Thread: Pennies in a jar, please help.

I am attending an auction tomorrow night that has a jar of wheat cents. I love wheat cents and would like to buy the jar.

Only problem is...how do I know how many is in there? I do not want to bid thinking I'm getting 2,000 cents, and there is only 1,000.

Here is a photo of the jar in question.

I know some of the members hear have a bunch of cents, or like to hoard the copper ones. If you have a jar like this, please fill it and tell me the number.


Or if your good at math....just guess. I'm thinking around 500. BTW it's a pint jar.

A billion?

What if there is a key or semi- key date or cool error coin in there? TC

Originally Posted by TopcatCoin

What if there is a key or semi- key date or cool error coin in there? TC

That's going to be the cool factor of it. However they all looked like common years and mint marks.

People go nuts over stuff in a jar. Fill a jar with marbles or buttons and watch out.

I was able to get about 400 or 410 cents into a jar that I hope is close to yours in size. It was a little hard for me to judge the scale of your picture. I hope this was helpful!

Originally Posted by largecent37

I was able to get about 400 or 410 cents into a jar that I hope is close to yours in size. It was a little hard for me to judge the scale of your picture. I hope this was helpful!

Thanks! It's a pint jar, about 4.5 inches tall.

I have a bad feeling it will bring a premium...but you never know.

I typically do not give over 5 cents each for common wheats. I will probably go $20-$25 but that's it.

The bid is 410 times 21/2 cents or $10.25. Of course I am guessing it is
all wheat cents and not a bunch of wheat cents surrounding a wad of tissue
paper.---John

Find a jar of similar size, fill it with pennies, count the pennies. Done.

That photo was taken in 2007. You sure it's the same jar?

The date is off on the camera.

Originally Posted by lupinus911

Find a jar of similar size, fill it with pennies, count the pennies. Done.

Agreed, with one last step: multiply the number of pennies that fit in the jar by about 4. Thats your max bid. Wheat cents in rolls typically go for 5 to 6 cents per cent, so in a larger bulk, you should get even a better deal. I wouldn't pay more than 4 cents per wheat cent.

If you can get em' for a good price, go for it, there might be a key date in there, or variety, or error. If you get it keep us posted! Good luck.

I bet it goes for an insane premium. Local auctions tend to do that, especially when it's something like this.

Originally Posted by Detecto

I typically do not give over 5 cents each for common wheats.

That is a good rule to stick with. But you know it's going to fetch way too much already, don't you?

If I wanted to make some fast cash.... I'd put a bunch of wheats into a old sealer jar and stick it into an auction.