Hey all! What is the best question to ask at the bank for old currency and coins? Most of the time I ask, they do not know what I am talking about! So what is the correct manner of asking? Thanks!
My spiel goes down to this, quick and easy... Do you have any half dollars dated before 1970(don't ask for silver), any large sized dollar coins(no not the golden or Anthony) and any of the older style currency?
The best scenario is to know someone who works at a bank... my wife has her own daycare business, and a few of the mothers are bank tellers. They're always on the alert for "special" currency, be it coin or silver certificates. It's best to have a bank that handles the transactions of retail establishments and (in my case), receipts from bridge tolls. Trouble is, most toll collectors are also coin collectors... sort of goes hand in hand.
how do you ask........................... ........here's something that may be of use to you ryanbrooks. http://coins.about.com/od/coinbuyingadvice/qt/coins_from_bank.htm?nl=1
My best teller is one that collects stuff herself, but she limits herself to dollar bills, Ike Dollars etc. She knows what is good and saves it for me, so I get Series 1934 $100's, recently the 1954 Canadian currency and packs of uncirculated $2's. Of course it costs me, Thursday I went in and asked her for an ordinary one dollar bill and handed her a BU 1922 Peace dollar, which she promptly bought from the drawer with the assistance of her co-worker.
Smile and ask politely I've shown SCs and red seal deuces to friendly tellers asking them to hold any they may find. They know I'll take any $2s off their hands, most are happy to get rid of them. Peek at the tellers coin trays while doing banking. If something looks promising ask for dollar coins, halves or quarters. Lastly, make friends with the tellers. After I finish a transaction I'll ask if they have anything unusual in their draw. I only do this if the bank isn't busy. If they show me anything, I take it even if it's common. It's currency and you can always spend it. Around the holidays I buy a stack of Dunkin Donut gift cards @ $2.50 apiece. Hand one to your friendly teller and thank them for saving deuces or anything else. Just about everybody loves a free cup of coffee.
I worked as a bank teller for a year and we had occasional people come in and ask if we had stuff. I would advise a couple things. First, be an account holder at the bank...that will definitely help you. Also, be polite...tellers do see rude collectors every now and then...and believe me, things will get "over looked." Being a collector myself, I understood what they were looking for and if I had something (that I didn't want), I was happy to turn it over to them. But, the biggest thing is don't go in when the bank is busy...especially if that's your only business. As far as asking, just ask...and be general. Most teller's don't have a clue about money. Ask for "old style" bills such.
Ask for funny money, or anything out of the ordinary, they should supply you if #1, they have it, and #2, you're polite. Then, you should be good to go. :thumb: Phoenix
