What should I search for in rolls?

[Keith Smith-migration]

Good Lord that link was helpful!!!

 

For me a newbie there is more info than I can digest in one sitting. I've been sitting here for a half an hour reading, re-reading, and re-reading again!!!

 

By the way I have change in front of me so I can scroll up and down and examine each one.

 

I've yet to find a double die. Well I probably have, but I missed it because I didn't look at it properly. From the naked eye would it look like a smudge, yet under magnification be revealed?

 

You guys are REALLY helpful. In fact I think too helpful. I'm spending all of my free time going through coins now!

 

Thank you again everyone!!!

 

[cladking]

It depends on the specific doubled die and your eyesight. The most dramatic ones can be seen from some distance and they range all the way down to almost needing a microscope. Generally the more dramatic the more demand there is for it but supply varies widely and some more subtle ones can sometimes sell for more.

 

Generally speaking it's a good idea to use a wide field 4 or 5 power glass when searching for a variety you're not familiar with. Once you've found one they'll jump right out at you and you can use the naked eye for most and a nice high power lens for confirmation.

 

I collect some that can't be seen with the naked eye but usually this is about my cutoff.

[BULLY]

I did a quick search on the net for the silver certificates, red seals, and blue seals yet I'm having problems distinguishing them. Silver certs simply say at the top "Silver Certificate"? And what is the difference between the blue seal and silver cert? They look to me to be identical.

 

If you take a dollar bill out of your wallet (or a $5 or a $2 bill for that matter), the Treasury Seal on the right hand side is normally in GREEN.

 

The "Blue Seal" notes and "Red Seal" notes are exactly what they sound like -- the seals are Blue or Red, instead of Green, and are desirable, particularly if the condition is good.

 

To answer your question, I am not 100% certain, but I don't believe that "Blue Seal" notes are limited to Silver Certificates. Not being a specialist in note collecting, I can't answer this with any authority, so I'd just keep my eyes pealed for blue or red where the seal in normally green.

 

Also among note collectors, STAR notes are desirable. This is when, as I understand it, a note as it was being produced had to be destroyed (for whatever reason) and was replaced during the production process. So, the serial number is the same, and is in sequence with others in the pack (say if it was a batch of FRESH notes), but it has a STAR at the end, not an asterisk, but a STAR.

 

http://moneyfactory.gov/document.cfm/5/44/126

 

http://www.bep.treas.gov/

 

 

[Keith Smith-migration]

Thank you BULLY. I found several star notes thus far. These seem to be easier to find than a lot of the silver change.

 

I am having a booger of a time finding doubled die coins. I'm sure I've looked right at one and said "Nope. Not a doubled die". I just don't seem to see it. Do you need 4 to 5x glasses to locate them?

 

I also have a bit more confusion about doubled dies. Are there doubled dies for virtually every coin minted in every year prior to 1997 or there abouts? Or were they only done in certain years on certain coins? I do not really understand this.

 

So far I've found a 1943 war nickel, several pre 64 dimes, and 1 59 quarter. Add that to the 5 $1 star notes, 2 $5 star notes, and 1 $20 star note. Unfortunately from doing a quick search it appears that people only want to collect the un-circulated star notes. Mine are not in bad condition, but they have obviously been circulated somewhat.

 

Thank you,

 

Keith

 

[ant]

double die coins are "mess ups". there isnt a set yr on them, but some are date doubles, some are mint mark doubles, some are doubles of ear/tree/leaf.... and yes most of the time a 10x loupe is needed to see them (if it takes too much to see them the graders wont call it a double.

 

star notes are prety pleantifull! my roomate works fast food and he does bank so he buys the star notes for me. when it comes to star note collectors there are lots of them ,some like unc and some like circ. the premium for a star ussualy goes up the older the note. if it is a newer note you might get a few bux over face but thats it. im listing some circ. newer stars starting @ face. the notes between '45-'75 seem to go for double face value. and the 1920 series seem to do about 3x the face (or more depending on condition.

