Floor and Ground Coin Hunting

[fiatboy]

Finding a silver roosie on the ground the other day got me to thinking, so here's a heads up to keep your head down. When you're at a store, don't forget to check the floor where people pay. I know it's obvious, and most of you are probably the type of people that walk around all day with your eyes towards the ground searching for change (I do), but free money is free money, right? Places where teenagers gather are especially coinful. There's money to be had. Especially if the place is dimly lit. Sure, you probably won't find any walkers, but it's not just pennies on the ground anymore. Most people my age (early 20's) hate anything less than a quarter. One person I know said he throws his change in the garbage, and he was totally serious. And out of curiosity, have you or anyone you know ever found a half or a dollar coin on the ground? Anything silver? Anything gold? (just kidding) Do you always pick up change, or only sometimes? What's the most you've ever found? Any keepers?


Mods --- Sorry if this is off topic.

 

[silvershark]

As a matter of fact, my nine year old brother stepped off of the bus a few months back and found a 1933 five dollar gold piece on the ground. I was amazed that it was that simple.

"It was just on the side walk"

was what I got when I asked him.

I guess thats all there was to it.

-SS

 

[fiatboy]

Now THAT is what I'm talking about. Amazing. But are you sure it was 1933?

 

[TxTim]

I do a lot of "ground hunting" with my metal detector.
Yep, money all over the place!

 

[cyberdan]

And out of curiosity, have you or anyone you know ever found a half or a dollar coin on the ground? Anything silver? Anything gold? (just kidding) Do you always pick up change, or only sometimes? What's the most you've ever found? Any keepers?

Since I also MD I have gotten into the habit of looking down when I walk. I always find things.

Most recently:
Starbucks card with $28.00 on it.
Blockbuster card with $10 on it.
2 Watches
1 wallet (returned)
hand fulls of change (a few coins at a time)

I take a walk in a big mall parking lot most mornings before work. This is where I find most of those items. I find most coins right under the drive-in window of a fast food chicken place.

Even after years of doing this I will only pick up a coin if no one else is nearby.

A few years ago I also found a $20 bill near an ATM machine.

 

[acevillav]

Fiatboy,

Here's a tip for my misspent youth. After moving to So Cal right out of college I proceeded to blow through my dough in short order. Anyway one early sunday morning after returning from my favorite cocktial lounge I notced I was missing my car keys couldn't get in or so I went back to find them Arrvied back @ 6.00am walked up and own the parking lot and was amazed at all of the change just laying there cha-ching ! Found my keys and @5.00 in change. This was the 80's so still a few silvers to be had but anyway get up and check your local watering holes lots ! Drunks drop $, wedding bands and other things not suitable to be mentioned in this forum. Good luck amigo Cash in on the free jack !

Acevillav 8)

 

[coinlover]

i've found a few common coins, but did find a 1949D wheat cent on the ground in front of a grocery store. i also go metal detecting. found about $5 in change with the metal detector, nothing old, just common. the 1949D cent i found was just lying on the ground!

 

[GMan00001]

I pick up almost every coin I see lying on the ground , or encourage my kids to if they are with me. Recently my pennies have been good. Out of the last 8 or so, 2 have been wheats. One at a downtown club (at the end of the night) and one at a Burger King during the lunch rush.

Even after years of doing this I will only pick up a coin if no one else is nearby.

I pick them up anyway.

Most interesting things I have found:
Found a bag full of cash and checks in high school in the parking lot (some business dropped their deposit in the wrong place..) Was easily over $2000 in cash in the bag plus at least double that in checks. Turned it in, but no reward.

My sister found a $100 bill once. I think the largest I have found is either a $10 or $20 but that was many years ago on a family trip somewhere in Canada, don't remember the details.

 

[fiatboy]

Thanks for the replies everyone. Acevillav, I know exactly what you're talking about. I live right next to a huge college, and Saturday and Sunday mornings (if I can get up early enough) my girlfriend and I go out collecting cans and coins and whatever junk we can find from all the parties the night before. We used to be the ones out partying and losing pennies (and our minds), but now, we're the ones cleaning up and profiting. It's not much, but it's good quality time together, excercise, it's slightly better for the environment, and we find free money. After the big football games, there is SOOO much change on the ground. It's astounding.

 

[coolcash2004]

I always look. Found a silver quarter once. Also found a 50 dollar bill. Couple 20's, 20's, 5's, and many 1's.

Found a ton of change. Several wheats too.

-CC

 

[Rumblebelly]

I find tons of great stuff on the ground. My wife does too. Her best is a wheatie in the grocery store lot. My best is a gold plated ring... no stone.

The best lots to check is where they pile up the snow from the winter. The goodies are all there!

1/3rd of my finds are from parking lots!

best of luck to all
Rumblebelly

 

[coinlover]

oh, and ive found a 1995 mexican coin on the ground.

 

[Emperor Findus Cladius]

I always pick it up, hey it is free money. Even if most of them are just pennies, after a while they will pile up. I started keeping my finds since the beginning of the year separate, just to see what I come up with a years worth of picking up free money.

 

[DrDetector]

I have found every denomination of coin on the ground (that is currently minted...no 20 cent pieces or anything). Have got at least 2 halves on the ground and probably 3 or so dollar coins just in stores on the floor. Have found numerous silver dimes and quarters that had been rejected by soda machines in the coin returns. I actually have a separate savings account consisting of only found money since 2004 (when I started keeping track) and it's at over $800 right now. Not too shabby.

 

[fiatboy]

That's incredible Dr. Detector. Keeping your finds separate and seeing how much you've found just furthers motivation. Again, that's incredible.

 

[silvershark]

Ok, I was going by what my mom said, I looked it up and its an 1860 quarter eagle in XF condition.

ON THE GROUND!!!

hopefully I share my brothers luck.

-SS

 

[hasbeen]

Almost every time I go for a walk in town ,I pick up coins.My best coin find this year was a 1913 Barber dime in fine condition found lying in a cow trail in the woods.Went back with the detecter,zip.

My grandson is very lucky at finding money on the ground,in one week,last winter, he found over $50.

hasbeen

 

[MUD(S.W.A.T)]

I seem to find jewelry!

Found a .925 Italian Chain on the edge of a trash can. Also found a diamond earing at a club. I have learned that Diamonds drop a lot. They fall out of jewelry all the time and rings and earrings get lost a lot too. Diamonds are very easy to spot. You can spot them like this. A diamond will look like a spot of constant light, like a sunbeam. A piece of glass or ice will flicker as you move past or around it.

Keep @ it and HH!!

 

[tonytygr]

There is a stripper bar near where I work. I like to check the parking lot on Monday mornings to see what all the drunks have dropped. It hasn't failed me yet

 

[fiatboy]

There is a stripper bar near where I work. I like to check the parking lot on Monday mornings to see what all the drunks have dropped. It hasn't failed me yet

Paydirt!