Too many Wheat Cents so now what?

carl

After looking at ebay for Lincoln cents over the years I noticed how many people are selling wheat cents. My son bought me a pile or two for presents. I decided to see just how many I have and was surprized to find about 1,500 or so just in the 50's, many more in the 40's, not so many in the 30's and naturally less in the 20's and teens. So just for the fun of it I checked with a few dealers I know to see if they would like to buy any. NO, NO, NO was the answer. Everyone has an abundance. By the quantity of the ones in the 50's they won't be worth anything for a few hundred years and I don't want to wait that long. I don't know any kids in the neighborhood that collects coins. They are to heavy to send to anyone via mail. I would feel bad just dumping them at a bank into one of their coin counter machines. Selling them to a metal recycle place would get me more than a cent each but they would be melted down. So here is my question: Anyone know what to do with all those excess coins? I am not an ebay person so that's out until I learn how to use it. Condition coins are from good to almost uncirc.

F117ASR

You're stuck with them just like the rest of us. I have too many too. In fact I was looking at how many I had today. Somewhere along 400-500

granddad

I donate all of my 40s and 50s to the local boyscouts. They use them in fundraisers.

Have a Great Day!
Louis

bgrice

I've got a bag(unsearched - lol) of wheats in a closet that range from the 20's to 50's that's been there for a couple of years now. I was thinking about taking some every time I go buy something and put them slowly back into circulation to give someone a thrill that they found one. Unforetunately, no one looks at pennies any more, so they'd probably stay in circulation.

ARCO

I love finding wheat cents in change. Put them out there in circulation and make them a fun find for someone.

Tyler

mrearlygold

I remember having 2 safes in my first shop. A Mosler ( which had an interior vault) and a Yale which was much larger, with double doors, but was also much lighter so we kept wheat cents in it for ballast. We used to buy those things all the time and I think the local dealers saw how naive we were and sent in their "scouts" to sell us all these things in bags, boxes, rolls, etc. Finally when the partnership broke up, the wheats went to me and boy oh boy was that a pain as there were more than a dozen bags of them. Not much money but a lot of weight!


Tom

windwhispersintrees

Roll 'em and turn them in to the bank.
Plenty of folks out there still check their pocket change.

coppercoins

There are a number of cents in the 40s and 50s that have a LOT of value. You just have to know what you're looking for.

carl

I have "looking Through Oincoln Cents" and the Witman Red Book, several powers of magnifiers and microscopes if necessary. the guy who wrote Looking Through Lincoln Cents is kind of stuck on the word Repunched mint marks. I have checked each coin front and back for years and found numerous errors such as double die, Missing letters, offsets of various degrees, very high and low mint marks, double rims, etc. The problem is no one wants them. Dealers don't want error coins that can't be seen from a mile away. At coin shows around here major offsets only sell for a dollar or two and dealers don't want any more. I've shown a few real wierd ones to dealers with such things as a number falling or the front and back offset from each other by as much as 30degrees and they just say nice collection. Keep them. That's what I've been saying. No one wants any of them. I'm to old to try keeping them around for another 50 years and my son just isn't intetested in coins at all. I sure hate to put them into a bank but not much else. No one would pay the postage to have all that weight shipped anywhere. Thanks anyway. I'm really depressed.

tsacch

i have a coffee can full of em from my uncle...........i pulled out the best of each year and mint mark as a kid....otherwise truly unsearched......but when I get time they wont be anymore.

coppercoins

Carl - I am the guy who wrote that book.

If you have die varieties of value, I can find them homes and make you happy. Just contact me.

Dealers are the wrong people to talk to about them. They don't have time to deal with them because they have a lot of other things on their minds. You need a specialist dealer to take them and find them a good home.

mrpaseo

Believe it or not, I don't have any Wheaties laying around Yes, I have some slabbed ones and a few in 2X2's but I am a collector without a hoard or somesort of Lincoln cents... Maybe I should buy a bag just to have them Can you believe I'm a Lincoln collector?

lordmarcovan

I have several pounds, but I still buy 'em for a little over face (1.5 cents each, or two cents each to be nice to the little old ladies who call me and take the time to bring their coins for me to see).

CoinOnTheCob

I have over 10,000 wheat cents. 786 (I just counted them) 1943 steel pennies. I have been reading through your book, Chuck (Coppercoins). I will probably read it a couple of time before I get into that mess again. Right now, I have them sorted into decades.

Spiffy469

Ive also got a few zip lock bags full of them.

Looks like i need to get this book and check for some of these varieties.

