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Should I tear these rolls open?

fishteethfishteeth Posts: 2,259 ✭✭✭✭✭

Got these from an older dealer I have known for many years. For many years he worked for a large local coin shop and used to put interesting stuff aside. In his 80s now and he has so much stuff that occasionally he sets up at a small show or calls me when he has a bag of stuff to sell.
Today I stopped by to talk with him at a small show and he offered me the 3 dime rolls for 23x so a no brainer not original bank wrapped but appear really nice on the one end and.
Then I saw the cent roll. All he knows is he has had it since the 70s and he never opened it. Could this be an original 43 roll of cents. Does wrapper look period?
Just want to make sure before I tear it apart
The dime rolls will likely get ripped open but not sure i should do that to the 43 cents? One end of the roll looks like played with but the roll overall looks really tight





Comments

  • NJCoinNJCoin Posts: 2,635 ✭✭✭✭✭

    @braddick said:
    Yes!
    Enjoy the anticipation and excitement of opening and discovering.
    If not you, it'll just be the next owner in line... so why not you?

    Because, if the roll contains 50 unc 1943s, it will be worth a lot more opened and maybe individually slabbed. OTOH, if it's not all that it might be, it could be worth next to nothing. As a result, the "anticipation and excitement of opening and discovering" carries with it a monetary premium that is destroyed once opened.

    Like a sealed VB, do you go for the sure thing and capture some of the upside by flipping it sealed, or do you risk it all in order to "enjoy the anticipation and excitement of opening and discovering"? If you care more about the money and the sure thing, that's "why not you?".

    Especially since that particular roll, in that particular shape, does not likely contain 50 pristine original 1943 cents.

  • fishteethfishteeth Posts: 2,259 ✭✭✭✭✭

    The cost of this roll was minimal. One end was dug into obviously to check the roll at some point. Opening I believe will reveal a bunch of low end unc steel cents not worth much. Sure maybe something else is in it
    But if someone felt the roll could be period 1943 correct I will not destroy it. Value opened even if a bunch of nicer steel cents is not much. Opening this roll will destroy the paper it is fragile

  • braddickbraddick Posts: 24,321 ✭✭✭✭✭

    @fishteeth said:
    The cost of this roll was minimal. One end was dug into obviously to check the roll at some point. Opening I believe will reveal a bunch of low end unc steel cents not worth much. Sure maybe something else is in it
    But if someone felt the roll could be period 1943 correct I will not destroy it. Value opened even if a bunch of nicer steel cents is not much. Opening this roll will destroy the paper it is fragile

    Exactly.
    The downside is minimal financially. The upside is tremendous- the excitement.
    If you do, please share with us here so we can also join with you one of the rare thrills within this hobby. The joy of the hunt and the fun of reading what others have accomplished.

    peacockcoins

  • coinbufcoinbuf Posts: 11,610 ✭✭✭✭✭

    As you said the roll has been searched, by whom and for what is the question. If the cost was minimal then so is the downside, I would leave it and sell as is since I am very sure it has been opened, but either way the risk is very low.

    My Lincoln Registry
    My Collection of Old Holders

    Never a slave to one plastic brand will I ever be.
  • MsMorrisineMsMorrisine Posts: 33,972 ✭✭✭✭✭

    first photo: how tight an unopened end should be

    second: loose around the coins and no clean circular crimp

    the roll has been opened. curios? if you open that paper it may not re-close without tears. just open the same loose end

    Current maintainer of Stone's Master List of Favorite Websites // My BST transactions
  • habaracahabaraca Posts: 2,037 ✭✭✭✭✭

    Hello my friend.......

    I say open and FILM it, so we can all enjoy with you

  • CopperindianCopperindian Posts: 1,945 ✭✭✭✭✭

    Here’s what I would do:
    1) first have some fun & open the 1955 dime roll that appears to have been opened before;
    2) open the 1943 roll & have some real fun with that. Chances aren’t good you’ll find much as far as 67’s or 68. You might find something good that doesn’t belong with the rest of the 1943’s;
    3) sell the 1946 roll as it appears to be unopened. These bring a bit higher $$$$ as it’s a first year of issue;
    4) the other 1955 roll? Whatever you want!

