Once in a Lifetime: My Epic Haul of 62 Silver Halves from 9 Rolls

I’m still pinching myself over what happened recently – that dream find we all hope for but rarely see. I grabbed nine customer-wrapped rolls of half dollars that turned out to contain a staggering 62 silver coins. After years in this hobby, it felt like winning the lottery, and I’m thrilled to share every detail with you.

The Unbelievable Find

It started with a single roll I picked up on a whim from my local bank. When I spotted silver inside, I raced back the next day and cleaned out their remaining eight rolls. Between all nine, I counted 62 silver halves. My hands were shaking as I sorted them – you know that feeling when you realize you’ve hit something truly special? For comparison, my previous best was 20 silver halves from a Home Depot register seven years back, and before that, 50 silver dimes in a CoinStar tray over a decade ago. This haul? It tops everything.

Breaking Down the Treasures

• 6 Walking Liberty halves: Timeless designs that never get old
• 6 Franklin halves: Always a welcome sight, especially when they’ve held up well
• 3 90% silver Kennedy halves: That extra silver content really adds up
• 47 40% silver Kennedy halves: The workhorses of the haul, still packing serious weight

Total tally: 13.58 ounces of silver, worth about $358 at current prices. Most showed plenty of wear, but I’m setting aside a few candidates for grading – even well-loved coins can surprise you if they’re key dates or have sharp details.

Why This Score is So Rare

Scores like this are lightning-in-a-bottle moments. Customer-wrapped rolls often come straight from estates or old collections, unlike machine-rolled coins. While sticking with the hunt pays off eventually, dry spells can last years – especially now with banks reducing branches since the pandemic. This whole experience reminded me why we keep searching: that next incredible find could be waiting in the most ordinary place.

Practical Tips for Your Own Hunts

• Prioritize customer-wrapped rolls: Always ask banks for these – they’re goldmines for collection leftovers
• Think outside the bank: Check store tills and CoinStar reject trays – I’ve scored at both
• Play the long game: Keep consistent habits and track your hunts, even during slow periods
• Know your coins’ worth: Melt value matters for common dates, but always inspect for rare issues or better grades
• Follow the supply: With fewer bank branches, try credit unions or build relationships with tellers

This find has me more excited than ever about the hobby, and I’m already plotting my next hunt. If you’re out there searching, stick with it – your unforgettable moment might be just around the corner. Happy hunting!