A question for you nickle roll searchers!

All of the steps of Monticello, (the front stairs of the memorial), on the reverse are clearly seperated and defined. Look at the reverse on a few random circulated nickels, and I can guarantee that there are no steps visible, rather just solid rectangle where the steps would be.

 

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I've only found 1 beat up and worn down war nickel in about 25-30 rolls.

-LTB

 

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I search about 50 rolls per year. In that many rolls I find about 25 pre-1960, no silver, no buffaloes (bison for the zoologists) for the last several years. I estimate I've searched about 1500 rolls since 1980. I like to think that I found more a few decades ago, but I'm not sure. Lately I've picked up missing dates by buying so-called-unsearched rolls and grab bags. Finally gave up on the 2009 P's & D's and bought rolls on eBay.

 

In my experience, I agree that I usually find one or two silver per box (and never more) and one or two Buffalos (but sometimes more, although these are usually dateless...) I've even found Libertys in boxes, although never more than one in a box.

I WILL, however, find plenty to keep and/or resell (separating anything 50's and back, keeping any of the lower mintages or higher grades.) You can still find XF/AU keepers in rolls. I usually can find a taker of the "reject" 50's and older for twice face value - making all the better keepers free.

 

My experience is a bit out of date, but FWIW....

Between 2000 and 2006, I searched 600,000 nickels (300 boxes) and found 228 war nickels, 47 buffalo nickels, and 4 "V" nickels. So the ratios worked out to about one war nickel per 1.3 boxes, and one buffalo per 6.4 boxes. I don't know whether the passing of five years since 2006 has impacted these ratios significantly. I didn't notice war nickels getting any scarcer between 2000 and 2006, at least.

By the way, from those 600,000 nickels, I was able to put together a complete Jefferson nickel set, though the 1939D and 1950D each turned up only once. Other toughies were the 1943D (3), 1944D (4), 1944S (4), 1938S (5), 1942S (6), 1939S (8), and 1938D (9). Every other date was found at least 13 times.

I was in Wisconsin at the time; I suspect some of the S-mint dates might've been easier to find if I'd been farther west.

Hope this helps!

 

All that i can say is WOW!

 

600k in 6 years isn't that much. I've done over 100k in 6 months.

Haven't found a '43-D yet... or any of the other keys. I'm missing;

38-D
38-S
39-D
43-D
50-D

Doesn't help I'm about 25 minutes from Philly.

 

They're tough to come across, but I find plenty due to the amount I search. Of course, given the fact they haven't really made anything but proofs since 1975...

 

oh okay, because i live even more east than you, so im thinking that when i actually start to roll search often i should be able to find them

 

Merc, are the 43 Ds any more valuable than the other war nickels? I found my first one today.

 

Nope, not circulated at least.

 

Great stats!

 

35 rolls of nickels searched. No war nickels nor buffalo. I thought I had bad luck, but seeing the numbers here make sense.

 

I'm searching nickels as I type this. No war nickels so far. Has anyone else noticed how much better nickels (and most other coins) made before 1991ish look than newer ones? They just look much better pressed. Or is it just me?

 

Yes the pre 90's are struck better that the later dates. The worst struck jefferson ever in my eyes is the 1999 P & D

 

but a nickel pre 1980 are the best looking nickels IMHO. I find about 100 1964 nickels per box and they are by far the most well struck jefferson in my eyes

 

They changed the way the dies were cut in 1989 or 1990, IIRC. Designs are a bit shallower, which allows the metal to spread more evenly through the design.

 

I like the way the old ones look much better. They shouldn't have changed it. I'm tired of all of the new varieties too. They need to leave the designs alone.

 

3 war nickels in 1 roll!!!! I am a happy girl! 1943 D, 1944 S, and 1944 D