Looking for a new hobby? Coin hunting is a fun and potentially lucrative hobby you could get into. Some coin enthusiasts are regulars at the bank; buying up rolls of coins and then picking out ones that are worth more than their face value. For a lucky few, this hobby has had an incredible payoff.
We’ll explain how coin hunting works.
How Does Coin Hunting Work?
Coin hunting works like this for most hobbyists: You go to the bank, buy rolls of coins and then sort through them, searching for silver or collectible coins. If you find valuable coins, you can choose to recycle or auction them off.
Old Coins That Contain Silver
Here are a few old coin types you can expect to contain silver:
- 1965— 1970 Kennedy Half Dollars: Coins minted in this era contain 40% silver. Each weigh 11.5 grams, which means that each Kennedy half dollar contains 4.6 grams of silver, worth $3.68 at current trading prices.
- Nickels: Nickels minted late in World War II between 1942 and 1945, also known as “silver war nickels”, were made of alloys that contained up to 35% silver. Each of these coins weighs 5 grams, which means they contain around 1.75 grams of silver, worth $1.40
- Dimes: If they were made between 1946 and 1964, they contain 90% silver. Each weighs 2.5 grams, so this means they have 2.25 grams of silver, worth $1.80
Silver coins aren’t the only types of coins you should be looking for though. Study up on collectible coins and stay on the lookout. One lucky coin hunter, Megan Green, found an incredibly valuable penny: a 1969—S Doubled Die Obverse, which was assigned a value of $24,000 by the Professional Coin Grading Service (PCGS). However, it is possible one in better condition than Green’s coin could go for $75,000 or more.
Recycle Your Silver Scrap and Coins At A Precious Metals Refiner
If you’re lucky enough to find recyclable silver coins, be sure to consider exchanging them at a precious metals refiner like Manhattan Gold & Silver. We make it easy for you to sell your silver scrap and coins.
