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Searching those pennies
Carpenter440
Posts: 4 ✭
I've recently started searching pennies. Being retired and interested in learning and searching coins I've decided to start with pennies. My mode right now is with a coin microscope I look at each coin front and back at about 5x. I've heard or read that any coin could have a error. Recycle coins with damage and keep all the copper ones since they are at 0.044 each from the price of copper. lol. I've found many with some imperfections that so far seem to be machine errors or zinc caused imperfections. I look at the Redbook for some guidance but I imagine that PCGS has more. I'm just not sure how to aquire that info. I'm wanting to know if there's a better method of searching pennies. 🤔
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Howdy and welcome.
You may not like this answer, but in general if you have to look through a 5X loupe to find an anomaly then it generally is not going to be worth either any more or saving at all. Finding error coinage is incredibly time consuming and requires a fairly advanced understanding of modern mintage methods. If you don't have the requisite knowledge then you are likely to save a bunch of damaged coinage.
I gave up on saving copper cents years ago and don't bother with them, but do whatever brings you satisfaction. Good luck!
In honor of the memory of Cpl. Michael E. Thompson
Welcome 🙂
What @TomB said is about all you need to know.
While numerous sites promote the search for errors, it is very rare to find any "error" that is worth much of anything. The dramatic errors rarely get past the original coin sorters.
It is possible to find "varieties", but most of those are minor and of little value. Here is where the Redbook is very helpful as it will give you some idea of the major varieties that are likely to have some value. But, if you really want to learn, your best bet is to look at actually certified errors and varieties in major auction houses.
In general, searching through cent rolls can be an inexpensive amusement, if you enjoy it. It is not, however, likely to yield anything worth the time. So, if you find it fun, knock yourself out. If you are looking for treasure, you are likely to be disappointed.
Welcome to the forum!
All comments reflect the opinion of the author, even when irrefutably accurate.
Where can you get cent rolls to search? I can get one - five customer rolls that they take in occasionally, and I buy hoards—but, boxes are not available any longer. You’ll have to be resourceful to acquire cents without paying a premium. Boxes sell for fifty dollars - up on eBay.
I have found little searching cents, other than a few semi keys, and filling folders—I expect little when I search. Two recent rolls yielded five 2023 extra V cents. That was more encourament that I’m used to receiving, and do not need now that boxes are unavailable.
Looking at and holding coins is good. If you’re wondering if you’re wasting your time, we can probably tell you.
Who buys copper cents for 44¢?
Welcome, good luck. Tom And JM offer good advice, you should know what you’re iooking for, you don’t have the time to study every cent.
And I will add just saving them because they are copper - a pure waste of time and space. You could use those cents that pile up to actually buy some cent that is unlikely to be found roll searching. Anyway, I would just start with trying to obtain a set of 1958 to 2025 cents if your roll searching and after that you can decided if you really want to bother with this hobby or not. Hanging around here and reading the post will get you a ton of info. But as we also say, buy the book before the coin. As in the Guide Book to US coins that is published yearly.
WS
Don't waste your time and eyesight looking for minor "errors".
It would be lovely if @Carpenter440 comes back and says that he enjoys searching and he's going to continue even though he knows he'll never find anything worth more that face value. Most hobbies are just for fun. Nobody expects to make money from solving crossword puzzles.
Welcome aboard.
Every collector has to start somewhere and roll searching is a good start.
How about moving on from trying to find errors to filling an album by dates and mint marks?
Be careful though as this can become an addition that can lead to collecting different types and denominations of coins.
Wayne
Kennedys are my quest...
You're very thorough. I respect that but I've opted for fast instead. I go through huge numbers and most with little more than a glance and the book that lists the varieties. I'll miss almost all the little ones, many of the unreported ones, and some of the well known ones but I come up with a lot of "stuff".
To each his own. Have fun.
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If you really enjoy the search and find it as relaxing as I do, then it is well worth the time. While cents are cheap, I get a little tired of all of the dirty ugly zincs; if you do also you might want to also try nickels. They are a bit more expensive, but you will find more of the older coins and even some silver. The errors and varieties are much easier to spot as well.
Welcome.
Searching for varieties and/or die pairs is a fun activity. I would recommend acquiring a book about Lincoln cent varieties. Do a Google search and several will come up. Three immediately come to mind:
Complete Lincoln Cent Encyclopedia by Anderson
Red Book Series, Lincoln Cents 5th edition by Bowers
Whitman's Cherrypickers Guide by Fivas / Stanton. Find the one regarding cents.
I agree with those that state "don't bother saving the bronze issues". Currently it is illegal to melt them for their metal value.
