Pleading For Time-Saving Process With Silver Roll Sorting

When Dad died, I got his <1964 US sliver rolls. Perhaps 2 dozen dimes, ~15 quarters, ~12 halves. I want to 'sort' them, a roll at a time, for key dates & high-grade individuals, then re-roll the unremarkable stuff as just 90% bullion.

As a youth, an' mostly with wheaties, I've done some roll-hunting...but never found a process for streamlining the search. It has always been a one-at-a-time labor intensive effort. I'm aware that each coin must be given sufficient attention to determine if it's worthy of a second look...but whether to do that by initially grouping by date, mint-mark, series, or another criteria is still a puzzle for me.

I'll be very grateful for your comments an' suggestions on this subject; the task seems overwhelming without bringing to it some organizing methods, and has kept me from beginning it for a dozen years. Thank you all for listening!

 

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This is how I would do it. I would get a work area where you can hold multiple rolls and loose coins. I'd get a list of key dates and valuable errors. I would put my coins into 3 piles: junk, key dates, and UNC/look at again. I'd then open as many rolls as possible, quickly sorting them into those piles. Then, as I had more time, I'd to back through the UNC/look at again pile and decide what to do with them.

Happy hunting, let us know what you find!

 

I was glad to see @Seattlite86 post. I hesitated to do so and I know if anyone has a sound method, it is the Major.... The OP's silver stash sounds much like mine. An overload of average circulated silver. But here's what I am thinking.... Unless you get into Mercury dimes and the like, is there really much of a reason to invest the time to study that much junk silver?

 

There are a number of varieties and errors worth searching for. However, if the quarters aren't early years (really 30s), there's not much value in them in UNC, unless they're high UNC, or you can get the whole series in UNC, then there might be a decent premium. I put almost all UNC 50s/60s quarters in my junk pile.

 

Some people find it fun to take their time and look at old coins.

 

The one thing I've found helpful, when going through literally hundreds of coins, is to set a timer for a certain amount of time, say 45 minutes, and when it goes off, back away and take a break. Sitting and going through so many at one time, makes eye fatigue and boredom set in, at least for me.

 

Very good counsel...Thanks!