What is the best "Original Roll" story you have heard?

SanctionII · May 14, 2006 5:06AM

A dealer I know told me that a guy came in to his shop with 2 OBW rolls of California Jubilee Commemoratives. The dealer bought them for about $30,000.00, slabbed them at PCGS and sold them all over a period of time. Many of the coins graded out at MS 65.

The guy who sold the rolls said he had bought out a business from an older gentleman. Included in the sale were the contents of an office safe, including "half dollars, 2 rolls - $40.00". His purchase price for the half dollars was $40.00 or face value.

Reselling the two rolls for about $30,000.00 is not a bad return on his $40.00 purchase.

Favor us with your own stories please.

Russ · May 14, 2006 5:12AM

I didn't know there was such a thing as OBW rolls of commemoratives.

Russ, NCNE

Outhaul · May 14, 2006 5:19AM

<< I didn't know there was such a thing as OBW rolls of commemoratives >>

The operative phrase here is "story you have heard", not necessarily true...

BTW...

TomB · May 14, 2006 5:21AM

Aren't half dollar rolls typically $10 face value? A $20 face value roll would be quite large.

Russ · May 14, 2006 5:28AM

<< Aren't half dollar rolls typically $10 face value? A $20 face value roll would be quite large. >>

There are double rolls. At least for 1964 Kennedys there were.

Russ, NCNE

jdimmick · May 14, 2006 5:31AM

Just this weekend, I set up at a local 1st annual coin show. A long time freind and mentor who used to deal right regularly years ago shared a table with me (he's getting back into it after a quite a few years break). Anyay, we were sharing old stories and he asked me if I remembered years ago around early 80's when one of the local club members had brought in an original roll of 1853 Half Dimes. (i was too young and didnt). Apparently the dealer did not know they were unc's becuase they had charateristic strike weakness and was selling them for XF/AU money at the time and my freind bought several and submitted them to ANAB where they all came back between 62-64. I thought it was a neat story as I didnt know an original roll of half dimes existed.

jim

LanLord · May 14, 2006 5:34AM

<< 

<< Aren't half dollar rolls typically $10 face value? A $20 face value roll would be quite large. >>

There are double rolls. At least for 1964 Kennedys there were. Russ, NCNE >>

Agreed, I have some double roll Kennedys (they are dang heavy).

majorbigtime · May 14, 2006 6:02AM

<< I didn't know there was such a thing as OBW rolls of commemoratives.

Russ, NCNE >>

O'my gosh! He's fallible and really doesn't know all things numismatic.
Good on 'ya to be like the rest of us who live and learn.

majorbigtime · May 14, 2006 6:54AM

It's rumored that Ted Binion had a bag (1000 pieces) of unc 1889CC dollars!

Russ · May 14, 2006 7:09AM

<< <>

O'my gosh! He's fallible and really doesn't know all things numismatic.
Good on 'ya to be like the rest of us who live and learn. >>

I guess it isn't an act. You really are stupid.

Russ, NCNE

roadrunner · May 14, 2006 7:29AM

During the heat of the 1988-1989 market a collection broke in Connecticut that eventually was purchased by a
CT dealer for pennies on the dollar. In the collection were many nice early seated proofs and rolls from the early teens. I don't recall how many 10s and 11s BU Lincoln rolls there were but they were sold on Teletrade for quite a while. A large number graded 65RD and 66RD. $50-100 per roll would not have been far off on the Lincs.
What makes the story more amazing is that the first potential buyer who was offered this material mustered an offer of $10,000.
Supposedly the whole deal was worth 20-50X that.

roadrunner

pursuitofliberty · May 14, 2006 7:37AM

majorbigdoofus ... what an azz you show yourself to be on a regular occassion, especially when you open your mouth (or type on your keyboard) ...