    “The thrill of the hunt never gets old”

    PCGS Registry: Screaming Eagles
    Copperindian

    Retired sets: Soaring Eagles
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  • CopperindianCopperindian Posts: 1,945 ✭✭✭✭✭

    VERY NICE! Now that’s what I call having some fun!

    “The thrill of the hunt never gets old”

    PCGS Registry: Screaming Eagles
    Copperindian

    Retired sets: Soaring Eagles
    Copperindian
    Nickelodeon

  • CoinHunter4CoinHunter4 Posts: 405 ✭✭✭✭

    You might very well have a few worth sending in there...

    Young Numismatist. Over 20 successful transactions including happy BST transactions with @CoinHoarder, @Namvet69, @Bruce7789, @TeacherCollector, @JWP, @CuKevin, @CoinsExplorer, @greencopper, @PapiNE and @privatecoin

    "Either write something worth reading or do something worth writing" -Benjamin Franklin

  • JBKJBK Posts: 15,956 ✭✭✭✭✭

    Very clean and nice.

  • jedmjedm Posts: 3,094 ✭✭✭✭✭

    Way cool! Thanks for sharing with us.

  • fishteethfishteeth Posts: 2,259 ✭✭✭✭✭

    The end coin is the only dog. All the others really nice no spots or rust and nice luster. All put in 2x2s

  • FlatwoodsFlatwoods Posts: 4,224 ✭✭✭✭✭
    edited March 9, 2025 6:32PM

    I think you did the right thing. Minimal monetary gain lost if any.
    I can say that I've never opened a roll like that like. I'm jealous.

  • FlatwoodsFlatwoods Posts: 4,224 ✭✭✭✭✭

    Just noticed what looks like a die crack running across the shoulder on a couple.
    Interesting in itself. I know little about steel cent die varieties.

  • orevilleoreville Posts: 12,107 ✭✭✭✭✭

    @Copperindian said:
    Here’s what I would do:
    1) first have some fun & open the 1955 dime roll that appears to have been opened before;
    2) open the 1943 roll & have some real fun with that. Chances aren’t good you’ll find much as far as 67’s or 68. You might find something good that doesn’t belong with the rest of the 1943’s;
    3) sell the 1946 roll as it appears to be unopened. These bring a bit higher $$$$ as it’s a first year of issue;
    4) the other 1955 roll? Whatever you want!

    I agree.

    A Collectors Universe poster since 1997!
  • seatedlib3991seatedlib3991 Posts: 931 ✭✭✭✭✭

    I am glad that is over. I was having Big Bang flash backs thinking about Schrodinger's cat.

  • AngryTurtleAngryTurtle Posts: 1,574 ✭✭✭

    @dcarr said:
    All it takes is one 1943 copper to make it worthwhile.

    LOL, my thoughts exactly!

  • SilverBlindSilverBlind Posts: 119 ✭✭✭

    Nice roll, thank you for the pictures

    BST References] oilstates2003, GoldCoin98, COINS MAKE CENTS, SurfinxHI, mbogoman, detroitfan2,
  • ShurkeShurke Posts: 541 ✭✭✭✭

    That was fun seeing the results. Really nice looking cents you got there.

  • Cougar1978Cougar1978 Posts: 8,514 ✭✭✭✭✭
    edited March 10, 2025 11:54AM

    Yea I would want to see them then put back in plastic rool container. Then some for slabbing or 2x2 for show retail. Where ever a good angle exists.

    Coins & Currency
  • BarberianBarberian Posts: 3,819 ✭✭✭✭✭

    I'm pleased that you opened it and am glad the coins are nice.

    I think card collectors who have unopened packs slabbed are insane. They collect stuff that they never get to look at! What's the point of that?

    3 rim nicks away from Good

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