Circulated vs. Uncirculated Rolls - Centennial Auctions (2024)

FAQs

Is it better to buy circulated or uncirculated? ›

Circulated coins may be cheaper, but they are likely not in mint condition and have lost some value over time. Uncirculated coins are more valuable since they retain their original condition. While they cost more, their condition means they will likely retain or increase in value.

As a general rule, assume nothing is really “unopened.” That goes for mint and proof sets, too. (You can open and seal them easily---again, not for sharing here.) Some rolls obviously have been tampered with. To inspect contents, the person unwraps one end and then gently pushes out the coins from the opposite end.

Usually uncirculated coins are almost entirely blemish free, although this isn't always the case. The main attraction of buying uncirculated coins is usually for collectors, as they will often increase significantly in value over time and be worth more than their circulated counterparts.

Uncirculated coins are the most cost effective way to invest in gold or silver. The bulk of the cost of these coins is comprised by the value of the silver content itself. With Proof coins, and especially silver Proofs, much of the cost will be found in the mark up.

According to the NGC Price Guide, as of April 2024, a Susan B Anthony Coin from 1979 in circulated condition is worth between $1.05 and $1.35. However, on the open market 1979 D Silver Dollars in pristine, uncirculated condition sell for as much as $1950.

While it may seem like a unique interest from afar, the surprising reality is that you could cash in big time from this hobby. That spare change in your coin jar could hold a rare coin worth thousands — or even millions — of dollars. Here we will look at the most valuable coins that are still in circulation.

Hold a coin by its edges between your thumb and forefinger over a soft towel or surface. Wear soft cotton gloves to protect the coin's surface from fingerprints and the natural oils on your skin, which can be corrosive. While you may be tempted to polish your coins to make them look shiny and new, proceed with caution.

Talking to CNBC's Make It, an anonymous hunter who pulls in an average of $15,000 a year, mainly from half dollar searches, said that those taking up the hobby will be more successful if they are patient and should “expect long streaks where they find little to nothing in the way of silver, better dates, or errors.”

Do banks take uncirculated coins? ›

The Federal Reserve accepts deposits of uncurrent coin from depository institutions. If you are in possession of uncurrent coins and would like to exchange them for current ones, please contact your local commercial bank.

“A serial number '1' for a 1976 $2 bill would be worth $20,000 or more. But [for] a majority of those people holding 1976 $2 bills, they are only worth face value. There are very few that actually exceed face value.” Other high-value serial numbers include what collectors call “solid” or “ladders.”

If your $2 bill dates back to 1886 and has a red seal with a silver certificate, you're in luck. That bill is worth $4,500. A number of other iterations of the $2 bills with a red seal can also fetch well over a $1,000. Bills with brown seals are also very valuable.

A $2 currency note printed in 2003 sold online in mid-2022 for $2,400 on Heritage Auctions. The same bill sold again for $4,000 roughly two weeks later, according to the Texas-based auction house. Other $2 notes from 2003 have fetched prices in the hundreds of dollars and higher.

The Federal Reserve accepts deposits of uncurrent coin from depository institutions. If you are in possession of uncurrent coins and would like to exchange them for current ones, please contact your local commercial bank.

Premium Pricing: Due to their superior condition, BU coins are generally priced higher than coins with wear or imperfections. Collectors and investors expect to pay a premium for coins that preserve their original mint luster and flawless appearance.