"Original Roll" of Morgan Dollars?

BigE

Does anyone have a picture of what one of these look like form the late 1800's? I have seen an original bag of them, but what does the roll look like? Thanks-------BigE

MICHAELDIXON

I've never seen an original roll. It was my understanding they only came in bags.

FC57Coins

Yeah - I don't think they started rolling them until sometime in the 1900's - originally they all went into bags and were weighed for accuracy in them.

Frank

BigE

Thanks Mike and Frank, I was just wondering because I see dealers offering to buy "original rolls" of common dates for a little less than 500.00, surely these can't be coins in plastic tubes----------------BigE

FC57Coins

Actually E - I think they are - I was at a coin show recently and saw a roll of 1880-S dollars change hands just like that in a roll - dummy me - if I had known that the guy was selling it I would've made him an offer - they were great PL coins - ah well - live and learn!

Frank

prooflike

Maybe it shoud be phrased "rolls of original dollars."

BigE

What about "original rolls" of Washington quarters, do they mean plastic tubes also? Seems like people would cherrypick---------BigE

BAJJERFAN

I mite be wrong but I don't believe that modern plastics to make coin tubes even existed in the early 1900's so any "original rolls" in coin tubes should be highly suspect. I would guess that original rolls should still be wrapped in paper.

BigE

Is this the original "original roll" debate?----------BigE

FC57Coins

E:

Rolls of anything else - halves, quarters, dimes, - if advertised as "original rolls" I would expect them to be in paper wrappers. Moreover, and I know probably anyone can get this - I would expect them to be end rolled crimped. I would also expect there to be a wrapper that "looks old".

Frank

shirohniichan

I saw an eBay auction for an "original bank roll" of 1902-O dollars in an old wrapper with a bank's name stamped on it. I imagine banks bought entire bags and rolled them themselves. Perhaps what people mean are coins rolled by banks that took the coins from original bags.

Conder101

If a bank in 1900 got a bag of oh say 1880-S dollars and rolled them up in paper wrappers these would be considered "original rolls". If a bank got a bag of 1880-S dollars during the Tresury selloff in 1964 and put them in paper wrappers these would also be "original rolls". So those original rolls could have been created as recently as forty years ago. I have never seen an "Original Rol" in a crimped shotgun type wrapper but I suppose it would be possible. You have to remember that until the State quarters and the new dollars came out there was no such thing as an original mint roll. And bank wrapped rolls could be created at any time and don't always have solid date and mint runs in them! You can't tell until you have cracked them open. (The Indiana State quarter rolls sold at the first day ceremony in Indianapolis were mixed P & D rolls, bank wrapped. And from reports about 80% D's. There were some that were solid D mint as well.) The problem is, how to tell and "original roll" from a put together roll? Since the old rolls weren't sealed it is very easy to cherry pick a roll and replace the "goodies" with average pieces. Then how can you tell?

Coulport

An original roll of silver dollars may well have two coins with tab toning. (The two end coins)
They should all have the same amount and type of toning and luster.
They will always have sharp reeding. It will feel like little burrs. (Feel the edge. This sharpness is the first to go on handled and put together rolls.)
And yes, they can be transfered to plastic tubes. (Not shrink wrap)