Hello everyone! As many of you know, I'm beginning my adventures in coin collecting and I have a couple of questions about mint rolls. Basically, what type of quality range (i.e. MS 60-70) should I expect to find in a roll purchased from the mint? Also, what are the odds of finding high quality grades (i.e. MS 65-70)? I purchased a couple mint 2004 Sacagawea dollar and Wisconsin state quarter rolls. The reason I started here was because I want to learn how to grade coins. Hopefully, once I can grade coins accurately, I will be able to collect them with more confidence. Thanks for your help. Eric
I have found consistently that rolls being Mint or Bank wrapped grade in the range of 63 to 65 for the middle coins. If you look at the rolls offered by auction companies such as Bowers and Merena you will find that they also find the majority of grades in the same range. The absolute best that I have ever seen was a MS-67 Susan B. Anthony come out of a roll.
If mint rolls typically yield coins in the MS 63-65 range, then why are rolls offered at such high premiums? I mean, that doesn't sound like something many collectors would want to collect. That type of quality is good for older coins, but it doesn't seem "rare" for modern coins. Is it the ingnorence of people hoping to find a treasure in these rolls that demands such premiums or am I missing something?
Most of it is supply and demand. Yes, there are a few who still believe that they will find a gem, but those of us who make a living in this business just pat them on the head and say good luck. There is no way to convince them that they are wasting time and money, but it takes all kinds to make the world go round. As time passes, it is harder to find original rolls. This is why the price goes up so fast. Some very common dates are extremely tough to find in a roll. Just try picking up a roll of 1960-D Nickels. You will begin to think that they are made of gold. A very common coin with a retail price of 10 to 15 cents, and a roll bid of $3.10 This doesn't make the search any easier. Now that is just an example. Do not go out and buy rolls of 60-D nickels. You will have them as long as you live
That's what I thought . Well, at least I have 50 beautiful dollars to search through and practice my grading skills (and lack thereoff) on. I really love the new Sacagawea design and color. Simply breathtaking! Thanks for the input.
Since I started collecting in '57 there has been a very large tendency for very recent coins to be overpriced relative to the apparent supply and demand. This doesn't mean there aren't any great opportunities in recently dated coins. Just look at the fact that in 1985 you could buy a roll of '83-P quarters for $16 and postage. As tiny as the supply of these was though the demand was very much smaller. $16 was more than fully priced. I suspect the ause of this phenomenon is that the supply and demand do not meet very well until a coin is at least three years old. The supply will tend to be concentrated in very few hands while the demand is more broadbased. There is also a tendency for most people who wanted one to have gone ahead and gotten it. They'll hang on to it for a few years before they're ready to sell. Roll quality has varied considerably over the years and from one date to another. Some coins were extremely difficult to find even in choice condition when they were issued. Most of those searching mint rolls have reported that quality is the same as bank rolls. This may be changing or may change in the future, however.