Tom has near 5000 posts and my guess is at least 2500 of them have something worthwhile or very worthwhile (although that might be a little on the low side) ... you have 2000 and since I've been here to see your stupidity on a regular basis (unfortunately), I'm guessing maybe 20 or 30 of yours had anything worthwhile (although that could be a little on the high side)

Okay, now to the post at hand ... not a story ... actually saw the fruits of the roll ... 1945 Mercury Dime roll deal a dealer I know bought in ~1991 ... one 45p Gem FB with the best strike on a 45 I have ever seen in hand ... by a long ways ... and another, baggier (is that a word), but still choice ... and also a FB with a superior strike. There were about five or six others that were awfully close. I think he paid about ~$250. for the roll.

majorbigtime · May 14, 2006 7:48AM

[q

Okay, now to the post at hand ... not a story ... actually saw the fruits of the roll ... 1945 Mercury Dime roll deal a dealer I know bought in ~1991 ... one 45p Gem FB with the best strike on a 45 I have ever seen in hand ... by a long ways ... and another, baggier (is that a word), but still choice ... and also a FB with a superior strike. There were about five or six others that were awfully close. I think he paid about ~$250. for the roll. >>

When I was a youngster, rolls of 1009 VDBs were seen frequently, as well as lotsa rolls of buffalos, walkers, mercurys,morgans, piece dollars, and occasional rolls of indians, SLQs, barbers, V nickels (mostly 1883 NC) and gold coins.

nwcs · May 14, 2006 7:58AM

How about the best original roll story you bought? I have one of those. It was a "learning experience" for an inexperienced guy.

lathmach · May 14, 2006 8:00AM

Years ago a salesman called on me whose family owned an old hardware/general store that had got rather seedy over the years prior to their purchase of it.
He told me after his family bought it, they were cleaning it up and on one of the shelves, they found a roll of 3 cent nickles.
Of course I asked him if they still had them, but alas, they had sold them years before.

Ray

Russ · May 14, 2006 8:04AM

Marty has an excellent roll story, (although not OBW), involving a pawn shop and a '93-S.

Russ, NCNE

100proof1957 · May 14, 2006 8:08AM

not much of a score

bought a roll of 54 S Jeffs on the Bay for 29 bucks

pulled 4 coins and sold the rest to a local dealer for 36 dollars

majorbigtime · May 14, 2006 8:09AM

Breen's Encyclopedia mentions a story about some 'ol time dealers who completed a roll set of Barber quarters.

ar18 · May 14, 2006 8:11AM

I found 16 1949 D/S jeffersons BU in a roll, at PCGS right now. Would guess 64-66

Link

coindeuce · May 14, 2006 8:13AM

Didn't have to hear it, i experienced it. Bought a OBW roll of choice unc. 1880-P Morgans, with a monster end of roll toner. Removed the monster toner, found a replacement piece that closely matched the 19 remaining pieces. Sold the monster end of roll toner for 10X bid, and then sold the BW roll for ask. Never have been able to repeat that amazing feat of being able to find both at the same time again.

DNADave · May 14, 2006 8:14AM

<< Aren't half dollar rolls typically $10 face value? A $20 face value roll would be quite large. >>

Typically, yes. I did luck into two $20 rolls at a bank once. They were both full of silver Kennedy Halves. They are unusual looking rolls.

twister2 · May 14, 2006 8:53AM

I have seen 80 original rolls of 1963 Franklin halfs come into a local shop in a federal reserve bank of boston bag. Amazing.

I have also seen rolls of 1936 RI commems, three to be exact, one of each mm- that was even more amazing.

yellowjacket · May 14, 2006 9:24AM

I bought 3 OBW half rolls of 1947 Lincolns at $40 each, picked the best 25 from the 75 coins and sent them to PCGS. They returned 3 65's, 21 66's and one 67. It was a great group to say the least. I also pulled five 54's that graded MS 66 from one OBW roll.

And then there is the OBW roll of 1957's that produced one coin for grading and it went 65...

Never can tell when you buy what you'll get.

YJ

ldhair · May 14, 2006 11:02AM

A banker in Amarillo TX was known to have rolls of most anything after 1910 or so.
The word was a roll of 1916 quarters was in the mix.

