I got some change at a local fair today, and suprisingly, I got a 1985-S half dollar proof, and a dollar bill with a low serial number (although I don't know how low it has to be to be worth anything). In the condition they are in, what are they worth? :question
Not bad. I dont think that serial number is low enough to be worth anything, but that proof half is pretty neat.
I've found proof coins in ciruclation before... 1971 S and 1989 S half dollars. One I got from a slot machine and one from a Taco Bell, both in Biloxi, MS. My guess is someone broke up the proof sets either not knowing or not caring about the value, or the sets were broken open looking for other coins (though can't think what would be particularly valuable in 1971 and 1989 proof sets). I always wonder about why... basically someone has to take a proof set, decide to break it open, and say screw it, I'll just spend them... can never figure out why someone would do that... at least not why a collector would, and you'd think most proof sets wouldn't likely fall into the hands of non-collectors. Once entertained the idea that maybe somehow proofs could accidentally be mixed in with coins made for general circulation... but that would have to be nearly impossible with modern proofs since they're only minted in San Francisco (not counting the American Eagles and some commemoratives), which no longer mints any coins for general circulation.
Well, I asked the guy if he new if it was proof and he said yes. Turns out it was his and it was broken out of a previously damaged proof set. He didn't care less that he gave it to me.
