I have been saving everything pre 1960 and 2009s. What does everyone else save from nickel rolls when coin roll hunting?
I save all nickels up to the 1990s that are in or near Mint BU condition. For pre-1960 nickels, I will save them if they are in decent condition and have a mintage of less than say, 15-20 million. Nickels that I look to keep in particular from the 1950s are 1950 P & D, 1951S, 1955P and 1958P. I can't stress how difficult it is to find 1958P nickels (at least in the West) so if you find one of those be sure to keep it. With the 1940s, I save War nickels and dates of 1942D, 1946S, 1948S and 1949S. Jefferson nickels from 1938 P, D & S and 1939 D & S are good to look out for as well. I will keep Buffalos if they are not too worn down or damaged.
I was saving all 40s and 50s, etc - but they get too common. Now I save all pre-1940, Buffs, Silvers, proofs and errors. From experience errors are much less common with nickels than they are with cents. But I have found two cuds from 1983 that are progressional examples - one has more damage than the other so they were struck from the same die but different times.
I can see that we all have different standards in what we collect but am I to understand that if, for example, you found a 1950D nickel you would spend it because it is not pre-1940?
I keep anything from 39 and older silver years and any pre 1970 in good shape (and of course lower mintages as nos said). I'll keep anything post 70 if its a proof or is ms condition and has a nice toning.
'50-D is the only Jefferson I haven't found. I have found all the 38 and 39 rares, multiple times even. I'd soil my breeches and do a jig if I found a '50-D. I find lots of '51-D's and they are a little bit scarce.
Great discussion and giving me a lot to think about when deciding what to keep. Guess the bottom line would be having extra coins won't hurt because I can always go back and get rid of some if I decide there not worth anything.
I keep all pre 60's and anything beyond that that is MS condition though I'm keeping an average of 30-40 nickels a box. I think I will be pairing down what I keep to the nicer specimens since I'm moving up to two boxes a week next week.
This afternoon my 8 year old and I went through $80 in nickels, no silver, but a couple of pre-1960 S mints and then that neat 1916 Buffalo - first of that date that I have found that will go nicely in my Buffer folder. I was lucky it was in a roll I opened or my Princess would have gotten it like the two 1919's she found a few months ago - and kept for herself.
Dont forget the '82 & '83, both P&D in AU or better. These have brought me $50.+ for D & $70+ for P rolls.
Anything thats in high grade, toned or has full steps are worth keeping. And of course the silver ones.
Why the 82 and 83s? Do they have lower mint numbers? es I could look that up but where is the fun in that.
There were no mint sets made those years. Those well-struck, lusterous pieces are often overlooked by CRHs. Look what a single goes for on the bay. A true modern key, in pristine condition. Same for any denomination. I'm always looking for10, 25, & 50 cent pieces w/a min. UNC grade.
