4 proofs and a gold plated bicentennial in my 3rd half dollar box
tomruns12
Posts: 10 ✭
I only started coin roll hunting half dollars a couple of months ago and its going very well. My first box yielded a 40% silver and a coin missing the D in Dollar. My second box had a coin that was missing the S in States and alot of 2018 D's. This third box had 4 proofs and a gold plated bicentennial. I think I got a collector dump but surprisingly there was no silver. I figure person who turned then in knew enough to keep the silver but why would they keep the gold? I haven't cleaned them up yet but I was excited to share.
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Welcome to the forum @tomruns12 and especially to the hobby’s CRH of halfs.
Nice picks on the impaired proofs.
The (1776) to 1976 Kennedy is maybe worth a dollar or two at most.
The “gold” plating is just that a plating added after it left the Mint by commercial coin sellerss to “increase” ’the interest (and cost to buyers.) It does not add any numismatic premium. That is probably why it was released back into the wild.
Have fun in your hunt!
@tomruns12....Welcome aboard....Have fun hunting half dollars....my best find was a 1941 WLH....Reference your comment "I haven't cleaned them up yet"....Please do not clean them...You will destroy any numismatic value that may be or become in the future. Cheers, RickO
Welcome and giving you your first like.
Well I cleaned them before I read this but I did a little research first. I only soaked them in some water with mild soap and rinsed them with distilled water and let them air dry to remove the oils from the surface. The 2015 and 2008 look nearly flawless to my eye. The 1995 has some scratches and one spot that looks like a water spot, and the 1989 has some tarnishing and wear.
I'm considering using the gold plated coin to experiment with electroplating. I originally got into coin roll hunting because I wanted to collect silver and copper to experiment with electroplating and refining. Id like to try an replate the gold plated half dollar.
Why would someone put the proofs into circulation? I've seen proofs myself in half dollar boxes I've searched. I always thought it was a thief who spent the coins not knowing it's value but I wonder if others do it too.
Could be a thief, but these days most are the result of collectors or dealers breaking open low value sets. Might also be rejects from someone cherry picking sets or the extra stuff from sets where another denomination was the sought after key.
Some break out the proof sets for a specific coin. Some do it to take a good look at the coins. Then send the “perfect” PF for grading and slabbing. All the other coins not needed are barely worth over face. Far easier to deposit then to try and sell a broken out PF coin.
And as you mentioned maybe a thief but it could also be heirs, or a recipient of a gift proof set who broke them out to spend.
Welcome aboard amigo! I expect soon to hear about your next great find!
I am aware of kids who broke into Dad's Proof set just to visit the local DQ. Thankfully not mine.
I was thinking about searching through some half rolls....kind of looks like fun and I'm really getting tired of searching through quarter rolls. It's $500 for a box of quarters. How much does a box of halves go for?