So, at what ratio of keepers per box would you quit at?

[SFBayArea]

Boxes have been bad overall here. One might get an occasional box with 5-6 keepers to make up for all those skunks. Skunks are just taking over. Every bank, I go to and ask for loose or CWR's, they don't have any or they only have one or two coins from which are just clad. Has any of you guys decide to just hang it up for a while or just do just a couple a week just to past the time? I just find that the numbers have gone down so much around these parts that it may not be worth it anymore. I'm reaching that plateau. Everyone's turning into a CRHer. I knew this day would come. Yeah, all those fools who post Youtube videos of themselves CRHing for all those new CRHers in waiting. Thanks.

Right now, this month.. it has been 0.3333 per box or for layman out there - 1 keeper found per every 3 boxes of halves. This is the average this month. It's been declining for a while. It's the vast majority being skunks with some with keepers there. With high gas prices where they are, I'd say it's not worth it. Well, at least with this ratio and in my area. Need to take a break from it or a while. Time and money wise with gas, it's been bad. I'd probably still do a couple boxes here and there perhaps every other week or so. But just to tone it down a bit.

 

[fistfulladirt]

Boxes have never been good in my area, even going back almost 4 years. Just too much competition, although I used to do good with loose rolls.

 

[sagittarius98]

3 boxes of pennies, no skunks

There are rarely boxes with no wheats.

 

[mleblanc138]

Some people told me Utah was heavily searched, yet I've been averaging about 0.18 ounces of Silver(better than 1 40%) per box over 253 boxes.

 

[SFBayArea]

But if and when silver prices go much higher then each keeper will have more value so finding fewer keepers might still be worth the time and trouble of a low keeper per box avg. Just imagine when 90% halves are worth $20+, 40%'s are worth $10+ & silver dimes & nics are worth $5 or more each. Then each keeper will be much more sweeter to find - although maybe somewhat harder to find.

This^

I would prefer consistency even if the Ag/oz. amount was less. Years ago, when Ag was $18/oz., skunks boxes were probably only 1/3 of the time. I would get consistent keepers. Some boxes, I could get $60 worth in melt value doing 3 boxes with $18/oz. prices. The thought didn't occur to me to do more at the time or do significant volume. Just like when silver was $5/oz., I did one box per week for fun. That is not to say that I'm not glad because I've saved all 90%ers but it is preferred to get more per box (consistent results) at cheaper Ag prices. I recall back in 2002-3, I had just huge stacks of 40%ers which were only worth $0.55/coin according to a local dealer doing just one box per week!! Of course, as a starving student, I sold some $10 rolls of them for $13.00/roll. Some even tried to get me to sell them for $12.50/roll. LOL.

All I can say is that I was happy with $18-20/oz. prices and the finds were more abundant. I don't like wishing and hoping for that one box that makes up for some skunks. Nowadays, I just have low expectations and expect the box I'm working on to be a skunk. That is mentally tough to handle.

At some point one must taken in consideration of gas, time, & energy to do this. If it's no longer feasible, one has to cut back.

 

[SFBayArea]

Last year I hit halves hard. Averaged 1 silver per 8.3 boxes. But I persisted to see if there was a streak left in the system here somewhere.

I would not do them either at that sort of average. That would not even cover gas.

Agreed.. I wouldn't be able to do that either. I didn't put that number up or one like it because it's not economically feasible to do it. Give it to jrf30 for being persistent at least.