Coin Finds: Bag of half dollars yields silver
We recently asked you, our readers, to share your best numismatic finds with us. Based on the long-running “Coin Finds” column in Coins magazine, which will continue to appear in…
We recently asked you, our readers, to share your best numismatic finds with us. Based on the long-running "Coin Finds" column in Coins magazine, which will continue to appear in print, this online version will give additional exposure to the thrill of the hunt.
Send your "Coin Finds" to numismatics@fwmedia.com and we'll get them in.
Please include your name, city and state. Names and addresses will be withheld from publication upon request. The editor reserves the right to to edit for content, style and length.
I have been collecting coins on and off for the last 50 years until the last few years, when I have had more time on my hands. I have always wanted to go through a bank bag of half dollars ($500) and finally made the decision to find out how to obtain one.
After making several calls, I located a bank bag of half dollars and made my preparations to obtain it.
After taking possession of the half dollars, I proceeded directly home and went through the bag and found the following Kennedy halves, which I kept: one 1964-D 90 percent silver; one 1965 40 percent silver; two 1966 40 percent silver; 12 1967 40 percent silver; seven 1968-D 40 percent silver; nine 1969-D 40 percent silver; and one 1986-S clad proof.
I never thought I would find that many silver half dollars in that bank bag.
This was probably the best find I have encountered in all of my coin collecting.
Name and address withheld
At a local bank branch, I asked if they had any coins I could go through over the weekend. They had $70 in Kennedy halves. I found a 1968 40 percent and two 1967 40 percent halves.
I keep looking.
Steve
Heber Springs, Ariz.
I’ve been visiting several Coinstar counting machines in my area now for about 16 years. I do this not just to collect the leftovers around the machines but also to cull out collectible coins for my collection.
One of my goals is to find a gold coin or two (one for my collection and the other to sell in my coin club). As yet, that has not happened.
However, after reading “Coin Finds,” I am encouraged to pursue my initial goal of finding gold in the “stars.”
As I mentioned before, finding gold in the “stars” has not happened yet. But over the years, I’ve found some great collectibles, ranging from an 1857 three-cent piece a couple months ago to an 1867 Shield nickel (slightly beat up) about a year ago.
There have been numerous silver modern coins (dimes, quarters, and a few 1964 Kennedy half dollars, as well as the 40 percent silver ones).
No gold yet, but that’s OK. I’m happy with my trime and Shield nickel.
I’ll keep looking and hoping for that gold “star.”
To paraphrase “X-Files”: “The [gold] is out there.”
Bill Tuttle
Cleveland, Ohio
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