Score of a lifetime...

meraxes

Jr. Member
Jun 25, 2017
28
59
Sacramento
Primary Interest:
Other
I guess this one deserves a little bit of background.

On Monday I stopped by one of my usual hunting sights, a bank that had been right in my daily commute up until just recently, and still isn’t far out of my way. When I get to the front of the line, and ask the lovely teller if she happens to have any half dollars or large dollars that day, she tells me “no, but we have coin shipments on Tuesdays and Thursdays,” and if I’m interested in coming back I can but some that they have on order. Apparently a lot of people have been asking for halves, so they are ordering them now? That seems kind of incredible to me, but I take her word for it and ask if she can set $100 worth aside for me on Thursday. Funds are low at the moment, so I don’t want to go overboard with the blank check she seems eager to write me...

On my way home today (Thursday,) I didnt even remember this had taken place until I had almost gone too far. Once I do remember, I make the necessary detour, and walk into the bank with a little over $300 in my pocket, which was sadly the majority of my liquid cash right then. Once I got to the front of the line, I was helped by a teller stationed next to the woman I spoke to on Monday, and I explain to her what I had been told. After a moments discussion, the bank manager comes out of the vault carrying a cardboard box, which seemed a little odd, and begins to rummage around in it at a counter I can’t quite see clearly from where I’m standing, while my teller waits attentively next to him. Finally she brings over a hand full of half dollar rolls, but not just any rolls. These rolls were much longer than what I’m used to, holding $20 each, and as she’s placing them on the counter and I’m mentioning the unusual size of them, I see, plain as day. “1968 NEW” written one of them.

Now I’m pretty sure I’ve had this dream before, but I always wake up before I get to start busting them open!

The manager walks up behind the teller then, with a big grin on his face, and tells me thet the rolls are pretty old, so I might find something good. I somehow manage to stammer, “do you have any more to sell?” He hems and haws a moment and asks how much I want, and of course I tell him I’ll take all he’s got, ignoring the finite amount of cash I have on hand. He tells me he was planning on buying a little for himself, $50 or so, but he can sell me $300 more ($400 total.) I peek back in my wallet and admit I can only buy $200 more. Lets see how accurate that label on the roll is before we start thinking about cash advances on the credit card...

Once back to my car, I drive to a parking lot across the street that’s a tad more secluded, and open that first roll I spied.

EA63683F-C31A-43AF-BB68-4AD4A0B83AFF.jpeg

!!!!!! Yeah, that really is a $20 roll of uncirculated 1968 halves. Needless to say, I figured out a way to scrounge another $100 and went back to buy the rest, fortunately before anyone else got to them! Now, this has already gotten way longer than I intended, so I’ll cut to the results:

Total of 30 90%ers
14 x 1964
13 x 1964D
1 x 1963D Franklin
1 x 1962 Franklin
1 x 1944 Walking Liberty!

Total of 522 40%ers!!!
13 x 1965
26 x 1966
79 x 1967
337 x 1968D about 200 of which are uncirculated!
67 x 1969D

Plus over 200 mostly uncirculated 1971s. I guess the original owner of this collection stocked up the year after the half dollars switched to the copper-nickle clad? These coins were likely sitting in those rolls for about 45 years; it blows my mind to think about it.

Oh yeah, and pics or it didn’t happen:

26D7D5F5-3AC8-4D0F-B61D-535BA79D7D27.jpeg
 

Upvote 0

fistfulladirt

Gold Member
Feb 21, 2008
12,204
4,918
Great Lakes State
🏆 Honorable Mentions:
1
Detector(s) used
dirtfishing
Primary Interest:
Other
Thanks everyone! I don’t know too many other CRHd, so it’s nice to be able to share my joy with others!



I did find out that is essentially what happened. The coins had been in a safety deposit box, and the bank manager told me the gentleman’s kids ultimately decided it wasn’t worth going through. Who knows, maybe they’re wealthy enough that it really isn’t worth their time. I wish I could give all the coins a more permanent home, but this comes at a time where I desperately need the money. Conveniently there’s a local coin show taking place this weekend, so I’m hoping I can find a buyer who will pay more than the $1.50/40%er that the LCS offer.

I am going to keep the pre-1964s though :)
Kids. All they know is plastic. What are coinz?
 

Scott W

Jr. Member
Feb 7, 2011
53
63
You might consider saving all the 65's, at least until you can weigh them.
They say there were some accidentally struck on a 90% planchet. Not likely to find them, but who knows??

Dang! your score is almost equal to my entire stack! Very nice work!
 

OP
OP
M

meraxes

Jr. Member
Jun 25, 2017
28
59
Sacramento
Primary Interest:
Other
You might consider saving all the 65's, at least until you can weigh them.
They say there were some accidentally struck on a 90% planchet. Not likely to find them, but who knows.

I wasn’t familiar with that error. Thank you for the heads up.
 

Zomotion

Bronze Member
Oct 22, 2013
1,078
1,350
Detector(s) used
Whites DFX, coinmaster Gt Pro
Primary Interest:
All Treasure Hunting
Well done sir. Well done
 

foofighters

Full Member
Nov 7, 2012
247
101
Primary Interest:
All Treasure Hunting
Thanks for sharing that monster score.

There are 2 lessons here.