I found a roll of 1955 Bugs Bunny Franklin's.
Had them put away for 20 or so years before I found them.

majorbigtime · May 14, 2006 11:38AM

The word was a roll of 1916 quarters was in the mix.

Jay Cline's book mentiones an encounter with a roll of choice-gem 16 SLQs too.

Shamika · May 14, 2006 12:11PM

<< I bought 3 OBW half rolls of 1947 Lincolns at $40 each, picked the best 25 from the 75 coins and sent them to PCGS. They returned 3 65's, 21 66's and one 67. >>

MS67??? Now THAT'S a nice little score.

rainbowroosie · May 14, 2006 12:29PM

1. Maybe 7-8 years ago Larry Shepard bought and sold coins from an original roll of Lexingtons...think the worst coin was a 65, with I believe the first 67 slabbed. Icy blue color if I remember right.
2. Maybe a decade ago I think Bowers and Merena (or another major house) sold a roll of 54S frankies that were all fabulously toned; made numerous 66s and first 67s!!!!!

Cladiator · May 14, 2006 12:49PM

I'm still waiting for an original unopened bag of bust half dimes...........

oreville · May 14, 2006 12:50PM

Here is an amusing original roll story.

I was at the Tropicana Hotel Casino at Atlantic City and saw that a cra*p dealer had a bunch of the $5 Topicana original quarter rolls. I thought they were cool looking. The half length ones. I also have a few of those US Treasury $5 half length obw rolls as well.

So I kept asking to buy them for my cash. The dealer said, no they were needed to pay out or in split bets. I kept insisting and finally got the manager to agree to sell me two of them for $10.00 (face value).

So, I paitiently waited my turn to get to buy these rolls.

The dealer was pissed so she made me buy the rolls in two separate and I saw that there was $200,000 on the table waiting to be gambled and everyone had to wait while I made the transaction. Geez, the dealer made me do it the hard way, cashing my $20 bill for a $20 token , then cashing the $20 token for a $10 token and 2 rolls of the quarters. These transations took about 2 minutes. The gamblers were really po'd as 2 minutes was eternity to them!!

But I walked away really happy then cashed my $10 for the remainder of my cash back.

By the way, I didn't even gamble that night!

Barndog · May 14, 2006 1:02PM

<< I'm still waiting for an original unopened bag of bust half dimes.. >>

I told you already that it is not for sale no matter how many zeroes you put on the check!

MFH · May 14, 2006 1:05PM

<< The word was a roll of 1916 quarters was in the mix.

Jay Cline's book mentiones an encounter with a roll of choice-gem 16 SLQs too. >>

I remember reading about that; so, I looked it up. Sure enough, Cline mentions having a roll of 1916's offered to him for $12,000 back in 1957 which had mostly full heads. He said he couldn't afford it at the time...I bet he's still kicking himself now...LOL

Laura mentioned rolls of Gem Barber material. Another dealer mentioned to me that he also was offered rolls of MS Barber halves many years ago. That story was related to me about a dozen years ago when I inquired about an AU 58 1904-S half he had advertised, which had sold by the time I received his price sheet; his comment to me was something on the order of : ..." why is this coin so special, its as common as dirt, I've seen rolls of them". He then proceeded to recant his experiences about that date. ( I kept my mouth shut as I didn't want to call him a liar to his face; then thought, hey, anything is possible. If they are as "common as dirt" where are they now ? )

MICHAELDIXON · May 14, 2006 1:14PM

In the mid 1980s when I was stationed in Hawaii and dealing coins, I spent alot of time with James at Downtown Coins. I had always wanted an OBW of Buffalo nickels and Mercury dimes. I mentioned it to James and the next time I went in, he had an OBW roll of 1945 D Mercs and a roll of 1938 D OBW Buffalo nickels! I opened them both and the Mercs were fantastic, fully struck coins and the Buffaloes were all D/D.
.
When I owned the shops in Hawaii and Kentucky, early BU rolls and early Proof sets would come in, but nothing has ever been as exciting as those two OBW rolls!