Jeff

carl

Hey coppercoins. I bought your book an Lincoln Cents at a coin show. Everyone that collects Lincolns should get a copy. Lots of great pictures and information and from what you sound like there may be a sequal with even more information. If I get some time, energy and motivation, I'll send you a bunch of stuff that looks strange. I keep it handy every time I look at a Lincoln Cent. You and your Repunched Mint Marks are driving me nuts. I keep getting stronger and stronger magnifiers to try to find one. Great book. So much information if keeps me away from TV. You've got me going over coins I thought I looked through several times in the past. If there is sequal, do I get a previous owners discount?

mrearlygold

Now a bag of Indian cents would be cool to have!


Tom

NoGvmnt

Hey, I live fairly close to Franklin Park (Berwyn), before you ship them off to the bank I'll take them if the price is right.

I currently have two large tool boxes full of 'em that I picked-up at estate auctions in OLD paper rolls that are disintegrating.

Jim

oreville

Carl: I pm'd you a solution to your problems!

coppercoins

<< <i>If there is sequal, do I get a previous owners discount? >>



The sequel is the second edition of the book, at the presses now. It is being handled by a publisher so I have no control over its price.

carl

Oh comnon coppercoins, you could get some copies cheap for us loyal forum Lincoln Collectors. How about a previous book owners discount? Coupons like in a store for something off? Put the whole thing on you web site and we can print it out? Pocket addition posible? All just kidding. I'll buy it at the coin show since you need the money.
Hey Jim in Berwyn, maybe I'll hold on to them until the weather is better and make the long trip to Berwyn and sell them to you for price you can't refuse.

coppercoins

I can't republish the book on my own, that's what a publisher is for. They have exclusive publishing and printing rights. They are going to print and distribute 3,500 copies some time this spring. I have an option to buy single copies, but not to redistribute em-masse...and the price I get them for doesn't affrd me the opportunity to sell them at a discount. Even if I could sell them at a discount I probably wouldn't since I am starving for funds. Remember that I do this full time - it's my profession. It's not just a hobby to me.

66Tbird

I also have a lot of them. I almost parted with them one day, then coppercoins came on board. Now when I need a search fix I pick a date and pull a few rolls of that date, pull up his awesome site and go at it. I now have two big three ringed binders of all kinds of neat stuff. Finding a 36 ddo was cool, then it got los in the shuffle. Oh well it will turn up someday

atarian

send all unwanted wheat pennies to me ( PM and ill tell ya where to send them . ) by the bag or by the coin im willin to take what you dont want <evil grin>

oreville

I must have close to 30,000 wheat cents. Paid an average of 1 1/2 cents for each. Bought four $50 face bags from Robert Charles Company in 2000 real cheap. Three bags in the boxes still unopened. The first bag had some nice finds.

SaintDennis

<< <i>Believe it or not, I don't have any Wheaties laying around Yes, I have some slabbed ones and a few in 2X2's but I am a collector without a hoard or somesort of Lincoln cents... Maybe I should buy a bag just to have them Can you believe I'm a Lincoln collector?

>>



MrPaseo:

Check out my Unsearched Lincoln Cents on eBay. I'm sure you'll be delighted!

SaintDennis

<< <i>Carl - I am the guy who wrote that book.

If you have die varieties of value, I can find them homes and make you happy. Just contact me.

Dealers are the wrong people to talk to about them. They don't have time to deal with them because they have a lot of other things on their minds. You need a specialist dealer to take them and find them a good home. >>



CopperCoins:
I'm advertising your book in my eBay auction site. I hope you don't mind the free advertising!

If my wheat cents sell, I'll buy your book and I want an autographed copy! It's always a pleasure to talk to an author.

notlogical

Does any body know how many cents are in a pound?

pharmer

I had it figured at 146 when I used to buy bulk circ wheats. 454 grams in a pound, 3.1 grams per cent.

100proof1957

I got 19 rolls,a redbook,chucks book,a cherry pickers guide.its dark and im wearing sunglasses, HIT IT !

CoinHusker

<< <i> I don't know any kids in the neighborhood that collects coins. They are to heavy to send to anyone via mail... Condition coins are from good to almost uncirc. >>








<< <i>Does any body know how many cents are in a pound? >>






<< <i>I had it figured at 146 when I used to buy bulk circ wheats. 454 grams in a pound, 3.1 grams per cent. >>




So, if my calculations are correct, 3 pounds in a USPS priority mailer would be pretty close to face cost? Say if a YN would want to pay the shipping on them?

notlogical

<< <i>Say if a YN would want to pay the shipping on them? >>




Thanks Dad, but I already have all the 50's!

pharmer

Now if only you could find a source for them...