1. Always buy them all if a person has the available funds.

2. Educate your family about what your stuff is worth. I have a pretty large assortment of silver ATB and State Park proof quarters. Id comeback from the grave and haunt my heirs if they sold them for face.
 

cyberdan

Silver Member
Dec 12, 2006
4,596
2,220
Very Northern Left Coast
Detector(s) used
XLT & Bigfoot
Primary Interest:
All Treasure Hunting
someone died and their family was not educated on coins! nice score

I was thinking the same thing. Just two days ago I re-informed my wife where my stash was and not to take to the bank when I am 6 feet under. (I do this every 6 months or so) and what did she say? Why don't I just sell them now? (I guess so she does not have to deal with them later) I said I am waiting for silver to go up.
 

corvettebill

Jr. Member
Aug 11, 2017
35
128
Primary Interest:
All Treasure Hunting
great score!!! I am the one that found the 41 rolls of 40%ers a while back, and there is nothing more exciting than knowing you just scored more than some guys find in a year. be happy and be grateful that you were the one to get them.Hope your luck holds out.
 

maine_Jim

Bronze Member
Aug 13, 2008
1,413
409
Detector(s) used
Ace 350
Nice find - you may make a few more bucks with the uncirculated ones and if there are any well toned ones they can have an extra value too. Congrats!

Maine_Jim
 

fistfulladirt

Gold Member
Feb 21, 2008
12,204
4,918
Great Lakes State
🏆 Honorable Mentions:
1
Detector(s) used
dirtfishing
Primary Interest:
Other
'S
Can you elaborate?
Heap praise upon your tellers, and gifts. Soon they catch on, they scope out silver. They sell 40's for a buck on the corner, 90's for double. Why give away the silver when they can profit too! I been 'rollin since the 70's
 

OP
OP
M

meraxes

Jr. Member
Jun 25, 2017
28
59
Sacramento
Primary Interest:
Other
'SHeap praise upon your tellers, and gifts. Soon they catch on, they scope out silver. They sell 40's for a buck on the corner, 90's for double. Why give away the silver when they can profit too! I been 'rollin since the 70's

Oh, the bank manager and I had a whole conversation during the transaction. He already had an idea of the value, which is why he wanted to get $50 FV for himself, but fortunately for me he seems to be a generous guy. Maybe I’d tip off the tellers, but that was unavoidable when the manager started talking to me about it.

I’ve read a number of stories on CRH boards of people developing relationships with bank staff that pay off later, and this seems like one of those opportunities. Really, though, showing some appreciation just seems like the right thing to do in this spot, regardless of future benefits or lack thereof.
 

OP
OP
M

meraxes

Jr. Member
Jun 25, 2017
28
59
Sacramento
Primary Interest:
Other
Nice find - you may make a few more bucks with the uncirculated ones and if there are any well toned ones they can have an extra value too. Congrats!

Maine_Jim

I imagine you’re right. Unfortunately I had vouched for a debt that was coming due, and had to turn it over quickly. I left about $200 on the table by selling the silver for 86-90% of spot, but got to keep the WL and 2 franklins while still ending up with about 1k profit. I’ve also managed to sell one roll (out of 11) of the BU 1971Ds for a small premium so far.

Seriously though, how lucky is it that this happened 3 days before I had to pull $700 out of thin air? Sometimes life astounds me.
 

fistfulladirt

Gold Member
Feb 21, 2008
12,204
4,918
Great Lakes State
🏆 Honorable Mentions:
1
Detector(s) used
dirtfishing
Primary Interest:
Other
Oh, the bank manager and I had a whole conversation during the transaction. He already had an idea of the value, which is why he wanted to get $50 FV for himself, but fortunately for me he seems to be a generous guy. Maybe I’d tip off the tellers, but that was unavoidable when the manager started talking to me about it.

I’ve read a number of stories on CRH boards of people developing relationships with bank staff that pay off later, and this seems like one of those opportunities. Really, though, showing some appreciation just seems like the right thing to do in this spot, regardless of future benefits or lack thereof.
I agree, it's great to develop relationships with your banks. Shoot, I married one of my tellers lol. Although, when dealing with dozens of banks, sometimes you're not a name, but a number. I've seen the silver dry up when they (staff) become hip.
 

TxAg

Sr. Member
May 7, 2017
423
413
Detector(s) used
Garrett AT Pro
Primary Interest:
Metal Detecting
Seriously though, how lucky is it that this happened 3 days before I had to pull $700 out of thin air? Sometimes life astounds me.
What a blessing Meraxes! Glad you found the silver in the nick of time. :icon_thumright::icon_thumright:
 

OP
OP
M

meraxes

Jr. Member
Jun 25, 2017
28
59
Sacramento
Primary Interest:
Other
I agree, it's great to develop relationships with your banks. Shoot, I married one of my tellers lol. Although, when dealing with dozens of banks, sometimes you're not a name, but a number. I've seen the silver dry up when they (staff) become hip.

Good points. I have an account at this particular bank, and it’s one of the ones I plan on stopping by at least once a week, so I think this is probably a good branch to cultivate. On the other hand, if it does dry up instead, I have plenty of other options. If I notice a change, good or bad, I’ll report back!
 

Ben Cartwright SASS

Bronze Member
Aug 7, 2012
1,619
1,537
Massachusetts
Detector(s) used
Whites, Garrett
Primary Interest:
Other
I always try to be pleasant and thank them profusely. Not sure about gifts, I know in our company you cannot accept anything. May think about it for my two favorite banks, maybe see what coffee machine they have and dro off some k-cups or a box of candy canes.

To the OP I have dreams about a score like that! It makes me frustrated when I cannot get it.
 

Top Member Reactions

Users who are viewing this thread

Latest Discussions

Top