Roll Searching- What to look for in rolls of Nickels!

Searching through rolls of nickels is often overlooked by collectors who are looking to strike it rich by finding silver in rolls. Although nickel rolls are one of the least searched coin denomination, there are treasures to be found, here are a few things to look out for next time you roll search!
War Nickels- War nickels were produced from 1942 to 1945 and they are easily recognizable by the large mintmark located directly over Monticello on the reverse. War nickels are composed of 56% copper, 35% silver and 9% manganese. This allowed the saved nickel metal to be used for industrial production of military supplies during World War II. War Nickels were produced at the Philadelphia, Denver and San Francisco mints with Philadelphia producing the most coins.

1950-D Jefferson Nickel- The 1950-D Jefferson Nickel has the honor of being the lowest produced Jefferson nickel to date. With a mintage of only 2,630,030 pieces, the 1950-D Jefferson Nickel was snatched up by collectors and the regular population. From 1950-1960, the price of a 1950-D rose exponentially, hitting a high of around $100 at the turn of the decade. Although the coin has decreased in value over the last 60 years, it is still one of the most valuable Jefferson nickels out there!
Buffalo Nickels- Although seldom found in rolls of nickels, there is always the possibility of coming across an older date Buffalo nickel. Buffalo nickels or Indian Head nickels were minted from 1913 to 1938 and are easily recognizable by the Native American Indian on the obverse and the buffalo on the reverse. An especially noteworthy Buffalo nickel variety is the 1937-D 3 legged Buffalo variety. You can easily recognize a 3 legged Buffalo nickel because the Buffalo on the reverse will be missing its front leg. A 3 legged Buffalo nickel can be worth anywhere from $325 in lower conditions to well over $1,000 in un-circulated condition.

Happy roll searching!

J-237 Pattern-1859 Half Dollar

Over the course of his lifetime, James B. Longacre designed some of the United States most unforgettable coins, from the captivating Indian Head cent, with the head of Liberty wearing an Indian head dress, to the Shield Nickel. While Chief Engraver of the U.S Mint from 1844 to 1869, Longacre designed this exceedingly rare pattern with his rendition of the “French Liberty Head” prominently displayed on the obverse. Longacre’s design of the “French Liberty Head” is said to be based off of the “Apollo Belvedere” marble display at the Vatican and that Longacre worked from engravings or sketches published in 19th century art journals.


The reverse of the pattern features the words “Half Dollar” gloriously displayed in the center of a splendid cereal wreath. Harold P. Newlin, a prominent numismatist of his day, was said to have suggested the idea of the wreath to then U.S Mint director James Ross Snowden. The wreath is sometimes called “Newlin’s Wreath of Cereal’s.”