pocket-change-treasures

Purpose

A practical guide to identifying potentially valuable coins in everyday circulation, including error coins, silver content, and modern rarities worth searching for.

Key Findings

• Pre-1965 quarters and dimes contain 90% silver (worth $2-4+ in melt value alone)
• Error coins (doubled dies, off-center strikes) can be worth thousands
• Modern rarities like 2019-W quarters exist in circulation
• Bank coin rolls are an efficient way to search large quantities
• A magnifying glass is essential - many errors are subtle

Silver Content by Date

Coins Worth More Than Face Value

Coin	Date Range	Silver Content	Why Valuable
Dimes	Pre-1965	90% silver	~$2+ melt value
Quarters	Pre-1965	90% silver	~$4+ melt value
Half Dollars	Pre-1965	90% silver	~$8+ melt value
Half Dollars	1965-1970	40% silver	~$4+ melt value
Nickels	1942-1945	35% silver	”War nickels” - large mintmark over Monticello dome

How to identify war nickels: Look for a large mintmark (P, D, or S) positioned above Monticello on the reverse. Regular nickels have small mintmarks to the right of the building.

Error Coins Worth Money

Error coins are minting mistakes that make coins unique and collectible. These can be worth hundreds to thousands of dollars.

Types of Errors to Look For

1. Doubled Die

   • Text or images appear doubled/overlapping
   • Most visible on lettering (“LIBERTY”, “IN GOD WE TRUST”)
   • Famous examples: 1955, 1972, 1995 Lincoln cents

2. Off-Center Strikes

   • Design shifted partially off the coin
   • 10-50% off-center with visible date = most valuable
   • Completely off-center or no date = less valuable

3. Wrong Planchet Errors

   • Coin struck on metal blank meant for different denomination
   • Example: Quarter design on dime-sized planchet

4. Missing Elements

   • Letters, mintmarks, or design elements not struck
   • “Weak strikes” vs true missing elements

5. Die Cracks and Cuds

   • Raised lines from cracked dies
   • “Cuds” are blob-like raised areas from broken die pieces

Specific Coins to Search For

Pennies (Lincoln Cents)

Year	What to Look For	Approximate Value
1909-1958	Wheat reverse design	5+ depending on date/condition
1909-S VDB	San Francisco mint, designer initials	$700+
1943	Should be steel (silver color) - bronze is error	Bronze: $100,000+
1944	Should be copper - steel is error	Steel: $75,000+
1955	Doubled die obverse	$1,000+
1969-S	Doubled die obverse	$25,000+
1972	Doubled die obverse	$300+
1983	Doubled die reverse	$200+
1984	Doubled ear variety	$200+
1992	Close “AM” in AMERICA	$200+
1995	Doubled die obverse	$50+
1998-2000	Wide “AM” in AMERICA	$20+

Quarters

Year	What to Look For	Approximate Value
Pre-1965	Any date	$4+ (silver content)
2004-D Wisconsin	Extra leaf variety (high or low)	$100-300
2019-W	West Point mintmark (first circulating W quarters)	$15-25
2020-W	West Point mintmark	$10-20

Nickels

Year	What to Look For	Approximate Value
1942-1945	Large mintmark above Monticello (silver)	$1-3 (silver content)
2004-D	”Speared Bison” variety	$100+
2005-D	”Speared Bison” variety	$100+

Dimes

Year	What to Look For	Approximate Value
Pre-1965	Any date	$2+ (silver content)
1982	No mintmark (Philadelphia error)	$50-200

Dollar Coins

Year	What to Look For	Approximate Value
2000-P Sacagawea	”Cheerios” variety, enhanced tail feathers	$5,000+
2000-D	Sacagawea/Quarter mule error	$50,000+ (extremely rare)

How to Search Effectively

Coin Roll Hunting

1. Get rolls from banks

   • Order boxes of coins (25 in dimes, etc.)
   • Customer-wrapped rolls often have older coins
   • Machine-wrapped rolls are more random

2. Search systematically

   • Check dates first (quick scan for silver years)
   • Examine edges (silver coins have solid silver edge, clad have copper stripe)
   • Use magnification for error checking

3. Return what you don’t keep

   • Different bank than where you got them
   • Keeps the hobby essentially free

Tools Needed

• Magnifying glass or loupe (5x-10x) - Essential for spotting errors
• Good lighting - Natural daylight or bright LED
• Reference images - Know what errors look like before searching
• Sorting trays - Keep finds organized

Free Learning Resources

Websites

• CoinTrackers - 100 Most Valuable Coins in Circulation - Photos and values
• ANA Treasures in Your Pocket - Official guide from American Numismatic Association
• PCGS CoinFacts - Free coin database with photos
• NGC Coin Explorer - Variety and error information

YouTube Channels

Search for “coin roll hunting” to find channels that show:

• What to look for in each denomination
• How to spot errors
• Recent finds and their values

Books

• “Strike It Rich with Pocket Change” by Ken Potter and Brian Allen
• “The Cherrypickers’ Guide to Rare Die Varieties” - Comprehensive error coin reference

Realistic Expectations

What You’ll Actually Find

• Common: Wheat pennies (1909-1958), worth $0.03-0.10 each
• Occasional: War nickels (1942-1945), worth $1-2 each
• Rare: Silver dimes/quarters, worth $2-4 each
• Very Rare: Valuable errors or varieties

What You Probably Won’t Find

• 1943 bronze penny (only ~20 known to exist)
• Major doubled dies in high grades
• Mule errors

The fun is in the hunt - Most coin roll hunters search for the enjoyment, not expecting to get rich. Finding a single silver quarter in a roll is a small win worth celebrating.

Quick Reference Card

Always check for:

1. Pre-1965 dates on dimes, quarters, half dollars (silver)
2. 1942-1945 nickels with large mintmark above building (silver)
3. Wheat pennies (1909-1958)
4. Any doubling on text, especially “LIBERTY” and “IN GOD WE TRUST”
5. W mintmarks on modern quarters (2019-2021)
6. Coins that look “off” - wrong color, wrong size, misaligned

Red flags for fakes:

• Coins that are magnetic (except 1943 steel cents)
• Wrong weight or size
• Suspicious surfaces or details

Sources

1. Rare Coins Worth Money in Pocket Change - CoinWeek
2. Treasures in Your Pocket - American Numismatic Association
3. Top 10 Valuable Coins in Pocket Change - Coin Identifier
4. 100 Most Valuable Coins in Circulation - CoinTrackers
5. How to Spot Rare U.S. Coins - US Gold Bureau