The Marks We Leave

I haven't ever thought to put a mark on the coin, My banks want me to put my acct # on the coin roll. no coin star here that I have found yet so i'm still doing it the old fashioned way.

Count roll, Count roll,Count roll etc etc.

John

 

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i have marked a few coins, just to see if I would get them back when I got more rolls at the other bank which I didnt drop my coins off at.

 

I'm lucky....
I know a girl that wants all the half dollars I can bring her.
I take all my searched rolls to her for face value and she just keeps them.
She says she saves them for her kids.
So, it's not likely that I'll encounter the rolls I have already searched.

 

I go through $10,000 plus per week. I doubt I would ever find someone to take that many coins off my hands and not spend/recirculate them.

For those that asked, I'm in northern illinois.

For those that are so opposed to even using a sharpie on a coin;

1. Do you have any change in your pocket?
2. Do you spend change?
3. Do you accept change when making a transaction?

If you answered yes to any of those questions, I would like to point out that you are diminishing the value of every coin that passes through your hands.

My point is that you cannot "SAVE" every coin. Some of them have to circulate and suffer the wear and tear of circulation. The change counters, vending machines, pockets, etc... all cause more damage to these coins than someone using a marker on them.

 

Wow- I'm at a "mere" $2,000 per week. Out of curiousity, what's your long-term keeper percentage? I'm right around 1% and dropping...

 

1%

sell the 1% befor you lose the value on them

 

Dont let the good ones get away from you.

save all your coins that way when the value goes up you dont have to worry because you still have them you know ?

 

I add less than $100 face to my collection per week. But it's not just about the silver. I'm working on my proof set solely based on finds from circulation. For a 1971S through present, I'm only missing about 9 of the copper clads. I have both silver bicentennials (proof and uncirculated). I only have the 2000S 90%Ag, but I'm hopeful of eventually finding the rest. I do have a 1960 Franklin Proof, a couple 1964 proofs, and 2 of the SMS kennedies (don't remember which two off hand). Who knows, I may still complete a 1964 to present proof set. Oh, and I'm still looking for the 1970D and 2007P.

But I also search other things like nickels, pennies, dimes, and the occasional box of quarters (I search the quarters because the box is the right size for storing certain things).

I'm averaging about 1 wartime/buffalo per box (some boxes make up for the string of duds). I'm averaging about 40-50 pre-1960 jefferson nickels. I'm still looking for the 1950D and am hopeful that I may find it in the next decade.

Dimes and quarters are horrible for finding silver, but I save 1969 and 1971 philly dimes as it took me forever to fill those two spots in the coin book. I did have the luxury of finding my very first mercury dime from circulation this morning. I do have better luck finding silver roosevelts by checking the reject bin of the coinstar everytime I goto the grocery store.

 

i save the 1969 and 1971 dimes too.

 

I personally don't like to see coins defaced in this manner, either. While it may help you to identify coins you've already searched, it's also ruining the experience for another person. Plus, as collectors, I think we all have a responsibility to preserve what's out there for the next person. If that coin is not needed for your collection, another person might like to have it for theirs, so pass it along.

 

Circulating marks and minor dings are a normal part of a coin's 'life', however, last time I checked, most coins don't accidently get a huge felt-tip marker lines and gouges accross the details. Just my opinion.

 

You guys have me convinced. So I figure as the saying goes, "in for a penny, in for a pound", I might as well use a mark that has staying power like these two I found.

With these kinds of marks, there's no mistaking it and there's no wearing off.

 

In all seriousness, I do agree that it would be extremely callous to mark each and every coin, but I find it harmless to mark a few worn modern coin with some 15 million plus mintags a year per mint.

I find it a little silly to try to equate the use of a felt tip marker to the grade shattering damage caused by an electric engraver, but at the same time, I think everyone is entitled to their opinion.

On a lighter note, no one else is finding marked coins to scan/upload?

 

I generally don't search halves, as they are very uncommon in my area.

I have to admit, I am responsible for some coin damage aswell. I tried to carve one of the 2005 Jeffs to look like a hobo nickel, but it didn't work so I slid back into the bank roll. :whistle: Maybe someone will find it and stash it away as a curiosity. I also made a Grizzy Adams 2004 Jeff that didn't turn out so well...

 

I don't usually keep the coins with marks on them but I do hang on to other oddities... such as-

First image, left to right, top to bottom:

1974-D Trimmed edge (reduced diameter, no reeding)

1979 "IN GOD WE TRUST" polished off

1993-D Keychain?

1974 Engraved, message seems to be "IN EVENT OF MY DEATH ABION(?) WILL KNOW WHAT TO DO WITH THU(?)"

1976 Engraved with "YOUR NAME"

19?? Heavily worn

Second image, same order:

1971-D, 1972, 1976, 1974 Stamped with initials "RB"

1976-D Stamped with ".5"

1974 "7" in date overstamped with "8", perhaps a George Orwell fan from the 70's?

 

Next images- third:

1986 Panama Medio (half) Balboa

1987 France 5 Francs

1988 Portugal 50 Escudos

1956 Italy 100 Lira

1970 Bermuda 50 Cents

RYKO Car Wash Token

Fourth Image: (all but the first with gold plating in various stages of flaking off)

1980-D Stamped with Lincoln profile

1988-P Stamped with Lincoln profile and dual date "1964 1984"

1981-P Stamped with dual date "1960 1985"

1983-D Stamped with dual date "1960 1980"

1974 Stamped with dual date "1960 1985"

1983-P Stamped with dual date "1960 1980"

1981-P Stamped with dual date "1960 1985"

 

Fifth image:

1972, 1984-P, 1972, 1991-D, 1984-P Gold platings in various states of flaking off

1996-P Chrome(?) plated

 

Right there with you- and due to one fortunate find, I only have 4 holes left in my 1971-S through 2007-S collection, see images below. FWIW, I've found 86 total Cu-Ni proofs in circulation, as well as 10 or 12 silver proofs.

 

Now that's an awesome collection. Don't ask me why, but for the proofs in excellent condition I've been putting them in Airtites. For the ones that are damaged, scuffed, or showing wear I've been putting in 2x2 flips. You forgot the spot for 76S 40%Ag. I've only gotten one of the prestige proof coins, but I have found some of the SMS kennedies, 3 64 proofs, and a 1960 Proof Franklin.

I think all the ones with the counterstamp dates were sold to commemorate some events pertaining to Kennedy (like the year he was elected?)

I've found quite a few foreign coins and some tokens too. Believe or not, the couple tokens I took with to Vegas worked just fine in the 50¢ slots.

 

Thanks! On the proofs, I decided to just make the album for Cu-Ni proofs and leave the silver ones separate. I have actually found two of the 40% silver 1976-S issues, but I think they're normal strike and not proof. I figure that generally the proofs weren't worth much to begin with (otherwise people wouldn't have cracked them out) and with a few added scuffs from circulation that putting them in a folder doesn't hurt too much more.

How do you tell you've found SMS halves? I have a hard time seeing the differences.

I once came across a copy of one of the original ads selling the gold counterstamped halves, have to see if I can dig it up...

Edit: Here it is: