My Unexpected Silver Haul: Feeling Like a Very Lucky Cat

You know that rush when coin hunting gives you pure, unplanned joy? That’s exactly how I felt after a recent bank run turned into one of my luckiest finds ever. I’d popped in to grab some fresh quarters, but there they were—a small stack of half dollars waiting on the counter like buried treasure. In my neck of the woods, these rarely show up in the wild. Grabbing them felt like winning the collector’s lottery, and oh man, was I unprepared for what came next!

The Lucky Discovery

While waiting in line, those half dollars caught my eye immediately. Couldn’t help myself—I asked for every last one. Walking out with that handful of silver felt like holding history. Most were beautiful 90%ers, but one coin made my heart skip: a 1923-S Walking Liberty half. Finding this beauty in circulation? That’s the magic of coin hunting. It reminded me why I always glance at teller trays—you just never know what’s sitting there, ignored by everyone else.

Meet My Prize: The 1923-S Walker

That ’23-S instantly became my star find. From what I’ve seen over the years, early San Francisco Walkers often have weak strikes, so finding one with decent detail feels special. Mine shows honest wear—Liberty’s gown stripes are soft, and there’s circulation friction—but I’d call it a solid VG+ to XF. Numismedia puts similar coins near $1,000 in XF40 grade! My hands shook handling it. If you spot one, treat it gently: I slid mine into a flip immediately to protect those century-old surfaces.

Grading Smart Without Breaking the Bank

Stumbling on a potential four-figure coin got me thinking about grading realities. If you’re like me and only have occasional gems, those membership fees hurt. Here’s what works for infrequent submitters:

• Try ICG for budget grading: Their fees are lower, and many dealers will include your coin in their group submissions—just ask at local shops or club meetings.
• Coin show workarounds: At big shows, grading companies often accept submissions without memberships (usually 5+ coins minimum). I now keep a “grading candidate” stash ready for these trips.
• Choose wisely: Only submit coins where grading fees make sense. Common dates in low grades? Probably not. But a scarce coin like my ’23-S with strong eye appeal? Absolutely worth slabbing.

Why This Haul Made Me Smile

This surprise silver reinforced three things I love about our hobby: First, always peek at bank counters—even routine visits can yield magic. Second, pre-1965 halves remain fantastic silver plays right now. Third, storage matters. I use basic Whitman albums so the coins themselves stay the focus. And please, never clean finds like this ’23-S! That natural toning tells its story better than any polish ever could. Moments like this—when ordinary errands turn extraordinary—are why I’ll keep hunting till my last breath.