Is the US Mint the best place to buy rolls? What about banks? Do they get uncirculated rolls? It seems like you should be able to get the presidential $1 coins from the bank for $1, or do banks even carry them? It just seems a little weird paying $1.85 for something something called a $1 coin, when it has no numismatic or metal value.
It depends on the bank. Many banks use their own rolling service so the rolls you get are mixed. The bank I worked at didn't stock dollar roles but every now and again we would get a couple in and they were mint rolls. I would just ask next time your at the bank.
Order your Prez dollars from the mint for face with free shipping. Pick the gems and spend the rest! You have to order 250 minimum, but I don't think it's a critical spending decision when you can spend whatever you don't want.
There is a section about $1 Direct Ship where you can pay face and no shipping: http://www.usmint.gov/mint_programs/$1coin/?action=directShip I ordered more than 3 weeks ago and I am still in "stock and reserved" like everything else.
And if you order the direct ship rolls with a credit card that pays cash back you actually wind up getting the Unc rolls for LESS than face value. When they finally arrive.
So far I've gotten all of the President $1 that have been released at my bank. I'd recommend the bank because the ones I got looked like they weren't circulated at all.
