What do you guys think a roll of undated buffalo nickels or a roll of wheat pennies cost (searched or unsearched)? I'm wanting to buy some. Thanks!
This is true BUT they are not always searched for the same thing. New varieties pop up all the time and IMO, any coin roll is worth looking at especially if your looking for non-standard stuff.
I will pay whatever "premium" I feel is warranted with regard to searching rolls of coins. However, as a general rule, folks should never pay premiums for a roll of buffalo nickels expecting to find a 1918/17 or expoect to find a 3 legged buffalo. Now, if enough actual research into the seller is done, one can usually figure out if the offer is legitimate. For example, a seller that sells antique jewelry or beanie babies and has never sold a roll of Buffalo Nickels, may in fact be selling a roll that he personally has not "searched". He may have looked at it to insure that it was all Buffalo Nickels but not really "searched" it. If a seller does not normally sell coins, it is totally possible for them to be selling "unsearched" rolls but its up to the buyer to make that determination. I recall buying a roll of "unsearched" BU 1972-D Kennedy Half Dollars for around $27(?). I searched it, pulled out a 1972-D No FG variety which graded out at a top pop MS63 (There are still ONLY 2 at that grade level) and later sold that coin for better than $1,000 in cash and trade. I got really lucky on that one. Notice the phrase "really lucky" as most of the time the search does not pan out with such rewards but thats the cost of looking at coins which are simply not available any longer. For the OP, undated Buffalo's can go for about .25 each on the high side which would put a roll at about $10.00 or so. Lincoln's might go for around $2.00 to $5.00 depending upon the condition of the coins. You might get lucky but then you might not.
I would think a casual seller would just list a roll of coins as a roll of coins. the unsearched roll has really become a marketing ploy. for instance, if my brother, who knows nothing of coins were to find a roll of buffalo nickels he would sell them as a roll of buffalo nickels. he wouldnt even know about coins being searched or not and if they would be worth more if he used the word unsearched
We seem to have gotten a little off topic. To answer you question, the best way to determine what something like this sells for is to search completed listings on FeeBay.