CoinHusker

<< <i>

Thanks Dad, but I already have all the 50's! >>




Ooops!

ziggy29

I usually spend 'em. At least the late '40s and '50s common dates in typical condition (VF/XF mostly). If one is an upgrade to my collection, I save the upgrade and spend the replaced coin. I don't think a typical circulated 1956-D cent will ever be worth much more than 5 cents -- if that -- in my lifetime. Personally I think the 1959 and 1960s Lincolns will be worth more someday, since they actually were spent for decades sometimes.

I frankly think it's unfortunate that the general mindset is to save and hoard *all* obsolete type regardless of value or potential value. It makes our change very boring, and it means we're saving billions of coins for which supply will surely always exceed demand by a country mile. I think back to previous times, when designs stayed in circulation, often for decades, after it was no longer minted. How much more interesting change must have been back then.

Hedger

You can still give 'em to me. I won't mind. Really. Oh, those pesky wheaties! I can help.

SaintDennis

<< <i>Does any body know how many cents are in a pound? >>



There are 150 pennies per pound. 3 rolls weighs 1 pound. There are 75 pennies to a half pound. (76 in my Unsearched Lincoln Wheat Cent 1/2 pound bags @ 8.1 oz.)

pharmer

some things never change

p8nt

Carl, if you are still wanting to get rid of those wheaties and would rather a YN get them than put them into circulation at face value.. Ill buy some from you at face value and pay the shipping... (I hope Im not shooting myself in the foot offering to pay a 300 pound box or something ) Let me know what you've got and I'll see if I can help you get rid of those pesky things.

Shamika

Put them back into circulation. There's a good chance you might get a stranger or two to get hooked on collecting when they come across one of your wheaties.

carl

I've had 19 giveaways in the last month or so and have added a handfull of wheat cents from the 50's with most of the giveaways just to get rid of them. Sent a big hadful to one very courtious YN also. When the pile got down to a few hundred or so I just gave them to a coin dealer I've known for many years that always gives me a really great discount on anything I buy from him so I felt obligated to just give them to him. Also, gave him a few rolls of Buffalo Nickels with no dates. Made his day. Now next I'll work on the Lincolns in the 40's.

eyoung429

Sell me your unsearched wheaties!!!!! My kids are really into them now.

SaintDennis

<< <i>Sell me your unsearched wheaties!!!!! My kids are really into them now. >>



I've got some rolls of mixed 50's for 99¢ each if your interested. Just check out the auction site, below.

TWQG

<< <i>If you have a question for God to answer, send me an email and I will present the question to God. I am Heaven's Spokesman and God has a monitor on me so it is a simple matter to put your question through. >>

-email sent.

coppercoins

<< <i>I don't think a typical circulated 1956-D cent will ever be worth much more than 5 cents -- if that -- in my lifetime. >>



That's where you're unfortunately very incorrect. There are a number of valuable die varieties in the 1956D cent issue that don't take a brain surgeon to find. I find them occasionally in other people's refuse as "common" coins. If you know enough to look into what's out there, you'll be suprised to find out just what some of these "common" coins are selling for. I have a number of cases where I have found coins worth $20-$100 each in "common" two-cent wheaties.

sumnom

I used to have about 500 or so that I finally rolled them up by decade and brought them to a coin shop where I sold them for 1.5 cents each.

carl

As to the weight of Lincoln Cents that can vary greatly. I've always saved 82's for instance and the way I can tell them apart, the copper from the zinc, is with a balance scale. The copper ones are heavier. Also, remember a well worn cent will weigh less than a slightly or not circulated cent. Then there is the different weights by certain years with the lastest ones being really light or is it lite. Then there is the very dirty ones that also weigh more. So as to how many in a pound must vary dramatically. Actually, coppercoins should have answered that one. By the way, coppercoins, if your reading this, I was only kidding about a discount. You just got to develope a little sence of humor. If it's at the next coin show I'll probably buy it even without the autograph.

pharmer

Carl, you said wheat cents. 3.1 grams. Do the math. And I think we'll just let anyone answer it, OK?

SaintDennis

<< <i>Carl, you said wheat cents. 3.1 grams. Do the math. And I think we'll just let anyone answer it, OK? >>



Screw the math, use a Postal Scale!

BuffaloIronTail

HMMM....I'm kinda surprised that some of you are having trouble with all your extra Cents.

I just popped in to my local coin dealer last week and he had another dealer in there at the time. They were talking about how the market is tightening up on raw lots of Cents.

The consensus was that they are getting more difficult to locate.

Believe me, I felt like I just dropped in from a trip to Mars or something. I asked the Dealer if he wanted my spares and he said, yes, he's buying.

2 1/2 cents per wheat.

I ran home and brought my extras in and unloaded 832 coins!

I don't know....maybe its one of those rare times when a person is in the right spot. I wish I has 8000 to unload.

Pete