Hi guys, I am new in coin collecting hobby and new here at forums. I am not from US but Id like to know what is the year composition of the coins in common bank roll? (Especialy pennies, but Id like to know of all others as well) Ive read 12 pages of the topic "Roll-searchers, post your results!" and I have some idea about what of the old coins one could find, but what about the rest? Does anyone have any statistical info of the year commposition? Thanks. Z.
Welcome to the neighborhood, Zed! I don't know if anyone has kept track of what each roll might contain. Statistics are pretty much meaningless for searching rolls. Chris
Thanks for answering Chris, I know I cant have results of each roll content, but even single roll content would be better then none. Z.
At the big Raleigh show a few years ago, one of the presentations was a large (maybe 10,000 coins?) survey of quarters from circulation by date. I think I took photos of the display, but it'll take some digging to find them if so. Welcome to CoinTalk!
Here's a small-scale histogram of cent date distribution (NSFW language in comments, because most forums apparently require it): https://imgur.com/JnJprj3
Welcome to CT Zed! I don't keep statistics by year on my half dollar CRH, but I would estimate that I find 15-20% Bi-Centennial halves (mostly Denver) on average. That's 3-4 coins per roll. 1971-D halves are another high mintage coin and I find around that percentage range as well. Here in Texas we get many more Denver coins than Philly coins across all denominations.
Thanks guys for your welcome and answers, and thanks Jeff for that picture of histogam, it doesnt represent roll content but it does give some insight of what one can find probably in pocket change. I hope you will have patience and goodwill to find that "survey of quarters from circulation by date". Z.
I'm inclined to assume that roll content generally follows circulation content. Rolls get distributed to businesses to be placed into circulation, and businesses return change to banks, which either roll up the coins themselves or return them to distributors that do so. Of course, the best part of roll searching is when you get a roll that breaks this assumption -- for example, that old brown roll of halves with "WL" or "1964" penciled on the side.
99% of coin rolls are unremarkable, but occasionally you'll come across an old hand-wrapped roll that contains the 'goodies' - contents of old coin jars, junk drawer cleanouts or just coins that were cashed out of necessity without regard to value - try smaller local banks in older neighborhoods inhabited by older citizens - good luck in your hunting