Interesting Find From Circulation

1946 wheat cent. Nothing big, but it made me smile.

 

Log in or Sign up to hide this ad.

Out of curiosity, does it still happen in the U.S that people can still find some of the older and rarer coins in circulation, like 1921 dimes, 1909 S or SVDB cents, or 1934 quarters? Or have all of these coins long since been found and accounted for.
Here in Germany i know that occasionally people could still find (until the Euro came in 2000) quite scarce pieces in circulation like the 50 pfennig BDL, or 2 marks 1951.

 

Eduard:

No, there is not way that all of these (insert any date) have been accounted for.
Just look at Jim's finds while metal detecting.

Sure they can be found. Will I ever find one? Hopefully, but not likely.

 

I'm still planning on finding my 1950D Jefferson Nickel from circulation. I also know I will eventually find all the 1938 and 1939 nickels too.

Wish me luck.

 

These pieces are not all accounted for, however there is an extremely slim chance of finding any rare coins in circulation. Basically the only scenario in which that happens is if someone's collection is stolen, and then spent for face value. It's possible that someone could have a very old jar of change and take it to be rolled for face value, but that's also fairly unlikely, because the change jar would have to be quite old.

So, the short answer is, no, they are not found in pocket change (in almost all instances).

There are obsolete types, like Buffalo nickel, Barber type designs (rarely), wheat cents (common) and 90% silver coins (occasionally) are found in change and bankrolls. I've heard of Standing Liberty quarters being found, but it seems to happen seldomly.

 

1941 D Jefferson Nickel. EF.

 

Eduard,

About 2 years ago I got a 1949-S Franklin half, one of the rarest coins in the series. So, it might not happen all of the time, but it does happen.

 

I do find circulating wheatbacks and even an Indian head cent.

 

Inevitably, coin collections are stolen and spent at face value. Inevitably, someone will be the lucky recipient of a rare treasure. But, if you set out in search of one of these rare treasures by searching rolls, you will most likely be disappointed.

Personally, I'm happing finding things in circulation that you would never expect someone to spend (such as a 1912D Barber Half in VF-XF condition), but I'm also not expecting to find anything more than the occasional silver coin which makes me a happy searcher every week.

 

Delaware Statehood Quarter. BU.

 

Got a '53 nickel the other day. Nothing special but i've had a dry last 2 months in terms of circ finds.


My best to date was an 1893 indian head i found this summer

 

Hello!

I'm new to here and would like to say hello!
I'm from Germany and I just came back from my holiday trip to Las Vegas and Orlando.
And I got something very nice in circulation from McDonalds at the Boulevard Shopping Mall
in Las Vegas. I got two Peace dollars (1922 and 1934). Is this very rare?

Have a nice day,
Carsten

 

Hello-Yes extreamly rare but more likely to happen in Las Vagas since the slot machines accepted silver dollers up until
some time in the 1960's.

 

BossonHH,

One question,

Did you ask the McDonald's cashier what they had?, spot it in the drawer?, or did they just outright give it to you in change without any prompting?

 

Two things:
1) Welcome to the forum;
2) WOW! Yes that is a rare event! But, no, they are not rare coins.

 

McDonalds gave out two dollar coins...and old silver ones to boot??



Wow, sometimes for fun i'll go to mcdonalds and get something and pay with a $2 bill and a few half dollar coins and they look at me like i have 3 heads

 

BossonHH


McDonalds doesnt have Peace Dollars in their cash till.
That is a Guarantee!!

They would not know what it is, and would not take it.
Try giving them a $2 bill

You definitely got it someplace else.
But it is a keeper!

Silver is at $15+ an ounce now

BTW Did you enjoy your trip to Las Vegas and Orlando?
You might want to start a new thread for all the coinage that you found.

Good find on your trip indeed!

 

Hello!

Thank you all for your nice answers!
Actually I saw them in the drawer an asked if I can get those as change.
Now I have them.
It definitely was McDonalds there as I still remember that I bought a
Sundae Hot Fudge there :eat:
The trip itself was great, was the third time for me in Las Vegas and the
first time in Orlando, just that we had lots of rain in Orlando.

Those two coins were the only rare coins I found. Also got some of the
presidental dollars and also got some two dollar bills and half dollars from
the casino cashiers in Las Vegas to spend those just for fun. I just kept
two 1976 two dollar bills and no half dollars as there was no silver.

The funniest thing was our taxi trip back to the aiport in Orlando. We
spoke to the taxi driver, told him that we are from Germany and at the
end I gave him a few Sacagawea dollars as tip and he told me that he will
use them when he ever gets to Europe and from which european country
they are from... I needed some extra minutes to explain what he got from
me... I guess he still doesn't believe me

If there is someone from the Orlando area here, I would be happy if he or she
could contact me for a private question.

Have a nice day,
Carsten

 

Wow, awesome Bossonn! A hot fudge sundae, that's always good! And the dollars are nice too. Lol, kidding, awesome grab for the dollars!

Phoenix

 

I found a Polish coin in my pocket. Interesting. It's a long way from Poland to western Colorado!

The obverse features an eagle, and the words Rzeczpospolita Polska On the reverse: 20 Groszy.

:smile:smile:smile:smile