What is the Oldest Coin You've Ever Found in Circulation?

Discussion in 'Coin Chat' started by gecko, Sep 22, 2011.

  1. gecko

    gecko Coin Collector/Hoarder

    What is the oldest coin or bill you've ever found in circulation? I found a 1887 IHC from Wal*Mart change. Roll searching doesn't count. Share a picture if you can!(my camera's too suckish)
     
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  3. scottishmoney

    scottishmoney Buh bye

    Not roll searching, probably a 1918 cent. Roll searching an 1891 back in June.
     
  4. green18

    green18 Unknown member Sweet on Commemorative Coins

    Dang. Too old to remember......:)
     
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  5. scottishmoney

    scottishmoney Buh bye

    Come to think of it, I still have the 1897 Morgan dollar that I saw someone spend at an A&W when I was a little kid and I bought it from the cashier. Does that count?
     
  6. Lugia

    Lugia ye olde UScoin enthusiast

    i wouldnt call it roll searching since i didnt find it but a woman at the bank i goto - when my friend was turning in change i was showing them a wheat i found in his change and one of the tellers had just found a 1904 ihc in a roll she opened. i dont have it anymore since my friend had to have it.
     
  7. rev1774

    rev1774 Well-Known Member

    Probably a penny from the 20's in circulation. Even that is getting tough these days.. usually now find the odd 50/60's nickel...
     
  8. Twinturbo

    Twinturbo New Member

    Was at a gift shop in Stanford hospital cashier complained that half dollars were messing her up to another employee. I approached and told her I'll gladly take it.
    She handed over an 1878 half
    Silver but still 1878 geeze someone's collection got raided
     
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  9. onecenter

    onecenter Member

    1852 dime
     
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  10. collectingkid

    collectingkid Copper Collector

    1889 or 1869 Indian Head Cent the date is worn though
     
  11. Merc Crazy

    Merc Crazy Bumbling numismatic fool

    Cent; 187X, last date is worn off. Besides that, 1891.
    Nickel; 1886 V-Nick
    Dime; 1917 Merc
    Quarter: '38 Washington
    Half dollar: '16 Walker
    Dollar: '89 Morgan.
     
  12. Cazkaboom

    Cazkaboom One for all, all for me.

    Haha! I have you all beat! I found an 1821 dime coming from Safeway U-Scan 2 years ago! :hail:
     
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  13. Collector1966

    Collector1966 Senior Member

    Even when I was eagerly searching through coins in the '60s, I never found anything before the teens-- in fact, it was something special to find a Jefferson nickel from the '30s (and always a 1939 Philadelphia), and even Wheat cents (minted just 10 years before) were hard to find! There was an occasional dateless Buffalo nickel, and once I got a very slick Washington quarter from the '40s.
     
  14. davidh

    davidh soloist gnomic

    I can't give any specific dates but the coins that I have seen, obtained and spent in general circulation include Peace Dollars, Indian Head Cents, Liberty Nickels, Buffalo Nickles, Mercury Dimes, Standing Liberty Quarters and Franklin Halves. This is back to 1953 or so when i had my first paper route. I don't specifically remember but I'm sure there were a few Morgans and Barbers that passed through my hands too. Yes, I'm older than dirt.
     
  15. moneyer12

    moneyer12 i just love UK coins.......

    an 1806 penny...................
     
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  16. -jeffB

    -jeffB Greshams LEO Supporter

    I'm not sure I've gotten anything older than a 1903 IHC.

    I'm just speculating about what an 1806 US cent would circulate as, today, on this side of the pond... :)
     
  17. Collector1966

    Collector1966 Senior Member

    I think an 1806 US cent would be considered a "foreign coin" by the majority of the US population.
     
  18. BUncirculated

    BUncirculated Well-Known Member

  19. swhuck

    swhuck Junior Member

    Probably either a 1918 or 1919 cent I got in change (intentionally) from a coin dealer in Sacramento, or a Buffalo Nickel that had remnants of a date that resembled 1915.
     
  20. dctjr80

    dctjr80 Senior Member

    I've got a buddy who is a cashier and was given an early 1800's six pence in the place of a dime. He bought it out of his drawer. It was very heavily worn, but still amazing that it was being circulated as a dime.
     
  21. chridular

    chridular Member

    1901 IHC. I´m amazed that there have been so many here that claim they´ve found pieces 50 and nearly 100 years older. I wish I could be so lucky...
     
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