My Once-in-a-Lifetime Silver Haul: 9 Rolls, 62 Silvers!

Wow, am I still grinning ear to ear after pulling off what might be my greatest coin find ever – nine customer-wrapped rolls of half dollars yielding 62 silver coins! It all started yesterday when I grabbed one roll on a hunch and found several silvers staring back at me. Today I practically sprinted back to claim the remaining rolls, and the results had my hands trembling. This isn’t just beginner’s luck; it’s the kind of moment we collectors live for, and I can’t wait to walk you through it.

The Incredible Find

Those nine rolls held an absolute treasure trove: six Walking Liberty halves, six Franklin halves, three 90% silver Kennedys, and a staggering forty-seven 40% silver Kennedys. That totals 13.58 ounces of pure silver – about $359 in melt value at today’s prices. Let me break down what made this haul so special:

• Walking Liberty Halves: Timeless beauties minted before 1947, always a thrill to find
• Franklin Halves: Crisp 90% silver coins from 1948-1963, often well-preserved
• 90% Kennedy Halves: Only the 1964 dates – pure silver and tougher to find
• 40% Kennedy Halves: 1965-1970 issues that really add up in quantity

Most clad coins were early 1970s issues – typical for older collections. But those silvers? Absolute showstoppers. Finds like this remind me why customer-wrapped rolls are king – they often come straight from someone’s forgotten stash.

My Coin Hunting Journey and Past Scores

This discovery tops everything in my years of searching. My previous best was seven years back when I found about 20 silver halves in a Home Depot register – that had me smiling for weeks. Before that, over a decade ago, I scored 50 silver dimes in a CoinStar reject tray. While those were great, nothing touches this 62-silver windfall. It proves that sticking with the hunt pays off – I’ve endured dry spells when branches closed after lockdowns, but moments like this make every empty roll worthwhile.

Practical Advice for Silver Searchers

Drawing from this adventure and years of collecting, here’s what might help your own searches:

• Customer-Wrapped Rolls (CWR) are gold: Always request these over machine rolls – they’re far more likely to hide surprises
• Timing matters: Hit banks regularly, especially smaller branches. When I spotted silver in that first roll, I raced back immediately!
• Handle with care: For Walkers and Franklins, check condition – uncirculated pieces carry premiums. I bagged all my silvers in flips right away
• Watch the market: Kennedys stack up fast in bulk, but Walkers often fetch collector premiums beyond melt value

Collecting Insights and Final Thoughts

Beyond the silver value, this haul gave me that electric thrill only collectors understand. Those 40% Kennedys are perfect for new stackers, while the Walkers and Franklins are pure history. If you’re starting out, try half dollars – they’re less picked-over than dimes or quarters. And yes, I bought a lottery ticket afterward (can you blame me?), but the real jackpot was the hunt itself. Keep looking, stay patient, and maybe you’ll have your own heart-stopping find. Happy hunting!