My bank still limits the amount of coin rolls they will give me and they will not order boxes at all. Once, while traveling in Jordan, I saw a tip jar half filled with coins from all over the world, and I offered to buy it. The clerk spoke little english and me trying to use my arabic would probably land me in jail, so it did not happen. The other day, my wife and I were in a Filipino market and they had a tip jar that was filled up! I offered them $100 for the jar, and they were considering it when my wife said it was probably a bad idea. So that did not happen either. Has anyone bought a tip jar while shopping or traveling? What other unusual places have you bought coins just to feed your coin search addiction? (Sorry for the long post).
I've bought coins out of cash drawers when shopping if I see anything interesting or if I get something in my change. I've traded coins in the take/leave a penny tray when I see a wheatie.
Ever been let behind the counter? Or asked a stranger for a shiny quarter you saw them get in change?
Only in my hometown. All the mom and pop stores near me (in the 50's) let me behind the counter and gave me access to the cash register. I stopped by most of them everyday. The bank let me sit on the floor of the vault and roll coins for the tellers. Good old days.
I was lucky enough to do it every once in a while until Summer 2014 or so. Tjhe family that owned it also had a child who went to the elementary school I went to. The school, store, and my home are very close to each other. Something many will never have in a larger community.
Depending on how desperate you are, you could always try change dispensers and vending machines. When I was still doing in-person classes, I'd cycle coins through campus vending machines in between classes. Overall, I found a few W quarters, but nothing really spectacular. Change machines, on the other hand, are an excellent source of coins. However, I typically avoid change machines at private businesses since I don't want to attract the owner's ire. However, if it's a Walmart, Bass-Pro, or a hotel chain I could less about draining their change machines. Regardless, interstate rest areas are probably your best source aside from car washes and laundromats.
If traveling overseas, especially in Europe, go to large flea markets (e.g., Paris or Berlin). When I was in Berlin from 1987-1990, the large flea market held there had huge jars filled with old and foreign coins, including old US coins. You could reach in, get a handful, for 5 Deutschmarks (back then). Found old US seated liberty dimes, 2 cent pieces, large cents. I wasn't really collecting coins back then (wish I had been), and I was really looking for old thalers dating to 1500-1600's, which were in the jars. Same for Notgeld/hyperinflation currency - could get handfuls for 5 DM.
I know it's not a big deal, but I went to a small store that also sold gas. In North Carolina, if you want to pay cash for gas, you go inside the store and give them a deposit. The store is owned by a family from the Middle East (I live in a small town and we are grateful for the culture they bring to our town.) Anyway, I went in to get my change and the cashier gave me a 1969 Kennedy Half Dollar as part of the change. I didn't leap for joy, but it was nice to get it.
Cannot wait to travel again. Danube Cruise is next and I will look at those flea markets. I may need to bring a luggage just for my coins.
Well I work in NYC ( Manhattan), I travel throughout the boro. My method is to start asking for Kennedy's first and than others, especially silver coins. I have found that in every store you must be a sweakie wheel and ask the person at the cash register to look for any odd coins.that may be in a side compartments. But most importantly you must make them feel good about saving coins for your return. Most do not know the values, them I educated them and propose to buy what is available with a small profit to them. Of course I make a good find and have cost efficient coin to my collection. It take a little time effort, but worth it for both persons.
BACK whence was a wee lad of 8-12 in our shopping center in town (the major one) there was a small bank in a circular building, i used to go there with 5.00 and go through cents nickels, sometimes dimes, re roll on to the next, till they said i did em all (usually after a week, then would wait a week, well that week i went to Bradlees, where i made friends with the cashier (i brought her a rose and a candy, me mum suggested it) she was about 20's and also very pregnant, she would let me stand by the side of the courtesy desk and go through about 30.00 a day, then pay for ones i wanted, but i had to show her what i was taking and explain why, she took an interst in my coin colelcting and even introduced me to he rhusband, who had a moderate collection of pre 1900 coins he had inherited from his da' me and my da' went to their house and i looked over his collection, appraised it at fair value, and he gave me 2 or three morgans and a silver bar for spending 3 hours, whilst they chatted over drinks with me da', lol good times, miss my parents..and all tsoes all along the way that helped with my addiction (er coin collecting) lol