Good luck and have fun.
Life member #369 of the Royal Canadian Numismatic Association
Member of Canadian Association of Token Collectors
Collector of:
Canadian coins and pre-confederation tokens
Darkside proof/mint sets dated 1960
My Ebay
Error coins are not my thing. I collect coins for the history and the good stories. I've been a collector for 66+ years, and yea, I'm retired.
Making money from coins is hard. I know. I was a dealer for 15 years. You have know what you are doing, and you have to know the dealers who are buying it if you find something to sell.
I put together a date set of cents from 1793 to date, plus the 1787 Fugio Cent if you think that is part of the set.
I would get an album and collect a date and mint set. I started this collection during the Christmas week, 1959. My interests went elsewhere. I finished it in 1983.
The 1909-S-VDB was the "dream coin" when I was kid. You guessed it, I bought this one to complete the set in 1983. This one is graded EF-40, and it's on the dealers' wholesale "Grey Sheet" for $1,200. I paid $350 plus another $30 to get it certified. It's mandatory with the 1909-S-VDB cent because there are so many counterfeits.
Mebbe this post will show up if I quote it.,..
My wife and my horoscope both claim that I am stubborn but I do not agree.
I searched modern cents for about 7 years bringing home 2 or 3 boxes most days. In that time of searching nearly or more than 20,000,000 million cents I found maybe five varieties. A couple of the 72 minor ddo, 87 P/P, 88 wide AM, and 99 wide AM. Some of those escapades can be found here: https://forums.collectors.com/discussion/1030493/coin-roll-mint-set-hunting/p1
Eventually, I gave up on varieties and only opted for high grade coins because well they do look nice in MS68 but only mustered 4 or 5 of those and spent a small fortune in grading fees for all of the ones that fell short.
I'm not trying to derail your new hobby as I know it is relaxing & enjoyable but lower your expectations and buy lots of hand soap. Better to hunt old collections and old banks, think outside the box and don't waste your time with fed wrapped rolls they've been through the ringer too many times.
I so appreciate yous comments and advice. I wanted to say that I'm not trying to get rich. I kinda want to have something rare. I have a whole sparklets bottle full of pennies from some time ago and I would not feel satisfied if I never went through them. I look at it and wonder plus I've grown to enjoy searching. I will continue to keep the copper knowing it will probably never be a benefit to me but maybe my grandchildren or great grandchildren. I've heard silver is the next gold and copper is the next silver. My expectations for finding rare pennies has slipped abit but not exhausted. I keep all the what I call pretty pennies as well. I've found many that are in great condition considering they're over 20 yrs old copper and zinc. I definitely will be posting more comments and pictures for you smart coin people. My second time posting and I have enjoyed being part of this forum. Thank you all
Not 44 cents. 4.4 cents. BIG difference.
finding something rare would be extremely rare. it's hard and you may never find anything. but don't let it stop you from searching
you can get some old whitman folders to put your pretty ones in.
as mentioned nickels are a great search too. there's no wheats to find but there's also no wheats that everyone has pulled out of circulation..a bonus is finding a 35% silver nickel, which can still be found. you should be able to fill a lot of the holes in the jefferson nickel folders just from rolls.
as for something rare, there are more ready sources for that - if you have a dream coin within budget we can probably give you places to find it and not get ripped off
I keep all pre 82, all BU regardless of year (I'm pretty picky with the shield cents but still have pulled some rolls together), 2009s, Canadian, 2024s,2025s and proofs if I find them. I agree the minor errors probably aren't worth it.
Perhaps you could identify some key errors you're looking for and sort those all in one pile (ex years with WAM or CAM). Then tackle them all at once looking for the same error. Imo it's hard to context switch and remember/search for different errors from different years as you go through a roll.
Maybe I'm not searching close enough but I've gone through at least $1000 face over the last decade and I've NEVER found a CAM or WAM. My best finds were a bunch of obw 60s and 70s memorial rolls as well as a collection of about $10 face in LWCs including some older branch mint coins from the teens and 20s (no key or semi key).
Pennies are a ton of fun - it's too bad they are getting harder and harder to obtain in bulk..
Much better to purchase an error or variety already certified (in a PCGS/NGC/CACG/ANACS holder) than to start from scratch on your own with buckets/bottles of change.
When you account for your time, it is less expensive to purchase that special coin for your collection than to hunt for it by yourself, and you can get a coin in better condition, as well (many circulation finds have associated circulation damage).
oh, people are saying not to save the copper ones because they are still illegal to melt. nickels, too - but the war nickels can be melted.