Lucky Finds Like Winning the Lottery

Send your "Coin Finds" to numismatics@aimmedia.com and we'll get them in.

Please include your name, city and state. Names and addresses will be withheld from publication upon request. The editor reserves the right to edit for content, style and length.

I found a 1964-D nickel, I think it might have a repunched D mint mark.

William Derby
Address withheld

I have always read your letters regarding coin finds. I never believed that I would have such luck. Recently, on a cruise along Mexico’s Riviera we stopped in Ensenada. While my wife was trying to get a better price on one of her treasures, I noticed a small bowl like tray containing coins. As I looked closer it looked like a bowl full of silver pesos. I looked closer and saw a 1965 Kennedy half, so I continued to the bottom. There I found a 1776 Draped Bust Dollar. I asked the owner what he wanted for the coins he said $35 for the dollar and $18 for the half. I promptly paid the $35 and explained to him that the half was only 40 percent silver and not worth his asking price. As soon as I got home, I sent the dollar to NGC and am anxiously awaiting the results. There are still good finds to made if you stay vigilant and watch for them.

Ron Rudnick
Sierra Vista, Ariz.

One day I was on my way to my apartment laundromat, and I noticed a small coin in a crack in the parking lot. It turned out to be a 1944-D 10 centavos coins. A coin minted by the Denver mint to aid the Philippines in their dire need for money.

Steven Walters
West Monroe, La.

Wasn’t my own find, but my younger sister, who is only thirteen, found a wheat cent in the street when she was walking home from the bus stop after school. You can barely tell what it is holding it an inch from your face, but she told me she’s keeping it. I’ve gotten her to keep an eye out for the new American Women quarters too.

Name and address withheld.

I usually use my credit card for food purchases, but it was a warm, sunny day and I thought, what the heck, in honor of spring I will use good, old-fashioned cash to make my purchase at the Dunkin’ Donuts store in Glenview, Ill. Sure enough, there in my change was a bright, shiny, new 2023-D Roosevelt dime. First new coin of the year. My day became even brighter and sunnier.

Rick Firfer
Glenview, Ill.

My most recent experience with “coin finds,” was not all positive, even though it was fun.

A 96-year-old friend who knows I’m a coin collector asked if I would be interested in looking through his accumulated coins - years of pocket change, mostly. Of course, I said I would. Anything of particular interest or of value, of course I would buy from him at a fair price.

I picked up two 3-pound coffee cans full of coins, plus overflow in the bag. Most interesting were several hundred coins from about 15 countries he had visited during a career in the oil business. Most valuable were two older Italy 1000-liras.

For U.S. coins, $90+ in quarters and a like amount in dimes - not a single silver one in the lot. One buffalo nickel as smooth as a lead slug and barely recognizable. More Lincoln cents than I realized exist anymore, but only three wheat cents in the pile.

Worst part was my bank, which the last time I took coins in, took them into a back room and sorted them (presumably by machine), now just points me to the CoinStar machines in the lobby. You can imagine the fun of slowly feeding that many coins through that thin slot.

As the bank teller told me, I should at least buy myself a beer for doing all that, but the guy is a dear friend, and it was a pleasure. But my luck in finding anything worthwhile illustrates why I never buy lottery tickets.

Jim B.
Address withheld

After making a purchase at the local hospital; the slide dispenser/tray included a 1921 Buffalo Nickel in VG-8 condition.

Marc Rausch
Burlington, Wis.

I was coin roll hunting and came across this penny. Looked strange, so I tossed it under the microscope, and this is what I found. Quite the find of it is what I think.

William McCullough
Address withheld