Etiquette for asking to look through change

Discussion in 'Coin Roll Hunting' started by myownprivy, Apr 15, 2019.

  1. myownprivy

    myownprivy Well-Known Member

    What is your personal etiquette for when it is and is not ok to ask to look through other people's change?
    Do you ask to look at the bank teller's coin tray?
    Do you look at your own change carefully, causing the store clerk to think you are second guessing their counting ability?
    When you are with friends, do you ask to look at their change before you spend it?
    How about the take a penny, leave a penny tray?
    What about picking up change on the ground?

    There are endless opportunities for finding silver and rare coins, so where do you draw the line between what is rude and what is quirky?
     
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  3. ken454

    ken454 Well-Known Member

    i never do..

    i always ask if they have any halves, dollars or anything unusual..

    always, a quick look now, checked better at home..

    no, never..

    always look and trade wheaties or foreign for a cent...

    always...
     
  4. cpm9ball

    cpm9ball CANNOT RE-MEMBER

  5. paddyman98

    paddyman98 I'm a professional expert in specializing! Supporter

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  6. Legomaster1

    Legomaster1 Cointalk Patron

    If you get change from the store, just wait to get to the car- you'll still spot anything unusual. About picking from the ground- you cannot beat FOG! (Only time you shouldn't pick up is if it's a penny covered in zinc rot, or if you're in San Francisco :smuggrin:). If you have the opportunity to check change, why not? But, checking friends' change seems obsessive.
     
  7. Seattlite86

    Seattlite86 Outspoken Member

    I have no shame. Back on the states, I’ll ask someone if they don’t mind looking at their change because a coin sounded funny. I always offer to buy any coin that’s silver. I look at my coins quickly when I get them from a purchase. If I get a coin of interest, I’ll ask the cashier if there are any more like that. I simply explain that I collect coins. I trade out coins in the take a penny (keep a few in your pocket). I scout out old... err mature....people who are unsure how to use coin star and help them and then offer to buy their rejects. I ask tellers if they have any weird coins they could pass my way. Worst case scenario, I get a weird look and told no. Best case, easy silver. I have never left a coin on the ground. My wife does not put her change into her purse without passing it to me for a look.

    My theory is: every time you don’t ask, it’s opportunity lost.
     
  8. spirityoda

    spirityoda Coin Junky

    I would always ask first.
     
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  9. Hookman

    Hookman Well-Known Member

    You can pick your friends and you can pick your coins. Sometimes you can even pick your friend's coins.
     
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  10. FooFighter

    FooFighter Just a Knucklehead Coin Hunter

    I couldn't agree more. It must be the OCD flaring up, but I won't roll anything up without going thru it once or twice. I will never walk by a coin without picking it up. Not because I'm cheap, but because of what it MIGHT be.
    I asked the teller at the bank I go to regularly either picking up boxes of pennies or returning them, did she have any dollar coins? She brought me back a Susan B for $1, that I later found out was worth like $37? From what I was able to learn, it was because it was the thick border? I'll have to look again.

    But excuse me I gotta go ask myownprivy if I can check out his change.
     
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  11. Victor

    Victor Coin Collector

    When a passenger in a friend's or relative's car I always look at the change in the console.
     
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  12. FooFighter

    FooFighter Just a Knucklehead Coin Hunter

    Yup. I'm the same way. Hate to think how many times I might have had a coin in my pocket that might have been worth alot more than face. How many times I've had to roll most of my change, before I became a Coin Hunter , just to survive until that next paycheck.
     
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  13. Randy Abercrombie

    Randy Abercrombie Supporter! Supporter

    Hey! I resemble that remark!! :woot:
     
  14. paddyman98

    paddyman98 I'm a professional expert in specializing! Supporter

    @myownprivy
    There is a once a year activity at our church that the youth ministry does called Plata Lata which translates into A Can of Silver or Coins.. What they do is they distribute plastic containers to members that sign up for the event. The members take the containers home and just put in any extra coins they have to donate until a collection date a few months later. They collect in total about $1000.00 in change. They know I collect coins so they allow me to sort through the coins before they roll them up and deposit ;)
     
  15. Randy Abercrombie

    Randy Abercrombie Supporter! Supporter

    That says a lot about your character. Those who have ill will in their hearts tend to focus on church offerings as an easy target. I know my little country church has been pilfered on a few occasions.
     
  16. paddyman98

    paddyman98 I'm a professional expert in specializing! Supporter

    I should of added that I give a dollar extra for every foreign coin that's in the collection. Any minor errors such as Misaligned Die Strikes, Die Chips and siver (which is rare) I also match the amount. I can't pilfer that money.. I would be put in discipline! :angelic:
     
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  17. Clawcoins

    Clawcoins Damaging Coins Daily

    Don't forget to post those here, I'm sure there's some Mint errors on them. :)
     
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  18. FooFighter

    FooFighter Just a Knucklehead Coin Hunter

    I just new paddyman had some good in him,,,,, aside from the character who keeps flippin that freakin coin 24 hours a day! You do that in your sleep too my friend?
     
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  19. littlehugger

    littlehugger Active Member

     
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  20. Bambam8778

    Bambam8778 Well-Known Member

    The bank teller trays are usually pretty visible and once you'r familiar with what to look for, it's a quick glance and you're done.
    My friends and family will ask me to look through their change, I don't need to ask and I'm too worried what other people will think if they see me digging through a change tray at a cashier. I can make better use of my time I think (in regards to finding deals).
    I would never pilfer a church because I don't attend but I don't see an issue with having an arrangement to look through their pot or whatever it is they use at the end if you are justly reimbursing them as @paddyman98 seems to do.
     
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