rmoss · May 14, 2006 1:22PM

An older gentleman I used to go to coin shows with owned a local small grocery store. He was friends with the towns bank manager who also collected coins. When the bank manager went to his reward, his wife brought my friend some of the managers coins. These included a sealed bag of 53 Franklins and a sealed bag of 58 Lincolns. Also some rolls of Lincolns. My friend opened one of the rolls of Lincolns and found a gold coin in the roll. I think it was a $5 gold piece and the value then was around $1200. He took the coin to the manager's wife and told her about it. She said keep it, her husband had wanded him to have those coins. When my friend passed away his son got the coins. I don't what became of them. True story.

fc · May 14, 2006 1:27PM

from what i am reading, is that a lot of these rolls are
opened and examined.

i know it would be expensive to do, but how many of these rolls
were put together long after the mint date?

i picture them in a plastic tube or something.

unsearched and roll appear not to go together very often.

Shamika · May 14, 2006 1:31PM

<< Marty has an excellent roll story, (although not OBW), involving a pawn shop and a '93-S. >>

I remember this one. Maybe he'll show it to us... the lucky bastage!

TwoSides2aCoin · May 14, 2006 2:00PM

I heard that Byron Reed hid original rolls of $20 dollar St Gaudens from himself. But I don't know how true that is. Seems he forgot where and it was a good thing Omaha didn't find 'em. I'll bet they're still behind a wall somewhere. But knowing this town, someone probably found them and sold them to a recycler at aluminum prices.

...it's really a good town, though

and the Only town in the world that starts as a chant and ends in a laugh.

plus we got the college world series !

Conder101 · May 14, 2006 7:05PM

<< I didn't know there was such a thing as OBW rolls of commemoratives. >>

At least a few times in his writings, Abe Kosoff referred to dealers with rolls of commemeratives. In some cases these were dealers that had been involved with the distribution of an issue. I can't say for sure if these would be OBW or just a convienient way of discussing large quantities of halves. But I would say that at least on some issues OBW rolls probably do exist.

solid · May 14, 2006 11:26PM

How about the best original roll story you bought?

Once bought 10 BU rolls each of '55 and '56 Franklins - found many Bugs Bunny coins in
the '55 roll (still have the best example, an MS64/65 FBL coin).

Also bought 84 BU rolls of '55 dimes - I searched through about half of them, pulling out
gems and still have over 100 nice coins from that stash!

Ken

larrynj · May 15, 2006 2:03AM

in the 70's and early 80's, rumor was that stack's had a bu BAG of 01-s quarters.

DennisH · May 15, 2006 2:28AM

A couple of dealers have told me that about 20 years ago at a Long Beach show, John Love had a display case in which the only contents were a black velvet square and a layed-out half roll of Mint State 1893-S Morgans for sale.

Wouldn't that have been something to see?

JadeRareCoin · May 15, 2006 2:43AM

Not a good story, but rather a bad story:

I have heard a story about a dealer in California several years ago that had an ad in the paper for junk silver. An elderly couple stopped in to sell him a couple of rolls of quarters. The dealer paid them melt per the ad...............for 2 rolls of gem uncirculated Standing Liberty Quarters!

Ask Ed Hipps out of Dallas to tell you some mind-blowing stories about OBW rolls of coins, such as Barber coins, etc.

rec78 · May 15, 2006 3:00AM

A couple of dealers have told me that about 20 years ago at a Long Beach show, John Love had a display case in which the only contents were a black velvet square and a layed-out half roll of Mint State 1893-S Morgans for sale.
Probably more like 30 years ago--He was one of the original distributers of the Redfield hoard. I bought a few BU Morgan dollars from him at the ANA in New York-around 1976.(unfortunately. i no longer have these) Does anyone know what happened to John Love - is he still around? in coins? or?
A dealer once told me he knew of a another dealer that got an original bag of Lafayette dollars from a bank.i don't think i believe him as i never heard of anyone else mention this. But then maybe he kept it quiet and they will surface one day..as for myself-my dad got an original bag of BU 1904-O morgan dollars from the treasury release in 1963 - with the original seal on it. I imagine that there are still some things like this out there but they are becoming scarce and far between.... Bob

DennisH · May 15, 2006 3:06AM

Bob:

John is still VERY much around and still VERY active in Morgans!

