My Very Lucky Coin Discovery: A Cat’s Tale

You know those moments every collector hopes for? I recently had one—a bolt of pure luck that turned a routine bank run into an unforgettable numismatic thrill. Let me tell you about my unexpected windfall and what it taught me.

The Unexpected Bank Haul

I was dropping off some quarter rolls for future coin roll hunting when something caught my eye: a teller stacking half dollars. Since halves rarely turn up around here, I asked if I could take them off their hands. “Sure thing!” they said, handing me what turned out to be mostly silver treasure. The star? A 1923-S Walking Liberty half dollar, surrounded by 90% silver siblings—with just one modern 1996 coin in the mix. Easily my most exciting CRH find yet!

Assessing the Treasure

Holding that 1923-S under the light, I studied Liberty’s gown—the flattened stripes suggested VG+ to XF condition. Now for the exciting part: Numismedia values it around $990 in XF40! Its rich patina stood out beautifully against the others. Right away, I knew to handle it like fragile history—straight into a flip it went. This old gal reminded me that even worn coins can pack serious value, especially San Francisco issues with their famously weak strikes.

• Fun fact: Finding a well-struck 1923-S is tough—decent examples are real keepers.
• Silver content makes pre-1965 halves worth grabbing, but rarer dates like this? Grading can send their value soaring.

Grading Guidance and Practical Tips

Since I’d never sent a coin for grading, I dug into the process. While PCGS or NGC could boost this coin’s value, membership fees made me pause. Here’s what I figured out:

• Budget route? Try ICG or coin shows—some accept submissions without memberships (usually 5-coin minimums).
• Only one prize coin? Start a “grading candidates” pile. Collect four more contenders to meet submission minimums through dealers or shows.
• For storage, I’m partial to Whitman holders—simple, secure, and they don’t steal the coin’s spotlight.

This whole experience taught me to always keep supplies handy and lean on collector friends—you never know when lightning might strike!

Final Thoughts on the Hunt

More than the coins, this felt like a wink from the numismatic gods—pure feline fortune reigniting my CRH passion. If I could share one thing with fellow collectors? Keep your eyes open, treat finds with respect, and always expect magic in ordinary places. Your next bank visit might just write its own lucky story!