The Final Four of Coin Hunting: My Truck Door Treasure Tally

Watching March Madness this year, especially the Final Four games, really got me pumped. It even inspired me to finally tackle a project I’d been putting off: sorting through the mountain of coins jammed into my truck door. Like most collectors, I know everyday change can hide real surprises. So, I dug in, separated everything, counted it up, and added the keepers to my stash. Here’s how it went and what I found.

Digging Through My Truck Door Treasure

First, I emptied that door compartment – yeah, it’s a weird spot for coins, but after fishing trips or marina runs, loose change just piles up there. My method was simple: sort by denomination and give anything interesting a quick look with my trusty loupe before tossing it into the main stash. This little habit has saved me from overlooking key dates or errors before, like a possible doubled die or some unexpected silver. I counted every last cent. To make it fun, I even tried guessing the total before adding it all up – a little Final Four-style prediction game! Ended up with a mix: dimes, nickels, quarters, and even a few half-dollars. Not a fortune, but satisfying.

Handy Tips from the Front Lines

Sorting through that pile reminded me of a few practical things worth sharing:

• Check coins on the spot with your loupe. It takes seconds and can reveal valuable errors or those sought-after pre-1965 silver coins.
• Don’t let your change stash get out of hand. Letting it build up means you might miss something good. Try sorting every few months to avoid the chaos.
• Make it fun with a guess. Trying to estimate the total before counting adds a bit of excitement, kind of like picking tournament winners.
• Pay attention to condition. Even common coins can be worth more if they’re in top shape. Handle them carefully, and for real standouts, think about professional grading.

What This Taught Me About Collecting Today

While counting up my haul, I got thinking about coin collecting right now. It’s not just about rare finds; ordinary hoards like this can still turn up silver dimes or quarters, which collectors always want. With metal prices moving around, circulated coins sometimes get ignored, but they’re perfect for building a solid collection without spending a fortune. Grading really matters – I always look closely for wear, luster, and mint marks. A tiny detail can make a big difference. Thinking about the Final Four, it got me considering my own ‘final four’ coins every collector might chase: key date pennies, silver war nickels, error quarters, and modern commemoratives. It keeps things exciting and competitive, just like the tournament.

This little project was a great reminder: you never know what you’ll find coin hunting, whether it’s an old half-dollar or just the fun of the search. Next time you’re feeling stuck, dig into your own change stash – you might be surprised.