SanctionII · May 15, 2006 3:19AM

Just logged on and checked this thread. Lots of interesting responses so far (Excuse me while a wrench my shoulder patting myself on the back).

As far as my story goes, I guess I should not have used "OBW" to described the two rolls ($10.00 each, 40 coins total) of MS California Jubilee commems. The dealer who bought the coins did not tell me they were OBW. He did say though that they were in old paper rolls. Maybe they were OBW, maybe they were not. Who cares, it is still a great story (as are the others posted to this thread).

The story about the elderly couple selling at melt 2 rolls of MS Standing Liberty Quarters in response to a junk silver ad makes me want to gag. If the dealer did not know what he was buying when he paid melt (i.e. maybe they brought in $1,000.00 in face value in assorted rolls and loose and the dealer did not inspect the contents until after the purchase and after the sellers had left) then who can fault him (I would at least try to find the couple and offer them more money). If he knew what he was getting before he paid melt, then he has no morals or ethics (though I suspect many would envy him for his great RIP of an unknowledgable elderly couple).

Steve27 · May 15, 2006 3:23AM

I don't know about rolls of commemoratives, but according to the president of my coin club, a bank worker in Manhattan was able to purchase a bag of halves for face value back in the 70's. They happened to be Long Island commemoratives. He then sold them to a dealer for twice face value, and the dealer then sold them for $3-5 bucks each.

TwoSides2aCoin · May 15, 2006 3:28AM

<< Not a good story, but rather a bad story:

I have heard a story about a dealer in California several years ago that had an ad in the paper for junk silver. An elderly couple stopped in to sell him a couple of rolls of quarters. The dealer paid them melt per the ad...............for 2 rolls of gem uncirculated Standing Liberty Quarters!

I sure hope they didn't need the money.
~poor man Lazarus~

MadMonk · May 15, 2006 3:35AM

Roll of 52-S franklins 65's, 66's and one 67

saintguru · May 15, 2006 4:17AM

47 posts and not a single mention of the roll of 1919 Lincolns that had 1 MS69, close to a dozen 68's and a slug of 66/67's?? Hell, he posts here almost every day.

Jeez...That's the best I have ever heard.

Regulated · May 15, 2006 4:43AM

My favorite roll story came from an East Coast dealer who got his start in the 70s. Apparently he ran buy ads around NYC and was contacted by a little old lady who worked for a tiny post office in (I think) Connecticut. She said that she had some old coins that were in the safe, and had been used as change for stamps "a long time ago." The branch was closing, and the books needed to be balanced, so she wanted to get rid of the coins. He showed up, and was shown a couple of original rolls of Trimes (!?!) that had been sitting in the safe since their time of issue. When he started to make an offer, the old lady stopped him and said that she could only take face value for them, otherwise the books wouldn't balance. When he tried to explain that she could buy the rolls herself for face and resell them to him, she replied that she didn't think that that would be an honest thing to do (!?!), so he wound up buying them for face.

The story is probably bull, or at least exagerrated, but its still pretty cool.

flaminio · May 15, 2006 4:44AM

There was a dude on RCC who pulled a Saint out of a roll of halves. That's a pretty good story...

streeter · May 15, 2006 5:51AM

Regulated,
A person at my local PO that keeps an eye out for me told me that PO Employees are not allowed to benefit from the coins/ paper money that come into their till. This clerk sells me the coins at face.

What is the best "Original Roll" story you have heard?

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What is the best &quot;Original Roll&quot; story you have heard?

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What is the best "Original Roll" story you have heard?