 

cherry picking is a fun thing to do and once you start getting to know what to look for it is like reading a book.

 

good luck and keep us posted!

[Just Bob]

Keith, as others have suggested, I recommend that you buy The Cherrypickers Guide to Rare Die Varities volumes 1 & 2. These will show the most common(?) examples of doubled dies, re-punched mint marks, etc. I also recommend a copy of "the red book", a necessary piece of equipment for any U.S. coin collector.

 

BTW - you're hooked.

[cpm9ball]

I am having a booger of a time finding doubled die coins. I'm sure I've looked right at one and said "Nope. Not a doubled die". I just don't seem to see it. Do you need 4 to 5x glasses to locate them?

 

I also have a bit more confusion about doubled dies. Are there doubled dies for virtually every coin minted in every year prior to 1997 or there abouts? Or were they only done in certain years on certain coins? I do not really understand this.

 

Keith

 

You might want to get yourself a copy of the Cherrypickers Guide. The newest edition is coming out sometime this summer. It has listings for almost every DDO & DDR with photographs to illustrate each one. For some years and/or mintmarks, there may be several, but for other years and/or mintmarks, there may be none.

 

Chris

[ant]

he was warned about the addiction yes red book is good for info but the prices inside are 1 yr hehind

 

books can also be addictive. i started with "red book" now i have a full book shelf of coin related books and mags let alone price guides

[BULLY]

Thank you BULLY. I found several star notes thus far. These seem to be easier to find than a lot of the silver change.

 

So far I've found a 1943 war nickel, several pre 64 dimes, and 1 59 quarter. Add that to the 5 $1 star notes, 2 $5 star notes, and 1 $20 star note. Unfortunately from doing a quick search it appears that people only want to collect the un-circulated star notes. Mine are not in bad condition, but they have obviously been circulated somewhat.

 

Thank you,

 

Keith

 

I'm THRILLED that you're finding something. I know it wasn't what you hoped for, the silver coins immediately, but the STAR NOTES are something. Some may say they are plentiful, but they are truly a small fraction of all currency. If you find a $2 star note, then you have even more of a rarity since $2 are the lowest printed of any of the currency in the U.S.

 

I think finding more coins will come in time, and spotting them with greater ease will come in time too. You'll recognize silver ones from the sound they make, without even looking at the date on them, and so forth. All in time.

 

Just like someone else said, condition matters, very similar to coin collectors. Premium condition commands premium prices. However, considering you get the notes at face value, it's nothing for you to do to collect them really. If you are then ever able to sell them at even slightly more than face, you're doing well. If you end up saving them and selling them decades from now at a greater profit, all the better. Look into proper storage for notes.

 

And remember the most important part: If you ever need it because you're broke, you can spend it! You didn't pay more than its face value, and it is money after all!

 

 

[Keith Smith-migration]

Thank you ant, BULLY and everyone else that is helping me. I looked into the Cherry Pickers guide yet had not purchased it yet because of the new issue coming out soon. I was under the impression that it would be out within the next month so I held off. If it's not to be until summer I'll go ahead and pick up the most recent available and then upgrade in summer.

 

I found a couple of nice stars last night, and one of my co-workers is a older retired farmer who mentioned to me that he has a LOT (in his words) of old coins just post civil war. He said he would bring them in for me to look at the next time we work together and I'm REALLY looking forward to that! He said just to give him a fair price for them and I could have them. I guess I'll need to write down the years, mint marks, conditions and so on so I can look them up when I get home that evening. I do want to be fair with him and not turn into a swindler.

 

Again thank you everyone!,

 

Keith

 

[ant]

it might be better, when looking at "lots" that you meet where you both can take time to look up prices and and come up with a deal. the more rushed you are the messier things get! and the less happy you are

 

on the chery pickers guide having more than 1 isnt a bad thing. keep 1 in car and 1 in office i use the older 1 for car