Finding the Wild ’23: A Roll Hunter’s Guide to Cherry-Picking ’23 Dated Coins from Circulation and Bulk Lots

You Don’t Always Need a Dealer to Find This

Here’s what to look for when you’re digging through circulation or bulk lots. I’ve been roll hunting for over two decades now, and let me tell you—nothing beats the thrill of pulling a gem from a box that looks completely ordinary. When a forum thread pops up titled “It is my birthday! Post your favorite "23" dated coin,” my mind shifts into search mode immediately.

The number 23 carries a strange mystique across decades and geographies. Whether it’s a 1923 Peace dollar, an 1823 Liberty cap half cent, a 1723 British South Sea Company sixpence, or a 1923 Danzig 5 Pfennige, the common thread is clear—these coins were struck in years that have become collector shorthand for hidden value. I’ve chased this number across more coin albums than I can count.

In my experience grading and appraising, the best ’23 finds almost never come from a dealer’s slab case. They come from the hands of a roll hunter who knows how to cherry-pick. Today, I want to walk you through exactly how I approach this—through circulation finds, bulk lots, estate sales, and the fine art of variety spotting that separates a good hunt from a missed opportunity.

Why the "23" Date Is a Roll Hunter’s Dream

The date 23 appears across some of the most collectible series in numismatics. When forum members post their favorite "23" dated coins, the range is staggering:

• 1923 Peace Dollars – A cornerstone of American silver collecting. CAC-verified examples fetch premium prices at AU55 and above, and the eye appeal on a nice piece is something you never forget.
• 1823 U.S. Large Cents – Varieties like the O-107 P53 and O-103 P58 CAC are chased by specialists. Many still turn up in circulation or estate hoards, which is why I keep hunting.
• 1723 British Coins – South Sea Company sixpences with dramatic errors—double strikes, off-center strikes—along with 1723 halfpennies are extraordinary finds when they surface.
• 1923 Error Coins – Broken 3 varieties, double-struck pieces, and off-center strikes can appear in pocket change or inherited collections. I’ve found my share.
• 1923 Danzig 5 Pfennige – Copper-nickel coins from the interwar period. Affordable yet historically significant, and a real treat when you spot one.

What ties these together for the roll hunter is simple—many of these coins still circulate, or they sit forgotten in bulk lots, bank boxes, and estate sale coin jars. You don’t need deep pockets. You need sharp eyes, a little patience, and a systematic approach.

Roll Hunting ’23 Dated Coins: What to Look For in Circulation

I’ve examined hundreds of rolls over the years, and I can tell you the most rewarding ’23 finds follow a few patterns. Here’s what I check every single time I open a roll:

1. The Date Must Be Readable

Obvious, right? But circulation-worn coins often lose the date. For a 1923 Peace dollar or an 1823 cent, the tail of the 3 or the bottom serif of the 2 goes first. I look for coins where the entire date is still sharp enough to read without tilting the piece. A fully readable 23 is your first green flag.

2. Look for CAC and Premium Grading Markers

Several forum members posted coins with CAC verification stickers. An AU55+ CAC Peace dollar, an AU58+ CAC variety, or a P58 CAC large cent all carry that stamp of quality. When I’m cherry-picking, I immediately set aside anything with a CAC sticker—or anything I can verify through PCGS or NGC census data as a premium variety. These are the coins that appreciate while the rest of the roll sits in a discount bin.

3. Error Coins Are Your Secret Weapon

One of the most exciting posts in that thread showed a 1723 South Sea Company sixpence with a double strike and a 25% off-center second strike. Another showed a broken 3 XF40 variety. Error coins are the ultimate cherry-pick because most people don’t recognize them. I’ve found double-struck coins, off-center strikes, and repunched dates in rolls of Jefferson nickels, Lincoln cents, and even modern coinage. The key is to flip every coin under a loupe. Errors that seem obvious to us are invisible to the casual holder.

4. Don’t Overlook Foreign "23" Coins

The thread included a Danzig 5 Pfennige from 1923, a British 1723 sixpence, and various modern international coins with 23 on them. When roll hunting, I always scan for foreign coins—even in U.S. rolls, a stray international piece sometimes sneaks in. Estate sales and bulk lots are where these shine, because inherited collections often contain coins from multiple countries.

