Searching Pocket Change Is Still Fun

Dec 19, 2006 | coins, pocket change

While standing in front of the soda machine looking for an afternoon beverage, I reached into my pocket for change and found a 1937 Lincoln Cent in approximately very good (VG-8) condition. It may not be worth more than the value of the copper, but it confirms that the thrill of finding something in pocket change is still there. This coin will have an honored home in a coin bank where I “hoard” non-valuable finds from my change.

Now if I find something interesting, like a 1909-S VDB, 1914-D, … cue dream sequence!

Hitting the Road Change Hunting

Aug 8, 2006 | coins, pocket change

I admit that I am still a change hunter. During the day, I spend currency so that my change is returned in coinage. Sometimes I will look in the money draw and see if there are “different” coins stored in a side slot, like half-dollars. When I get home, I dump the change into a box for later search or I search anything that catches my eye. Searched change ends up in an old plastic pitcher that is cashed in at a local bank’s change counting machine every few months.

As part of this change hunt, I look for wheat-back cents, any silver coin, Bicentennial circulating commemoratives, and for coins that fill holes in the various Whitman folders that I use to collect this change. Those that are not added to a folder are saved in a special bank on my desk. On occasion, I will look closely at the coin for potential die varieties, like the wide versus narrow lettering varieties (1999D-1DR-003) in Lincoln cents. I also like to find foreign coins.

Lately, I have been finding quite a few Bicentennial Quarters. During a recent weekend in Florida, I was surprised when I discovered four of these coins with the Jack Ahr Drummer Boy design.

I hope others in the DC-area were able to find the coins I placed into circulation. Change hunting is fun. I only wish I would find more interesting items!!

For the Change Hunters in the DC Area

Jul 30, 2006 | coins, pocket change

For all of you change hunters in the Washington, DC area, over the weekend I was able to put several S Mint Lincoln Cents from the 1940s and 1950s into circulation. All are previously circulated but I made sure to pick out those in the better conditions. They are all brown cents but should make for good hunting, especially for kids. These coins were spent in a number of places.

Somewhere in the Tysons Coner, Virginia area there is a 1909-VDB Lincoln Cent in Very Fine condition but with a weak VDB floating around. To round out the copper spending, there are also a dozen Canadian Cents from the 1950s also spent in several areas.

In the Rockville and Bethesda areas, there are three silver Roosevelt Dimes from the 1950s along with a five Buffalo Nickels from the 1930s in approximately Extra Fine condition now in circulation.

Finally, in the Tenleytown area of the District, I used 1964 and 1964-D Kennedy Half Dollars to buy Powerball tickets (I should check my numbers!). Both 90-percent silver coins are in Extra Fine to Almost Uncirculated condition. The girl behind the counter allowed me to use them with no questions!

I thought this would be fun and hope to hear from those who find the coins. Now I have to send a copy of this note to the local newspapers. Happy Hunting!