Half Dollar Hoard--Well Not Really!

[Roger]

I submitted this half dollar "survey" to Coin World and it was published in the Feb 2nd, 2009 issue.

 

This last summer a fellow collector and I were discussing the findings of a recent Found in Roll’s column authored by Coin World columnist Bill O’Rourke. My friend was being pessimistic of what you really could find in coin rolls. I told my friend that indeed I have found several interesting coins in the past but that I haven’t looked through any rolls recently. My collector friend countered with an “Oh Really?” This comment left me with a desire to show my friend that his pessimism was unwarranted. A few weeks after this discussion, I was at a small local bank that I deal with and noticed a change counting machine in the far corner. Underneath this machine were several bags used to receive the different denominations that are counted. Out of curiosity I asked the teller if the bags were available for purchase. The teller answered with a cautious “yes” and warned that if I were to purchase any or all, that they would appreciate me not bringing them back. I have a penchant for half dollars so I agreed to the conditions and told the teller I would like to purchase the entire contents of the half dollar bag. I came home with $578 in half dollars in a fresh bank bag. I decided to do a survey of the coins so I laid out a large paper grid on a table with pen drawn boxes. Each box was labeled for each date and mint mark from 1960 to current. Being ever optimistic I figured that indeed I may end up with some Kennedy silver issues or even some Franklins. As I sorted the coins I would place them in the appropriate dated square for a count at the end. I did this to see if the quantity of coins received would be similar to the mintages as published in the guides. I won’t bore the readers with the actually count but rather focus on the more interesting finds. As I started grabbing handfuls of coins from the bank bag I noticed that there was that different sound of silver coins intermingling with the clad coins. I didn’t even have to look to know that I was in for a treat! It wasn’t long before I pulled out my first 1963D Franklin. After that it seemed every other handful of coins a surprise was waiting. After all the coins were on the table I ended up with two 1963 Franklin half dollars, Six fairly nice ’64 Kennedys, and 21 each of the 40% silver variety of the Kennedy half. Also of note from this monster bag of halves were 14 very nice 1983D in AU condition that looked like they were fresh from a bank roll. Also included were 3 holed coins, and surprisingly 13 what I call Kennedy love tokens which were painted with fingernail polish with various affections—all dated by the “artist” 1981. These “love” tokens must have been in a drawer only to be cashed in recently due to the current economic situation. Usually when searching though this quantity of coins you might run across those items that are either of foreign issue or not coins at all as was the case with this bag. Receiving honorable mention are a 1999 100 Colones from Costa Rica, a 1974 Dollar from Hong Kong, and lastly a drug store token from Wall, South Dakota. After all was said and done I had a great time looking through these 1156 half dollars and came through with enough ammunition to quell my collector friend’s pessimism.

[Art1.2]

I submitted this half dollar "survey" to Coin World and it was published in the Feb 2nd, 2009 issue.

 

This last summer a fellow collector and I were discussing the findings of a recent Found in Roll’s column authored by Coin World columnist Bill O’Rourke. My friend was being pessimistic of what you really could find in coin rolls. I told my friend that indeed I have found several interesting coins in the past but that I haven’t looked through any rolls recently. My collector friend countered with an “Oh Really?” This comment left me with a desire to show my friend that his pessimism was unwarranted. A few weeks after this discussion, I was at a small local bank that I deal with and noticed a change counting machine in the far corner. Underneath this machine were several bags used to receive the different denominations that are counted. Out of curiosity I asked the teller if the bags were available for purchase. The teller answered with a cautious “yes” and warned that if I were to purchase any or all, that they would appreciate me not bringing them back. I have a penchant for half dollars so I agreed to the conditions and told the teller I would like to purchase the entire contents of the half dollar bag. I came home with $578 in half dollars in a fresh bank bag. I decided to do a survey of the coins so I laid out a large paper grid on a table with pen drawn boxes. Each box was labeled for each date and mint mark from 1960 to current. Being ever optimistic I figured that indeed I may end up with some Kennedy silver issues or even some Franklins. As I sorted the coins I would place them in the appropriate dated square for a count at the end. I did this to see if the quantity of coins received would be similar to the mintages as published in the guides. I won’t bore the readers with the actually count but rather focus on the more interesting finds. As I started grabbing handfuls of coins from the bank bag I noticed that there was that different sound of silver coins intermingling with the clad coins. I didn’t even have to look to know that I was in for a treat! It wasn’t long before I pulled out my first 1963D Franklin. After that it seemed every other handful of coins a surprise was waiting. After all the coins were on the table I ended up with two 1963 Franklin half dollars, Six fairly nice ’64 Kennedys, and 21 each of the 40% silver variety of the Kennedy half. Also of note from this monster bag of halves were 14 very nice 1983D in AU condition that looked like they were fresh from a bank roll. Also included were 3 holed coins, and surprisingly 13 what I call Kennedy love tokens which were painted with fingernail polish with various affections—all dated by the “artist” 1981. These “love” tokens must have been in a drawer only to be cashed in recently due to the current economic situation. Usually when searching though this quantity of coins you might run across those items that are either of foreign issue or not coins at all as was the case with this bag. Receiving honorable mention are a 1999 100 Colones from Costa Rica, a 1974 Dollar from Hong Kong, and lastly a drug store token from Wall, South Dakota. After all was said and done I had a great time looking through these 1156 half dollars and came through with enough ammunition to quell my collector friend’s pessimism.

 

 

Nice project and great finds.

[thedeadpoint]

I've always wanted to do a similar study. Perhaps over winter break! Thanks for sharing!