Should I tear these rolls open?

fishteeth · March 9, 2025 10:54AM

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

braddick · March 9, 2025 11:16AM

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?

jedm · March 9, 2025 12:09PM

If you're careful I think you can look at them and put 'em back in the roll just like the last person to do it did.

NJCoin · March 9, 2025 12:19PM

@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.

fishteeth · March 9, 2025 12:40PM

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

braddick · March 9, 2025 1:18PM

@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.

coinbuf · March 9, 2025 3:52PM

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.

MsMorrisine · March 9, 2025 4:09PM

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

habaraca · March 9, 2025 4:28PM

Hello my friend.......

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

dcarr · March 9, 2025 4:41PM

All it takes is one 1943 copper to make it worthwhile.

Copperindian · March 9, 2025 4:45PM

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!

fishteeth · March 9, 2025 5:53PM

Coins are beautiful. Fun to open

Copperindian · March 9, 2025 5:56PM

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

CoinHunter4 · March 9, 2025 6:00PM

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

fishteeth · March 9, 2025 6:01PM

JBK · March 9, 2025 6:01PM

Very clean and nice.

jedm · March 9, 2025 6:18PM

Way cool! Thanks for sharing with us.

fishteeth · March 9, 2025 6:21PM

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

Flatwoods · 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.

Flatwoods · March 9, 2025 6:45PM

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.

oreville · March 9, 2025 8:15PM

@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.

Steven59 · March 9, 2025 8:23PM

@fishteeth said:

That's a great picture right there!

DCW · March 10, 2025 3:33AM

They look great! Definitely original roll you had there.

Make sure you check for the 1943 doubled die, which the pick up point is the thick tail of the "9." Unmistakeable if you find one, and they carry a huge premium in uncirculated condition.

Congrats!