes.
 

bk

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Jan 19, 2005
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I talked to a guy one time who went through a roll of dimes and got a 2 1/2 dollar gold piece. It wasn't me though. :(
 

JakePhelps

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I wouldnt keep every nickel you get, that would be alot lol. I would keep every nickel older than 1960 though. They might actually be worth a little someday :)
 

Immy

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Mar 12, 2005
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I agree, pre-1960 is the way to go with nickels.

In 1997 I started trying to complete a roll of each date & mintmark from the slots in the casino where I work. Some of course will be impossible to complete (1938-D, 1938-S, 1939-D, 1939-S, 1950, 1950-D, 1955) but I'm getting close on some of the tougher ones (1942-D, 1948-S, 1951-S) and I've finished some I never thought I could (1946-S, 1949-S).

This can easily be accomplished with some patience and a friendly bank teller or two. There are a LOT of older coins floating around. We tend to think there isn't because pocket change seems to be exclusively modern (or at least post-1964).

Two coin dealers are currently running ads in COIN WORLD selling the first volume of Jefferson nickels 1938-1961 (the blue Whitman folder) for $40 in lower grades. Most collectors think this is a bargain since the keys of the set together add up to more than that.

It's good advice to buy an album or two ($2.99 at most large bookstores in the collectibles section) and try to fill up what you can. I'm working on my fourth. And with the price of silver steadily going up the war-time series will make the set that much more desirable.

Search those rolls and good luck!!!!
 

Coins4Cheese

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Jun 30, 2009
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Wow, this post was 4 years ago! Well, congrats on your finds!
 

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