Cherry-Picking Varieties from Bulk Lots and Estate Sales

Bulk lots and estate sales are where serious roll hunters strike gold. Here’s my process:

1. Sort by date first. Dump the entire lot onto a white tray and run through dates. Pull every coin with a 23, 1923, 1823, 1723, or any variation of the number 23 visible on the piece.
2. Identify mint marks and varieties. Once I have my 23s separated, I check mint marks. For 1823 large cents, the O-107 and O-103 varieties are particularly hot. The O-103 P58 CAC example posted in the thread is a perfect illustration—this variety is known for its distinctive die state and carries a CAC sticker that adds credibility.
3. Check for diagnostic errors. A broken 3, a double-struck portrait where a second brow or neck line is visible, or an off-center strike can turn a common coin into a unique piece. The thread featured a coin with "a long row of dentil tracks, with second brow and neck line visible at the center of the portrait"—that’s a textbook double strike, and it was found by cherry-picking from a common lot.
4. Grade conservatively. I always grade down from what I think a coin might be. If I see an AU58+ coin in the lot, I treat it as AU55 until I can verify it. This protects my reputation and ensures I don’t overpay.

In my experience, estate sales are the single best source for unsearched ’23 coins. The seller often doesn’t know what they have. I’ve pulled 1923 Peace dollars graded PCGS AU58 with gold CAC stickers from estate boxes that were sitting in a garage for decades. The same goes for 1723 British coins—halfpennies and sixpences from this era show up in American estate sales more often than you’d expect, especially in the Northeast and Midwest where old-money families collected world coins.

The Art of Finding "23" Coins That Aren’t "Pocket Change"

One forum member wrote: "Happy birthday, I couldn’t find a real coin with 23 on it, so…" and posted a novelty piece. Another wrote: "Not the favorite but the only one." These comments remind me that not every collector has access to high-end material. That’s exactly why roll hunting matters—it levels the playing field.

You can find a 1923 Peace dollar in circulated condition for under $30. You can find an 1823 O-107 large cent for under $100. You can find a 1723 halfpenny for a few hundred dollars if you know what to look for. That’s the numismatic value waiting in the everyday box.

The forum thread also featured a PCGS-certified 1823 O-106a graded AU58 with a gold CAC sticker. This is the kind of coin that makes cherry-picking worthwhile—the variety is scarce, the grade is strong, and the CAC verification adds a layer of trust that makes it immediately marketable. I always tell my students: if you find a coin like this in a bulk lot, don’t hold it. List it. The premium for certified, CAC-verified, high-grade 23-dated coins is significant and consistent.

Modern "23" Dated Coins and the Cherry Picker’s Advantage

Several posters shared modern commemorative and circulating coins with the number 23. While these don’t carry the same historical weight as an 1823 or 1723 coin, they still offer cherry-picking opportunities—especially in rolls of state quarters, America the Beautiful quarters, or modern commemoratives where the year 23 appears on the edge or in the design. I’ve found low mintage modern coins in bulk lots that were selling for multiples of their face value because the lot owner didn’t know what they had.

Here’s an actionable takeaway: when sorting modern rolls, always check the mint mark, the edge lettering, and the finish (proof or circulation). A proof 2023 quarter with a low mintage can be worth several times its face value, and these regularly appear in mixed lots. The luster on a fresh proof is something you can spot from across a table.

Grading and Authentication Tips for Your ’23 Finds

Before you list or trade your find, take these steps:

• Photograph under consistent lighting. Use a white background and a macro lens if possible. Forum posts with clear images always generate more interest, and they let the numismatic value speak for itself.
• Check the PCGS or NGC census. If your coin is a known variety (like the 1823 O-107 P53 or O-103 P58 CAC), verify the population count. Low census numbers mean higher demand and stronger collectibility.
• Look for the CAC sticker or equivalent. A gold CAC sticker on a PCGS AU58+ coin is a strong indicator of eye appeal and quality. Even if the coin isn’t graded, you can submit it for CAC verification.
• Document errors carefully. For error coins like the double-struck South Sea Company sixpence or the broken 3 XF40 variety, take multiple photos from different angles and include a scale. Error coins are often unique, and provenance documentation increases value. Don’t overlook the patina—on older coins, it can tell a story that adds to the coin’s appeal.

Conclusion: The Roll Hunter’s Edge

The beauty of cherry-picking "23" dated coins is that the date itself serves as a natural filter. Whether you’re searching through rolls of half dollars, bulk lots from an estate sale, or a box of foreign coins from a bank, the number 23 narrows your focus and sharpens your eye. From the 1923 Peace dollar with an AU55+ CAC sticker to the 1723 South Sea Company sixpence with a unique double strike, from the 1823 O-103 P58 CAC large cent to the humble broken 3 XF40 variety, every coin in this thread tells a story of discovery.

As one poster wryly noted: "perhaps this coin passed through your hands when you were just 23." That’s the magic of roll hunting. You never know which coin will be the one that makes your birthday post stand out. You don’t always need a dealer. You need a roll, a loupe, and the discipline to sort, search, and cherry-pick. The "23" dated coin is waiting for you in the next box, the next estate sale, the next roll you crack open. Happy hunting—and happy birthday to everyone who celebrates this year.

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