I've shared this with some of you already...

Greetings Collectors,

Having "original bank rolls" on the brain lately, I just wanted to share with the rest of you that there are sill treasures to be found when "searching rolls". Up 'til the time our banks here in Fl. quit getting the new coinage, I would "religiously" get two rolls of each new issue. I really think the mint was directly involved when the banks quit getting rolls of the newly issued coins, cents through the dollars. It's kinda sad that the "mints" greed knows no bounds.

Anyway the coins pictured are a couple from a group I found in a single roll. I actually had already taken the two rolls of G.W. dollars to the bank box and only after hearing that "plain edge" dollars were surfacing in great numbers here in N.E. Fl. along with many finds from S.E. Ga. too. All of these coins were traced to a release from the Atlanta Ga. Federal Reserve. They were supposedly from a batch of around 35-45 thousand coins that failed to undergo the "final process" of having the "edge lettering" installed. There was another smaller group that were surfacing in and around Philadelphia Pa. Once I heard these coins "WERE" being found, and "WHERE" they were being found, I went to the bank to retrieve my two rolls. Keep in mind that I am one who "never" wins anything so I was doubtful I had any of these error dollars. The first roll I opened, I was amazed to see mostly smooth edge dollars and upon counting, had 19 that were "blank edge" out of the 25 that were in the roll. My 2nd roll contained "no error dollars". I sent "the 19" off to NGC the next day and went to eBay and researched what they were bringing. At that time $300-$400 each for MS-65's was the norm. I was elated and thought they would only increase in value so I didn't sell any. I had been swapping "P" mint rolls of "state quarters" and other "new issue coinage" with a friend in Colorado for his "extra" "D" mint coins and had already sent him his two rolls of this first Presidential issue. He had heard about the errors before I did and had already opened his rolls only to find he had none of them. I kinda felt bad that he had not "lucked out" the way I did so upon the return of my graded examples, I sent him a MS-65. I could have very easily sent HIM two of those four rolls that I had procured and it could have been HE that ended up with a pile of "error dollars" instead of myself, so I felt that was the least I could do. Only one of the four rolls contained any errors. So of those 19, I had 10 MS-65's and 9 MS-64's. I still have most of them as I only tried selling a couple on eBay but this was during the 1st part of this year and the 65's had dropped to right at $100 or less, and the 64's, sometimes less than 1/2 that figure.

But before this time of lucking out on these particular coins, I have searched rolls of pennies by the box ($25) and half dollars by the $1000 sack full looking for wheaties, pre-1982 coppers and of course the 40 & 90% silver. Of all of these, I still as recent as last week have been finding silver and other coins that are definitely worth "socking away". Each time I open a roll of half dollars and find a 1964 along with a 40% coin or two, I can't believe there are still people "out there" that don't realize what is silver and has value, and what has not. (value) The finds are out there for the taking. All is takes is the time, and of course the money to buy the rolls. I have found, believe it or not, half dollar rolls that were all 90% silver with the coins ranging from well worn "Walkers" and silver Franklins, along with near "mint state" 90% silver Kennedys.This has only happened once in a group of 20 rolls and some of the other rolls had 10-12 90% and several 40% along with others that were dated post 1970. Most banks will allow you to buy the halves, which they will order for you, but you have to buy $1000 worth at the time. But all of those coins that have no silver can be taken right back for deposit. My best count from one of these $1000 groups (2000 coins) has been 78 90% and 222 40% halves. Most have been much less. Usually around 20 or 30 of a mixture of 40% & 90% in each 2000 coin batch. But there have also been times I have not found a single silver coin. I'm convinced that those were of a group that had already been searched by another collector.

The best way to get these silver coins is to have a relationship with the tellers at your bank who will call you imediately when a customer makes a deposit that contains more than two or three rolls. I will from time to time, drop off a pound cake or a platter of cookies or something of this nature, which has done the most to keep them reminded to call me when coins like these are deposited. The same goes for the occasional roll of "IKE" dollars, as I have hardly ever "NOT" found a 40% silver coin or two in the group. Other items of interest have been "intact" straps of "Star" notes in both ones fives and even snagged one of $20 bills. Haven t got any $10 notes yet but still looking. The girls (and guys) at the bank say that the most unusual finds have come in the way of deposits made by gas station owners. Silver and other coins of interest from these businesses far exceed those from other forms of business.

So all of you, talk to the folks at your bank or if you have friends or relatives that work for, or own gas stations, have them be on the lookout for you. And never forget to do something "nice" for them so that they realize that there is a little something "in it" for them each time they "come through" for you.

Happy Collecting to all!

WKF

P.S. The silver to gold ratio at this moment is 56.963