What are "Shotgun Rolls"?

chaze215

I have seen them for sale and was wondering exactly what they are. I find it hard to believe the headlines when they say "Unsearched"(for ANY roll or pile of coins). Can Shotgun Rolls be searched or is that why they are pricey @ times?

Chaz

garsmith

They are rolls that fit perfectly into a 12 gauge shot gun barrel

adamlaneus

You can't be serious.

Are you?

I'm not certain it's a good idea to stick a roll of coins into a shotgun. Just sayin'...

garsmith

I was born on April 1st, so of course I'm not serious

chaze215

<< <i>They are rolls that fit perfectly into a 12 gauge shot gun barrel >>



That might leave a mark.

adamlaneus

Okay. Won't do that. Thanks!

*whew*

lcoopie

I believe it just means rolls

"unsearched" usually means searched

Robb

I think they get the name from the similar look of old paper shotgun shells. I may be wrong.

FishyOne

Look at the ends (both ends) of the rolls for sale labeled as "shotgun" rolls.

Now envision the business end of a shotgun shell. Go to MidwayUSA.com if you haven't seen one.

The "crimped at both ends" implication is unsearched or OBW or some such nonsense.

GRANDAM

The term "Shot Gun Rolls" originated in the OLD WEST. Back then when an outlaw was killed they would put two dimes over the closed eye lids of the body.

Often times these outlaws were killed by a blast from a shotgun to the chest. Once during a bank robbery by the famed Jesse James gang the sheriff was hold up in the bank. When he ran out of ammo and was desperate to hold off a final attack by the outlaws the sherriff was searching for something to use as ammo. At the suggestion of the banker he loaded (2) new rolls of dimes in his shotgun. One in each barrell. When the outlaws made their final charge the sheriff opened fire! The blast from the dime rolls ripped open the chest of the first man thru the door unlike anything the outlaws had ever seen before.

Well, one look at what had happened to their friend and the rest of the gang turned tails and ran for the hills.

This is the true story of how the reference of "Shot Gun Rolls" came to be.

GrandAm

adamlaneus

I'm afraid I do not believe that old wild west story. Sounds like one of those old fake wild west stories.

"Shotgun Roll--1. Originally, a term was used to describe a roll that was twice the typical length (as in a double barrel shotgun). For example, casinos frequently wrap half dollars in $20 (40-coin) rolls. 2. Some also apply the term to describe a hand wrapped roll that was wrapped utilizing a preformed tube. The preformed end is rolled up and crimped like the end of a shotgun shell, while the other end is folded over. 3. Most often today used to describe any machine wrapped, paper roll."

I'm pretty certain if you put something that heavy in front of a shotgun cartridge, the gun would overpressure and possibly explode in the shooters hands.

chaze215

So..........I am not the only one who doesnt believe anything for sale is "unsearched".

adamlaneus

Oh yeah. "Unsearched". Probably a load of bull.

But i'm sure some exist unsearched and that is indeed why they are pricey.

The vast majority are simply in a roll that makes you want to believe they are unsearched.

Ah, the power of belief!

cinman14

A shotgun roll is a roll of coins of regular value which has been tightly wrapped with tamper-proof ends by a bank or minting authority. Although the term "shotgun roll" used to refer to a roll of double length and value, nowadays the double rolls are called "double shotgun rolls" and single, normal rolls are simply "shotgun rolls."

From the PCGS description

Shotgun rolls
This term has two definitions. The first refers to rolls of coins that contain double the normal amount of coins in a roll. For instance, a shotgun roll of silver dollars contains 40 coins. The name derives from the length of the rolls being similar to the length of a shotgun shell. These double rolls were common and popular during the great roll boom of the 1960s. The second definition of "shotgun roll" refers to a paper-wrapped roll that is machine-crimped like the end of a shotgun shell.

pb2y

cinman14
The only straight answer. A youngster reading this thread
would be deceived.

ArizonaJack

There are threads on this forum about this. You can buy the pre-crimped ( one end open ) paper rolls, and a crimper/sealer anywhere on the net.

Many folks place semikey dates on the end, and the real shysters place a VDB reverse, or an 08-S Indian Cent reverse showing, and sell it as "possible " SVDB or 09-S roll, and get stoopid money from stoopider buyers.

El Cheapo

Pro Version

cucamongacoin

A picture is worth a thousand words

CoinMaster1229

<< <i>I believe it just means rolls

"unsearched" usually means searched >>




The Ends of Shot Gun rolls, Resemble the end of a shotgun shell !!!
rolled, rounded lip all around the inside edge.

Bear

My understating of a shotgun roll ,is a role

of like date coins put together from various

sources. This as compared to an original roll,

from a single bag of mint coins.

BECOKA

<< <i>My understating of a shotgun roll ,is a role

of like date coins put together from various

sources. This as compared to an original roll,

from a single bag of mint coins. >>



This was my understanding also.

GRANDAM

Actually a shot gun roll is a roll that has the crimped rolled up open ends as opposed to the folded over ends. The open end crimped rolls look like a shot gun shell.

I am telling the truth this time.

GrandAm

CaptHenway

A shotgun roll is simply one where the ends are machine rolled down against the two end coins.

As to "unsearched," when people come in and ask for "unsearched wheat cents," I tell them "If they're unsearched, how do I know they are wheat cents?"

TD

gyocomgd

<< <i>You can't be serious.
Are you?
I'm not certain it's a good idea to stick a roll of coins into a shotgun. Just sayin'... >>



The forum had a chance to produce an annual Darwin Award winner, but then you come along and ruin everything.

BECOKA

<< <i>Actually a shot gun roll is a roll that has the crimped rolled up open ends as opposed to the folded over ends. The open end crimped rolls look like a shot gun shell.

I am telling the truth this time.

GrandAm

>>



This changes my understanding.

ProofArtworkonCircs

So if a double length roll is a double shotgun roll, what is a half roll?
I remember 5 dollar rolls of quarters and three dollar rolls of dimes.

ArizonaJack

I have seen 25cent bankwrapped rolls of old BU Lincolns as well

CoinKing1969

Shotgun rolls refer to the old paper/brass shotgun shells at the beginning of the 20th century. Here is an auction of an old paper shotgun shell. Notice the crimp on the end. Usually if you have a crimped end on a roll of coins, it has been done by the bank. Tending to make it a little more difficult to search the coins and putting them back in the roll. Usually you can tell if the crimp has been tampered with.

Type2

Two dime roll I need a shovel.

tahoe98

a shotgun roll is a roll of coins that was rolled by a bank teller by a hold up man with a shotgun!

STEWARTBLAYNUMIS

ARIZONAJACK IS CORRECT.- A half roll of Lincoln cents was very common in the twenties and thirties.It was almost equivalent in size to a shotgun shell.Hence the term shotgun rolls was slang for a half roll of Lincoln cents.

Stewart

DMWJR

Older paper shotgun rolls had similar length, diameter, and crimping to the coin rolls, and looked more like the coin rolls of the era. Like this:

slothman2000

also...if a shotgun shell is loaded with a slug instead of shot (a slug is used for large game, like a deer) the shell is crimped in a certain way to simulate a roll...if this helps....they make machines now to do shotgun crimps...they are several hundred dollars i believe....