Does OBW mean never opened?

jessewvu

Or can an "OBW" roll be sold as such even if it is obviously opened and taped back together?

derryb

If it has been opened how do you know the coins are still "original?" Chances are that they are not.

redbrains

I've been buying lincoln memorial OBW's lately and I'd be suspicious if it was taped back together.

One ebay seller had one that he said he taped because it had become broken open. I passed on it, even if he's telling the truth that it was unsearched
I don't want a roll that's been dropped or mishandled enough that it was busted!
For memorial lincolns there are plenty of other OBW's to choose from.

(btw this is my first post! :ThumbsUp

-mike

Bochiman

OBW = Original Bank Roll (imho) which = original meaning not having been opened (in which case, it is OBW=Opened Bank Roll)

PerryHall

Once an OBW roll has been opened, it should be sold as an unsearched roll of coins.

RWB

Just a thought or two….

OBW = Original Bank Wrapped [roll].

The implication is that these were put into paper coin wrappers by bank employees who transferred the coins direct for sealed mint bags. The rolls were intended for commercial use, but were not distributed or were purchased by an accumulator/collector.

The further implication is that the contents are in original as-issued condition and not examined since the roll was packaged.

Seems to me that it is impossible to verify either of the above except, possibly, if the rolls are acquired directly from the first non-bank owner.

ricko

Although they may exist, I believe most that are being sold are not OBW's.... In years past I purchased a couple of OBW's and I could detect tampering... needless to say, I never purchased another. At coin shows, the one's I examined had also been tampered with - very well done, I might add, but the discerning eye could pick up the tell-tale signs. Cheers, RickO

ricko

And Welcome aboard Redbrains... enjoy... Cheers, RickO

notwilight

<< <i>OBW = Original Bank Roll (imho) which = original meaning not having been opened (in which case, it is OBW=Opened Bank Roll) >>



Or just Old Bank Roll. You'd have to ask the seller to define his acronym. Most here would like to interpret is as Original, the seller may have another idea, especially if he is ethically challenged. --Jerry

jmski52

To me, OBW = never opened, original wrapper, unsearched, untouched.

After that, it's still possible to have "original coins" from the "original roll", but I'd sure want an explanation to that effect.

I have some Roosie rolls that were OBW before I stupidly opened them for the end toners, and I hadn't even searched the rolls after 4 years, so a year ago, I put the end toners back where they belonged - but I would no longer classify them as OBW.

rmpsrpms

OBW means it was wrapped by a bank or bank service company. Most of these aren't really wrapped by banks themselves, but by distribution companies like Brinks that take the coins from the mint or Fed Bank and wrap them for commercial customers. Some of those customers are commercial banks and the rolls get imprinted with the name of the receiving bank. Once the roll has been opened, and then re-wrapped by a human, then it is no longer OBW whether it is still "original" or not. If I open an OBW roll and subsequently sell it, I sell as "original" roll, not OBW. Now, for statistics, I've purchased many hundreds of "OBW" rolls from B&Ms and on eBay. My hit rate with B&Ms is around 50% truly OBW, and with eBay around 25%. The best eBay auctions are the ones with groups (4+ rolls) , and I've had >50% luck with those. I bought a group of 36 56-D 1c rolls and all were original, but also a group of 18 56-D that were all re-wraps. As Ricko says, the re-wrappers are pretty good at it, and I agree there are a lot of telltale signs, but even these are not reliable as I've purchased a few rolls that had all the signs of rewrapping but were truly original OBW! So, good luck and expect 25-50% hit rate no matter how careful you are.

derryb

I used to put presidential dollars back in original rolls (for convenience) before I took them back to the bank. After a couple of bricks I was pretty good at making them look like they were never opened. Keep in mind I was not selling them as OBWs, just exchanging them for green. Point is that it is not difficult to tuck the roll end and make it look like it was never opened. I would never by an OBW on ebay and expect an OBW to arrive.

DennisH

Sellers want you to think they've never been opened, looked at, picked through, etc.

Personally, I think the chances of that actually being true are slim and none.

rmpsrpms

<< <i>Sellers want you to think they've never been opened, looked at, picked through, etc.

Personally, I think the chances of that actually being true are slim and none. >>



As I said, after buying many hundreds of "OBW" rolls on eBay, my track record is 25% overall, and 50% for groups >4 of the same roll. This is over a >10 year period. At this point I can usually eliminate 50% of the rolls from consideration by their "look", and occasionally by bank name, wrapper type, etc (I've published warnings of some of the more interesting ones on this forum). It's rare now that I buy a single roll on eBay since the probability is so low that it's truly OBW, but even then the probability is 25% from experience.

roadrunner

On ebay OBW generally means........Oh By the Way.....I've been messed with.

roadrunner

redbrains

<< <i>And Welcome aboard Redbrains... enjoy... Cheers, RickO >>



Thanks RickO,

I've just gotten back into coins again after a long hiatus. This forum is a great resource!

-mike

mrpotatoheadd

I've got a hundred or so rolls of BU Lincolns that were in their bank wrappers when I acquired them. The wrappers were disintegrating, so I bought plastic tubes to store them in. I'm sure I'm not the only one who's had to do this. I've never searched the rolls and the coins are as original as they could possibly be, but I'd never imagine anybody would believe me. I wouldn't try describing them as OBWs, if you're taking that to mean the coins are "original and unsearched".

MsMorrisine

Does OBW mean never opened?

yes

PCcoins

<< <i>Although they may exist, I believe most that are being sold are not OBW's.... In years past I purchased a couple of OBW's and I could detect tampering... needless to say, I never purchased another. At coin shows, the one's I examined had also been tampered with - very well done, I might add, but the discerning eye could pick up the tell-tale signs. Cheers, RickO >>



I'm guessing the ends of those rolls were blast white ricko? That could indicate tampering in my book especially for silver coins from the '40s-'60s.

Griv

<< <i>Although they may exist, I believe most that are being sold are not OBW's.... In years past I purchased a couple of OBW's and I could detect tampering... needless to say, I never purchased another. At coin shows, the one's I examined had also been tampered with - very well done, I might add, but the discerning eye could pick up the tell-tale signs. Cheers, RickO >>



I totally agree. I've bought a lot of nickel rolls lately that appeared, at least by the pictures, to not have been opened. Any disturbance of the ends and I would pass. I'd say I maybe found a few rolls I thought seemed OBW. I did have one of the nickels from one of those rolls grade MS64FS recently.

LindeDad

<< <i>Does OBW mean never opened? >>



I would think that in most cases one would have to be very naive or stupid to think that was a fact.
No disrespect intended to anyone but this old guy spends a lot of time on eBay and that might have been an influence on my thought pattern.

oreville

Not to make everyone here miserable but I hope everyone knows what ODW means!

It is a real term for an actual type of roll and no, it does not mean "oh don't whine."

Mission16

In theory? Yes

jessewvu

<< <i>Not to make everyone here miserable but I hope everyone knows what ODW means! >>



Oh Don't Whine?

ChrisRx

<< <i>Does OBW mean never opened?

yes >>



Not if its selling on eBay.