Coin Finds: Wheat backs

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.

As many readers of Coins do, I look forward to receiving my new magazine and usually head right to “Coin Finds” to see what gems may have been unearthed and by what method. I for one very much enjoy buying bank boxes of cent rolls and go through each one. It is never my intent to find that one “retirement” cent, but I do enjoy going through the rolls nonetheless. As such, I am developing a keen sense for our one-cent copper cousins. Cents from the 1960s remain my favorite as, in my humble opinion, their color, weight, and engraving surpass those of any other single decade.

Here is a list of those wheat backs I have found in the last four bank boxes: 1910, 1926-D, 1937, 1940-S, 1941, 1944-D, 1944 (three), 1946, 1946-D, 1946-S, 1947, 1947-D (three), 1948, 1949-S, 1950, 1951-D, 1952-D (three), 1953-D (two), 1954-D (two), 1956-D (two), 1957-D (three), 1957, and 1958-D (five). Their conditions run usually in the Fine, with some lower and some higher.

I usually find anywhere from six to 18 wheat backs per box and once found an Indian Head cent dated 1898.

Twice I have found a recent vintage dime and oddly enough, two copper colored plastic cents. Yep, they are play money. (My math says I’m still 18 cents ahead of the game.)

And, of course, there is the occasional Canadian copper find and others so damaged or corroded that their date and mintmark will forever remain a mystery.

Happy hunting, everyone.

M.D.
Elgin, Ill.

This is not about finding a special or unusual coin. Over a period of about five months, I found in my change a large number of quarters, all in VF-AU. They are 1965 (two), 1966 (six), 1967 (six), 1968 (one), 1970 (one), 1970-D (one), 1971 (one), 1972 (two), 1973 (two), 1974 (one), 1974-D (one), 1977-D (one), 1977 (two), 1979-D (one), and 1979 (two).

I think it amazing considering how long these coins have circulated that they are in such good condition.

Philip L. Deaugustino
Hemet, Calif.

Recently, I was at a convenience shop getting something to drink. When the cashier handed me the change, I noticed that one of the cents was a wheat cent. Once I was outside, I started turning over the rest of the change and found about 10 more. They consisted of a few 1950s, 1940s and two 1917s. Not very valuable but still a pretty cool find anyway.

Isaac Landes
Address withheld

I saw your request to share coin finds a while ago and decided to give you my totals for 2016. I get boxes of coins from the bank each week and go through them.

These totals include my finds from those boxes, along with Coinstar finds, and finds from other accumulations that I’ve searched. I offer to family and friends that I will roll all of their loose change and not charge them the 10 percent that Coinstar charges. I go through it, roll it, take it to the bank and return to them paper money. So, here are my totals for the 2016:

• Circulation strikes (U.S. and Canada): Four 40 percent silver halves; four silver quarters, 1941, 1942-D, 1950-D, 1953; two Mercury dimes, 1924, 1944D; 21 silver Roosevelt dimes; one Liberty Head nickel, 1907; 12 Buffalo nickels; 37 silver war nickels; six Indian Head cents (1892, 1896, 1900, 1901, two 1905s; 1,435 wheat cents; one silver Canadian 25 cent piece, 1966; four silver Canadian 10 cent pieces, 1947ML, 1959, 1967, 1968; four Canadian George V cents, 1920, 1926, 1932, 1933; and 75 Canadian George VI cents.

• Proofs: Washington dollar, 2007-S; Kennedy halves, 1979-S, 1995-S; Washington quarters, 1977-S, 1979-S, 1999-S (Conn.), 2000-S (N.H.), 2001-S (Ky.), 2004-S (Mich.), 2014-S (Arches); Roosevelt dimes, 1969-S, 1971-S, 1976-S, 1999-S, 2009-S, 2011-S; Jefferson nickels, 1960, 1968-S, 1973-S, 1984-S, 1997-S, 1999-S, two 2000-Ss, 2010-S; and Lincoln cents, 1982-S.

• Foreign: Australia five cents, 1996; Bahamas one cent, 1985, 1992, 1998, 2001, 2004; Bahamas five cents, 1998, 2000, 2004; Barbados 10 cents, 1973; Belgium one franc, 1969; Bermuda one cent, 1997; Bermuda five cents, 1980, 1997; Bermuda 25 cents, 2005; Bosnia 10 feninga, 2013; Costa Rica five colones, 2008; Denmark 25 ore, 1999; East Caribbean States one cent, 2004; Euro two, 2002; Euro 20 cents, 1999; Euro 10 cents, 2002, 2008; Euro two cents, 2010; Euro one cent, 2002, 2012; Great Britain five pence, 1990, 1998; Great Britain 10 pence, 1992; Mexico one peso, 2006; Panama 1/10 balboa: 1996, 2008 Panama ¼ balboa, three 2001s, two 2008s; Switzerland 20 heller, 2008; and Trinidad & Tobago one cent, 2009.

Name and address withheld

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