Just finished 4 boxes of cents. Found 20 wheats in the 4 boxes(7-1-7-5). Oldest was a 1927 most were in the 50s. Found 2 1968S that look like Proofs? Questions? 1. What is the average wheat finds in a box? 2. How can you tell a Proof from a regular strike? Thanks for any input.
#1 Is a toss up. It just depends on being in the right place at the right time. #2 A proof will have mirrored fields (background) & frosted reliefs (letters, buildings, portraits, etc. A proof coin is struck more than once to get this effect. It will also have a squared rim. Post some pics.
I like to average 10 wheats per box. Most tend to be 40s-50s. The 68S' you found are more than likely business strikes. Proof coins will have squared off rims and mirror finishes. Even the ones that have been tossed into circulation. Here is a proof cent that I found in circulation:
Can't put an exact numberProofs first off have squared off rims i find them to be extremely reflective mirror like appearance rather than having luster.Most proofs have excellent detail because there struck twice under more pressure than the average business strike.Some have a frost like appearance in the letters,the design all together to be exact.Proofs were made to be exactly perfect with no flaws whatsoever but we all know how that ends up for some in the journey.For your coins in question pictures would help,most likely they are just Nice BU business strikes.
Number of wheats is a crap shoot!!! I once found 27 in one roll!! Definitely an exception!!! Proof question has already been answered correctly!!!
I've gotten anywhere from one measly 1927 cent in a whole box, to about 300 including about 75 AU-BU 1943 in a box one time. Other times I have gotten dozens of GVI(1936-1952) Canadian in boxes. Finding steel cents in BWR boxes is unusual since most coin counters will not accept them. It is all the luck of the draw. Back in 2016 I got 75 Liberty Nickels from 1888-1912-D in a $100 box of nickels - examples like these are likely collection/accumulation dumps.
