There's 3 very recent, very common dates that seem to be elusive for some reason. Have gone through tons of nickel rolls, and can't seem to find 1968S, 1971, or 1982P. Not even at the coin store (though they did have a 68S in proof... but didn't want a proof just to fill a hole). Any idea why these are such problems?
The '82-P shouldn't be tough. There are three varieties and finding all would be tough. The other two are low mintage issues and had a couple generation head start on being destroyed. Attrition on nickels is high because many peo- ple throw away small coins. In the last couple years a few people have started collections of coins and these low mintage coins get targeted since everyone wants one of everything. This means a higher percentage of the scarcer coins are removed. They are out there. Just keep looking. The '71 is actually tougher than the '68-S. They probably messed up the mintage figures for them.
Hello, Well if you are looking for Full Step, the 68-S is near impossible, and the 82-P will run you major bucks. Even in uncirculated condition they aren't exactly cheap. 71-P isn't too hard. If you are just looking for the coin itself in a good uncirculated condition, I've had really good luck with http://www.villagecoin.com/index.php If that doesn't work, send me an email, maybe I have some extra's in my piles
I search boxes of nickels and have found more than a roll's worth of 1968-S's so far. They're not at all the most common date, but I usually find several per box. Good luck!
Ironically probably cost me more to get a good uncirculated 68-S than proof, lol... I just can't bring myself to stick a proof coin in a cardboard folder, even if it is only $1. Saw an eBay store that deals in more common ones, will see if can find them there... it's where I got the 70's S pennies that were giving me trouble. Will also keep checking nickel rolls. Actually found a bunch of nice 40's, 50's, and 60's this way, as well as a not too bad 1939. Any particular reason the 82-P is so hard to find? Mintages I've been able to find for that year list it at about 300 million, and I've had rarer dates that were actually easier to find than this one. I don't need full steps, BU, at least not yet, just finding the thing even in circulated for the time being to fill an annoying hole would be great for now.
The U.S. Mint did not make Uncirculated sets in 1982 or 1983. The individual mints did sell souvenir sets. For most years though you'll end up finding that many of the modern BU coins for sale are from broken up mint sets. Other than that I can't tell you, I've seen BU rolls of 82-P or 82-D selling for like $135.00 ea. The world is wierd, my wife tells me I need a hobby other than coins that isn't so expensive, I told her I'd take up nickels
Possibly one reason some coins are becoming rare is due to the recent nutty creaze in collecting nickels due to the new types. Other reasons is as alreaday noted that many coins are lost or destroyed therefore low mintage coins become difficult to find. I've seen tons of coins thrown into pools, wells, rivers, lakes, put on rail road tracks, melted down as chemistry experiments, etc. I've done my share of that in the past which fure wouldn't help in finding certain coins. The ones you mentioned are very common pending on where your at and your access to coin shows and stores or places that sell coins. In this area there are at least one coin show a week in the area, many coin type stores and at one flea market there are now 6 coin dealers. This is an amazing increase in the area primarily due to the recent interest in coin collecting. My advice is to keep away from ebay and look up coin shows or on forums like this just ask if anyone will sell you one of them cheaply.
Living on the west coast ALL "P" mint marks are hard to come by. I usually have to contact my 80 year old Aunt in Maryland to get them.
I recently completed my Jefferson set, and my wife completed hers. Most of the coins came from searching, and it wasn't that tough, and didn't take all that long.
I've noticed that too... Philadelphia stuff takes quite a while to get here, and gets overwhelmed by the prevalent Denver minted circulating stuff for at least 10 years or so. I had the hardest time of finding Philadelphia minted pennies until my grandfather who lived in Michigan came over with his penny jar; I was finally able to finish off the last book of pennies! My penny collection is now complete from 1939 to present (with the exception of the 1970S small date). I have heard of the no mint set situation of 1982 from the local coin store today... that would account for it being so hard to find in circualtion, if it was heavily hoarded. Funny thing is, it's not the least bit rare... nearly 300 million minted... but because so many people hoarded them away when they saw it it's hard to find just going through nickel rolls. Probably a lot of the ones that did manage to get into circulation got lost or destroyed. I'll probabaly have to end up buying it from someone, but don't imagine it will be too pricey. Nice thing about Jefferson nickels is that even the rarest ones aren't too expensive... I can get a decent 1950D for around $20 or so. (1950D is a perfect example of an issue that although it's technically rare, it isn't that hard to find, because so many people saved it.) Anyway guess I can get it easily enough, just will end up costing more than 5 cents, lol. I can live with that. Most of the rest non-silver ones should be easy enough to find just checking change and nickel rolls.
i think these coins wouldnt be too hard to pick up. Even on the west coast, P's are pretty simple to pick up. i picked up lots of P's for my jeff set when i was at my mom's house in portland oregon last summer.
We have exactly the opposite problem here on the right coast.I have yet to see either of the 2005D nickels in circulation here and it's already December.You guys need to come visit more often.
Ahhh the joy of living in NYC. With so many tourist coming in from everywhere, one in 4 coins I get in change is a D mint. Not to bad considering NYC is just above Phili Though I must adminit, even here, I've only recieved on bison nickel and one OIC nickel in change...both P. Keelboat and Peace nickels are more plentiful.
Were these sets out of circulation? I've seen about every date mint mark in circulation except the 50D. Read an article in coinworld or numismatic news back in the mid 80's which said if you wanted to collect an inexpensive and yet difficult series try full step jefferson nickels. Been looking off and on 20 years still have holes and prices have soared but can still find in coin shows and small coin shops at common no step prices. Found a GEM 1945P DDR at a coin show in the late 80's for $.50 got cherrypikers varieties guide and looked through my collection that I had bought for the steps alone and whoa the varieties I had found without looking. Been hooked on steps and varieties since. Going to the Baltimore Washington show to cherry pick next week. Maybe I luck out and fill a hole or two in my FS collection 68S being I'm looking for.
Good Luck!, I have an MS63? 6-6-5-6 5.75 step (almost full step) with a cut and a bridge, I think that is as close as i'm going to get to FS in the 68-S until I win the lottery. :mouth: I'd like to find an affordable 45-S, mine is merely 3.5 steps
