Question for Nickel Box Hunters

[SFBayArea]

I'm thinking of searching a box of nickels. On average, how many boxes does it take before getting a Buffalo Nickel? I was thinking of giving one to my friend to get him into collecting coins. I didn't want to go buy one. Just wondering if it's worth the effort. My guess is that it takes a while to go through a nickel box since you can't spot them from rim searching. I think it's a cool gift to get people to collect coins but there's no way I'd pay for one or completely go out of my way to get one. I have a few Buffalos of my own that I bought from coin shops when I was younger. How much is a box of nickels? It sounds hokey since I've been a veteran searcher for years but I only do halves, dimes, & pennies. I could just ask the tellers but I figure why not ask members here their experiences with CRHing nickels.

 

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[legend76]

Tom,
I have only done $200 in nickels. $100 in CWR produced 1 war nickel. Boxes also come in $100 increments and the one box I searched produced another war nickel and a 1916 Buffalo. Not sure how close to "average" this is. I have a few more boxes on hand that I haven't gone through. I feel just as safe with $100 box of nickels tucked away at home worth a melt value of $145.43 than I do with $100 in a savings account drawing 0.25% interest. Granted, they are illegal to melt, and I don't plan on melting them. I prefer to do pennies and halves myself. I got a box of dimes once and edge searched through the clear Brink's rolls, but that just didn't interest me, I like looking at each coin. Hope this helps.....
HH,
Legend

 

[buckanear]

Averaged 1 buff per box at first.Box finds overall not as good lately.Try 5 boxes.Nickels are interesting in that you find foreign,vees,buffs,and rare date jeffersons and the most highly sought war dates.Was doing lot of nickel last year.

 

[MentalUnrest]

I have done many boxes of nickels and found them a lot of fun because of the variety I found. I normally averaged about 1 war nickel per box, but my buff finds were really low. I would say I searched nearly 15-20 boxes before I found one. Why not go and buy one? Buffs are very cheap even in good condition with a readable date. The mintage on these were very high each year and thus they do not have much of a premium.

 

[Stang1968]

Here in Los Angeles area, I find 1 war nick every 2-3 boxes, and have only found one Buffalo in about 20 boxes last year. I did hit the trifecta in one box last year- a 1943-S, a dateless Buffalo, and 1900 V.

 

[dave5710]

I don't search alot of nickels, but you better go buy one. It could take several boxes before you find one, and then it could be dateless or in "dug" condition. I have found a few CRHing that look like the ones I dig while metal detecting. Red colored and rusty looking. JMO

 

[GMan00001]

My averages since 2007 have been pretty consistent, 1 Buffalo every $625 to $718. Granted, these are averages and sometimes I have received 4 or 5 in a bag.

92 Buffalo nickels out of what would be equivalent to 622 boxes over that timeframe. I also pulled 10 V Nickels and 554 War Nickels over that same time (granted 100 of the war nickels came from one partial box).

You can't rim search nickels, but if you are only trying to pick out War Nickels and older varieties and don't care about the other pre-1960 nickels, you could search pretty fast as you would only need to see one side to pick them out. Yes there is a chance of missing a war nickel this way, but only very few of the war nickels are not discolored due to the different metals in them so the odds are low.

I say go for it. What's the worst that can happen?

 

[SFBayArea]

Here in Los Angeles area, I find 1 war nick every 2-3 boxes, and have only found one Buffalo in about 20 boxes last year. I did hit the trifecta in one box last year- a 1943-S, a dateless Buffalo, and 1900 V.

Hmm.. I guess if I searched them, my numbers would be closest to yours. 20 boxes is a lot to find a Buffalo. By the time I find one, I would be tempted to keep it instead of giving it away as my original plan since the amount of time I put into it. What's the worst that can happen? Hmm.. I waste my time on nickels instead of doing halves, pennies, or even dimes.

 

[ArkieBassMan]

I've found 1 in about $1500 searched.

 

[Flick420]

i live in Berkeley ive done around 10-15 boxes and have found 1 very worn buff

i average about 1 war nick per box, best has been 5 in a box a few weeks ago

i have taken a break from them since they do take time to search but are alot of fun todo

 

[SFBayArea]

i live in Berkeley ive done around 10-15 boxes and have found 1 very worn buff

i average about 1 war nick per box, best has been 5 in a box a few weeks ago

i have taken a break from them since they do take time to search but are alot of fun todo

Sounds like it maybe better to just purchase one or at least trade for one with a bunch of wheats. Thanks everyone for the info. I was hoping the average would be more like 1 per 3 boxes but I guess not.

 

[bluecrab]

i've done 15 boxes this year and have gotten 15 war & 9 buffs. hope this helps

 

[EastKyMiner]

On my nickel boxes from brinks the last 4 I have hit 1 buffalo per box.
My dunbar boxes the last 10 nothing..but love to search for them
HH...Miner

 

[AgentX]

I've done two boxes of nickels, (both Brinks) and found a Buff in each. I've also found about two rolls of 39's and 40's except I haven't found a war Nickel yet. They are fun to search because you do find a nice variety, just time consuming.

 

[usafaviator]

I picked up two rolls of nickels this evening. Didn't get a buffalo, but I did find a 1903 Barber and 3 war nickles! I wasn't able to even come close when I bought full boxes. Just goes to show you that they are anywhere and everywhere.

 

[CHAINCHOMP]

ive done 30 boxes or less of nickels, found a lot of war nicks too lazy to count, but i also got 3 buffs (1 dated), and 6, thats right 6 V-nickels! all from one box! i was literally about to faint, i started to feel light headed! literally! hell, 2 of them were back to back in the same roll!!! its out there, you just gotta search...good luck! keep it up and hh! (PS buying a buff should cost about $1$ so it would probably be more cost efficient to do it this way lmao)

 

[jlr1076]

I've never done a full box of nickels, but have probably searched about $200 worth of rolls in total. Found my first buffalo last week - a 1935 one in REALLY nice condition. Ironically, about a month ago I bought one from a local coin shop for $1. It was even the same date! Found another buffalo (definitely dug due to color) in loose change a couple months earlier.

Also found 6 war nickels in that time period. And a ton of pre-1960s (so many that I only keep pre-1950 now). Never a V or anything else yet.

Anyway, if you're looking to get your friend interested, just buy a cheap buffalo for $1. Keep the finds to yourself!

 

[999digger]

I have done about 8 boxes and I got three of them.
HH

 

[SFBayArea]

You guys are now making me really curious.. maybe next week.

 

[smittyw]

So far after about a month, I have found 5 war nickels and one buffalo out of about $200 worth of coins. Good average so far. I have bought them from banks and grocery stores. In one lot of $40 or $50 worth from a bank, I found three war nickels and the one 1928 Buffalo. Also got one 1889 V back.

Love hunting the nickels.