numismatist \ coin roll hunting help?

Question

i search rolls of half dollars
do you have any advice in getting them they seem to be pretty scarce around hear my bank said that they could order them
for me but I've heard their is less of a chance at silver
that way verses finding ones that have been cashed in
also are dimes worth trying

Answer 1

Your chances at finding silver are just that, a chance. The chances at finding silver in boxes ordered through the bank is still there. My credit union doesn't carry the half dollars so I have to have them order everything for me.

Half dollars have never really circulated well and so there's always a chance of finding silver in them. People on the coin forum I use, find the occasional walkers and many franklins. If I were you I'd order a couple boxes and try them out. If you get good results keep going. If it's not going so great check around at other banks.

The banks in my area do not ask for an account number if you are just doing a cash for coin exchange. Find out what the banks in your area do. If necessary, open up some minimum amount accounts. Try banks in rural areas and areas with older people in the population.

If you are looking for silver I'd stick with the half dollars. You may get lucky and find the occasional silver dime in a box. However, unlike half dollars, dimes do circulate and many people notice silver dimes and pull them out. You'll find more in half dollars.

Another good thing to search is nickels. The design of the nickel has been the same about 70 years. The first nickel box I went through I found 3 silver wartime nickels. Silver nickels do not look any different than the non-silver nickels. People don't know what to look for and so they have stayed in circulation longer. In addition to the silver nickels, it's easy to find older dates.

You can usually find a few wheaties in a box of cents too.

If your bank has hand rolled coins (turned in by other bank members), these usually produce the best results.

I hope all of that makes sense. If you have more questions you can drop me an email.

Here are some links that may be helpful:
Coin Community Family - Site where numismatists gather
http://www.coincommunity.com/forum/default.asp
What people have found roll searching:
http://www.coincommunity.com/forum/topic.asp?TOPIC_ID=11494&whichpage=1
What people have found in circulation:
http://www.coincommunity.com/forum/topic.asp?TOPIC_ID=1902&whichpage=1

Good luck!

Answer 2

Well if you can't get them from your bank go for a trip and get them some where else. You sure won't get them here. No one is going to hand you things, one has to go out and look. I live in the middle of nowhere and just do some traveling to banks around the state and do quite well finding silver 1/2 dollars. True pickings are getting smaller, but that may also be do to more people looking.

Answer 3

A waste of time. 1965 was the last date for silver in a coin - 42 years ago!
Besides, if you did happen to find one, the condition would probably be little better than Good, which is worth little more than face value.
Better to purchase quality coins from certified dealers. Punch in Coin Dealers into you r search engine.