Rediscovering Silver: My Coin Roll Hunting Finds After a Long Hiatus

After years away from coin roll hunting, I finally cracked open a stash of quarter rolls I’d set aside from 2019-2020. The thrill came rushing back, and I was rewarded with some real treasures—including a silver quarter that had been on my wish list for ages.

The Thrill of Unexpected Finds

Going through those rolls, I hit the jackpot when I spotted a 90% silver quarter. It had been so long since I’d found one in the wild, it really hit home how scarce they’ve become. Along with that beauty, I found two W mintmark quarters: a Lowell and a Tallgrass Prairie. Around here, the Tallgrass seems to be the most common W, with Lowells turning up now and then but not as often.

The Challenge of Finding Rare Quarters

After sifting through countless rolls over the years, I’ve seen how much scarcity depends on where you are. Take the El Yunque National Forest quarter—I’ve never found more than a handful in my area. But that’s the funny thing about coins: what’s rare in my neck of the woods might be everywhere in yours. A few things I’ve noticed:

• W quarters, especially Tallgrass, are easier to find here because they were distributed locally in 2020.
• Others, like El Yunque, are nearly impossible to come by—probably because they didn’t get much circulation around here.
• Coins travel, so you never know what might turn up. Always check every roll carefully!

What I Learned About W Quarters

Looking back, I kick myself for not grabbing more uncirculated Tallgrass rolls when I had the chance. In 2020, only Tallgrass quarters with W mintmarks were released locally. From what I saw, you’d find about one W in every three or four rolls. None of the other 2020 designs had them, which backs up the idea that a lot of rarities come from out-of-town sources. The lesson? Timing and location make all the difference in coin roll hunting. If you see a promising new release, jump on it—I know I should have!

Handy Tips for Your Next Hunt

If you’re thinking about giving coin roll hunting a try, here are a few things that have worked well for me:

• Tuck away rolls from big distribution years (like 2019-2020) and let them age—you might find more rarities later.
• Keep an eye out for mintmarks. W quarters are real keepers and often fly under the radar, so a loupe is your best friend.
• Learn about what’s common in your region—and what’s not—so you can focus your search.
• And never skip checking for silver. It’s rare, but that telltale ‘ping’ when you drop a coin could lead you to one.

Coin roll hunting is a mix of patience and luck, and coming back to it after so long feels great. Whether you’re after Ws, silver, or that one missing design, every hunt is its own little adventure.