Pocket Change Finds; Post Your Results

What a thoughtful grandson. There is no way to value that coin for what it represents. Your two are both fortunate people.

 

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My casino trips seem to produce an interesting find. This wheatie is from one of its coin change machines.

 

I am just pleased as Punch with these three finds. For your reading pleasure and some background, I generally hit the CoinStar at the grocery store, and the fare machines for the light rail here in the SF Bay area (BART), once a week - when I take BART to downtown Oakland for my "in-office" day. Some days - nothing. Other times, an assortment of coinage. However, these last two weeks - last week Wednesday and yesterday - my total finds were over $4.50 - not including a Mexican five-peso. At one fare machine, I found over $2.75. But these three finds brought a big smile to my face and a skip to my step.

Nickels - 1938-S and 1938-D; and a 2009-P dime.

 

WOW! Those two 38s are in great shape and an 09 dime to boot. Congrats.

 

amazing!

 

So my mother works at a bank and due to the coin shortage they can't get a sufficient amount of coins from their usual distributor. Therefore they are receiving the coins from the coin counting machines of branches that have said machines and they have to roll the coins themselves. In the process of rolling coins yesterday she found me this little beauty..


It always gives me renewed hope knowing that there are still 113 year old coins floating around in circulation! I loves me some IHCs!

 

That's incredible. And very well written, thanks for that.
I find wheats fairly regularly, but never an indigenous person's head cent. Super jelly, right now.

 

I have been on an extended hiatus from CoinTalk, twas about 3 and a half to 4 years since I visited the site. I didn't leave for any particular reason, my main hobbies just happened to shift. I hopped on to the sports card bandwagon in late 2017 and rode that rollercoaster through the pandemic. However my love of numismatics never died, it had only been temporarily pushed aside. Now I'm back! Sorry everyone... you're subject to my ramblings again .
My renewed appreciation for the hobby and for this community got me to thinking.. "What was my best circulation find during my extended absence?" There have been many wheat cents, silver Rosies, silver quarters, etc. that qualify as worthy candidates. But the answer to that question is an easy one for me, as I found a coin I've desired ever since my love of numismatics began many years ago.
One day roughly a year ago I was working my usual graveyard shift. It was a busy night and consequently I got stuck at work till about 9 or 10 AM as opposed to when my shift normally ends at roughly 6 AM. It was a long night but the overtime pay was definitely a silver lining. Another fortunate consequence of my working late is that Taco Bell was open by the time I left work! So I made my way over to T Bell and ordered a few crunchy tacos and a cheesy fiesta potato. I paid cash. Upon receiving my change I quickly glanced at the metal in the palm of my hand in the hope that there was something of note mixed in the contents. I spotted a cent that appeared as though it'd been around the block a fair few times and when I extracted it from the pile obverse side up this is what peered back at me..


My first ever first year Lincoln cent! Again, a coin I've desired since my entry into the hobby many years ago. Needless to say I was on cloud nine! There aren't many things in this world that can take my mind off of fresh, hot tacos. But this lovely wheatie surely did the trick. I was also amazed at how good of condition the coin was in considering its age. After calming myself from the initial surge of euphoria I was blessed with a second wave of euphoria upon flipping to the reverse..


Not only had a 1909 Lincoln cent fallen into my lap.. but it was a VDB to boot! I had always assumed that a VDB cent was something I'd need to purchase if ever I were to own one, but this was a pleasant reminder that you never know what you'll find in circulation if you're persistent and you keep your eyes peeled. So thats the story of my best find in circulation over the past few years. Thanks for taking the time to read about it.
A question for the more experienced numismatists here.. what would you grade this coin? The lettering, wheat sheaths, etc. are still in terrific shape considering the coins age. Years ago I found a 1910 wheatie on the ground in front of a vending machine that was worn smooth so finding this in the condition its in was certainly a pleasant surprise!

 

Congrats, great find.

I'd estimate it as a VF

 

Got this one tonight. Looks like someone has been experimenting. Still better than your average boring worn out state quarter.

 

Fun funds and stories! That 1909 VDB and 1938D and S look like liberated coins caught at a good point by fellow enthusiasts to spare a harsher ending. Well done!!

 

My thoughts as well. Back when I was roll hunting regularly about 5 years ago I searched too many nickel rolls to count and still never came across a 38 or 39 D or S. Those two are amazing finds!

 

Back in the late 70s, my brother or I found a shiny 1950 nickel during a CRH event and set it aside with our other finds. We had an old printers drawer for holding type/letters used to create newspapers converted into dated slots for nickels. The slot for 1950 was a large slot…probably cold hold 100+ nickels. It didn’t occur to either of us that the date was low mintage. We were young and unaware. That drawer sat under my bed for the next 40 years until about 10 years ago my father dropped off my old coin collection. That’s what restarted my collecting. Looking at that slot, it finally occurred to me that a smaller slot was appropriate for the date an mint mark. Only then did I realize that the shiny 1950 was actually a 1950 D in uncirculated condition. A liberated coin for sure. As I resumed CRH events, I came across another 1950 D. Also in uncirculated condition only this time, two small rotational dings on the Monticello due to a counter or rolling machine. The point is that it is not uncommon to find key/semikey coins in circulation in AU/BU grades…although uncommon overall. I’ve found 3 1950 D Jefferson nickels and two are AU/BU. Folks cleaning out a dead relative’s albums don’t care about numismatic value or condition. Just that the nickels get turned into green backs for spending. Crazy as that is!!

 

My first of the month casino trip produced a few nice finds from the coin change machine. I am another collector to get a charge from finding a San Fran coin in the wild while residing in the east coast. Getting one low mintage ATB quarter and one Territory quarter was just as exciting!

 

I’m on a nice little run this week. Could have been from the gas station or the dollar store. Not sure which, but a nice 81 with some color and it’s always cool to find an early wheatie.

 

Nice LWC! It is fun finding an old, well worn specimen!

I've another small hoard to sort...so hopefully something in the mix for a change (pun intended).

 

Just reading that you have another small hoard to search gave me that excited feeling in the pit of my stomach - the thrill of the hunt!

 

Indeed! I tend to scan my change quickly but without my glasses I’m generally only going to detect the most obvious. When I do go through it under my lighted loop I’m able to sort what I will examine under my microscope. I’m constantly shocked at what gets by my first glances. Silver dimes and worn Buffalo. The thrill remains until the hoard is diminished!

 

NIFC halves that I spied in a cash register in Cape Hatteras this morning, and bought: