New here as of yesterday, with a question that’s probably already been answered about NIFC’s 1 1

[Drumdrops]

I remember getting a couple of rolls of coins at the bank and going through them with my mom. She would ask me to read the dates and we did our best to fill penny books and collect other random coins. Good memories. I’m not sure when that stopped probably some time in the late 70’s. Then this past fall, 2023 I visited the Canadian mint in Ottawa and my interest returned. I now find myself going through rolls of coins at an alarming rate and often wonder if my wife thinks what I already know; I’ve become slightly obsessed with this coin collecting thing. One of my “obsessions” seems to be Kennedy halves and so finally to my question if you’ve stayed with me this long. Yes, silver in a roll is the prize but I’ve enjoyed filling in my books as well. I realize if it’s not silver it’s pretty much worth 50 cents but then there are the NIFC’s. I don’t have all of them collected just yet but I’m beginning to get a collection of duplicates; probably about 40 at this point. I’m told they aren’t worth more than face value but still, I hold onto them. Maybe at some point I’ll just keep the best of them and return the rest into circulation. I’d like to hear other thoughts on these NIFC coins. Do you collect all of them or maybe just the 1987’s and of course the 1970, which I’m yet to find? I’d just like to know if I’m the only one holding onto this fools gold as it were. Thanks for reading.

[GoldFinger1969]

Welcome, DD....I am not into the Roll Game but I am sure some others will offer perspective. 

If you decide to learn or collect big coins like DEs or MSDs, I'll be there. 

 

[Sandon]

    It took me a few minutes to figure out that by "NIFC", you mean "not issued for circulation". That isn't a term I've heard collectors frequently use.

    What you must remember is that the vast majority of coins made for sale to collectors or even bullion enthusiasts still exist and likely always will and will mostly be preserved in their original condition. This is quite unlike coins made for circulation, most of which become worn, damaged or are eventually destroyed. There are many issues of nineteenth century U.S. coins of which millions were minted for circulation and only a few hundred to a few thousand were made in proof format for collectors and VIPs, yet today the proofs are more common and less valuable in Choice to Gem grades than the pieces struck for circulation in those grades.

   The 1970-D and 1987-P and D Kennedy half dollars to which you refer were minted solely for inclusion in uncirculated coin sets, commonly referred to as "mint sets". The numbers of these sets sold, 2,038,134 of the 1970 and 2,890,758 of the 1987, should be sufficient to supply the demand of collectors for the foreseeable future. Only in extraordinarily high mint state grades are they valuable. If you were lucky enough to find 1987s in circulation, likely spent by someone because of their low value, they probably show wear or abrasions and aren't likely ever to be worth much over face value. I wouldn't hoard them. If you want a 1970-D, you should be able to buy an original mint set for $16 or so and may be able to buy an average (MS 63) example of the coin separately for approximately $10.

   I don't want to discourage you from looking through change or bank rolls, but the fact is that it is highly unlikely that you will find anything of much collector value or interest in that manner. The most worthwhile coins to save from such sources in my opinion would be pristine new ones showing full luster and no circulation wear. Perhaps they might be worth something if you live long enough.

   If you want to become a knowledgeable and successful collector, there is much that you should learn. The following topics describe print and online resources that should be helpful to you:

 

[Henri Charriere]

Welcome to the Forum!   

I am glad one of our more knowledgeable members weighed in and clarified a term I have never heard used, and I have been collecting off and on now for over 50 years.

Obsessed?  Not at all. In fact, you may wish to explore the Forum dedicated to "U.S., World, and Ancient Coins." There are many topics there including a popular one called, "For the Love of Silver." There you will find a rich treasure trove of what collectors here refer to as silver "rounds" produced by private mints, many devoted to a specific theme or area of interest. Most, I believe, are issued in 1 troy ounce pieces at a fineness of .999. Prices vary with the prevailing spot price of silver and  fabrication costs. One mint effectively circumvents the legal requirement its product is a copy or replica by issuing a faithful reproduction in other metals or the original precious metal used, in double-thick, two-ounce size "coins" imprinted with the mint's name, the composition of metal and its weight, avdp ozs. for copper, and troy ounces for the precious metals. As you may know, the U.S. Mint issued 5-oz "pure" silver coins and other countries have produced 1-Kilogram "pure" silver coins. With a cell or computer, the world is at your fingertips. Happy Hunting!

[powermad5000]

As for the topic of the question posed, these NIFC as you refer to them (thanks Sandon because I would have had to ask just what that meant!), whether Mint Set or Proofs, I am not really a collector of because they were not intended for circulation. My view for many decades is anybody can collect something that was never meant to be anything but a display piece, but the real challenge of this hobby to me is to try to find things not intended to be stored away immediately after being made, and to hunt down things in the best condition possible those things that were fully intended to be well used.  I am what you might call a "traditional" collector if that is even a thing.

That is just how I am, and each and every person in this hobby has their own thing, so collect whatever "floats your boat" is what I say,

[rrantique]

On 7/10/2024 at 5:40 PM, Drumdrops said:

I remember getting a couple of rolls of coins at the bank and going through them with my mom. She would ask me to read the dates and we did our best to fill penny books and collect other random coins. Good memories. I’m not sure when that stopped probably some time in the late 70’s. Then this past fall, 2023 I visited the Canadian mint in Ottawa and my interest returned. I now find myself going through rolls of coins at an alarming rate and often wonder if my wife thinks what I already know; I’ve become slightly obsessed with this coin collecting thing. One of my “obsessions” seems to be Kennedy halves and so finally to my question if you’ve stayed with me this long. Yes, silver in a roll is the prize but I’ve enjoyed filling in my books as well. I realize if it’s not silver it’s pretty much worth 50 cents but then there are the NIFC’s. I don’t have all of them collected just yet but I’m beginning to get a collection of duplicates; probably about 40 at this point. I’m told they aren’t worth more than face value but still, I hold onto them. Maybe at some point I’ll just keep the best of them and return the rest into circulation. I’d like to hear other thoughts on these NIFC coins. Do you collect all of them or maybe just the 1987’s and of course the 1970, which I’m yet to find? I’d just like to know if I’m the only one holding onto this fools gold as it were. Thanks for reading.

Welcome