I work retail and I have access to search loads of coins all day everyday for the last 22 years. I find some pretty cool stuff. Figured I could share it. I’m no expert and mostly pull what I think looks pretty cool or maybe have an idea that it’s worth keeping. I found several today. Including my fourth west point quarter and a nice 1968 nickel Including a quarter that appears it may have some sort of cladding error??? Not sure at all.
That 2003 quarter is likely plated. There are places that sell sets of gold- and platinum-plated quarters. People buy them, learn that actual collectors view them as damaged coins, and end up spending them.
yeah that’s the one unfortunate thing about my register money. It’s never going to be amazing. But I will say that I’m proud to have a face value collection on all my coins. I have never retail or a collector’s price on my coins
I s that something I could maybe put on my powder scale and check weights?? I love coins but really don’t know much about them other then I love the hint for interesting coins.
And that's a totally legitimate way to collect. I was raised as a coin-hunter, not a coin buyer. I've compromised since -- never have found a gold coin in circulation at face value -- but I still check my change every single time. And I consider finding a proof in circulation a lot more "amazing" than buying one!
No, the plating is far too thin. You'd need a lab scale to detect the weight of the plating, and even then, it wouldn't work -- coin weights can vary plus or minus a few percent, and that variation is a lot more than the weight of the plating.
When I found my first wheat in the till I was hooked. I have found silver that only some could imagine. I’ll have to share some of that tomorrow maybe. when you mentioned plated. I have found several of these types of quarters over the last several years. I figured they were spray painted
Most of my junk silver comes from register drawers. I pay the clerks 10x face. Good for them, good for me some of the time I have to insist that they take the extra payment, lol.
Most of my collection consists of circulation finds. Some in registers at local mom & pop stores back in the 50's. Of course, back then you could find anything that had ever been put in circulation. I got a 20 cent piece in change one time.
I think finding coins is the real joy of collecting. I would have trouble at a fast paced register job because I would be constantly thinking about and looking for coins and to some extent, bills. Nice finds btw
It isn't that bad. But, young eyes helps. I think when I was in school I could see coins I wanted as fast as the register was opened and closed. Now, I did know almost everyone around that had a cash register. And, they would gladly re-open it if I asked. It was a different time. Everyone was trusted until they proved that they couldn't be trusted.
@707, happy belated birthday and welcome to the madness we call collecting. I hope you have invested in a Red Book (ignore the prices listed as they are out of date as soon as it is published) so you can educate yourself on coins. If not, then treat yourself to a belated BD gift and buy one. They are invaluable for the information they contain. Remember, never clean a coin, handle it only by its edges to avoid finger prints, and enjoy collecting.
I have some silver I have been giving from family when I was young but 99% of mine is from my registers. Haha. I only pay face value unless a cashier of mine buys it first and wants to bargain. But I’m pretty quick on the draw and can’t spot and hear silver change from across the store I think it’s a pretty cool thing to have a collection that only consists of register finds. It’s something I can keep and look back on when I retire. I keep my regular collection and my register finds separate these days just for a conversation starter hahah yeah it’s time consuming looking and searching. Luckily I’m the manager and don’t actually cashier. I Regularly scour the tills and search. When when counting the till after hours I get to take a little bit of time and check out every drawer which is blissful and a nice way to end the evening. I find some cool bills that way thank you!! I actually have not looked at that book and will take your advice and check it out. I would love to learn more and develop a better sense of what I’m looking at when I find something interesting. I learned a long time ago to leave my coins alone. Pretty sure I was scolded by a coin guy at a shop when I was a little kid for putting an eraser to a silver dime. I do my best to keep my fingers off particularly nice coins when I can. I’d love to share some great past register finds on here. I have soo much awesome thanks. Would they have been in a set of are they coins that would have been sold individual??
Since this is a thread about my register finds I’ll share these...the chopped up quarter was something I found when I was maybe 17-18 years old and I have held onto it all these years. I love to go back and look at it. Reminds me of some fond memories. But one I’m curious about and only found a couple years ago that still baffles me and can’t find anything about is what appears to be some sort of silver quarters with “copy” stamped in it. Always thought it was an strange find and don’t really think it’s real