Rediscovering Silver: My Return to Coin Roll Hunting After a Long Break

Life got busy for a few years, but I’ve finally found time to return to coin roll hunting. It had been ages since I’d spotted a silver quarter in the wild, but cracking open some forgotten rolls from 2019-2020 brought that familiar thrill back. Let me share what turned up in my recent hunt, along with some patterns I’ve noticed about quarter scarcity and practical tips for finding those elusive W mintmarks.

My Latest CRH Haul

In these quarter rolls, I scored a silver quarter—what a welcome sight after the drought—plus two Ws: a Lowell and a Tallgrass Prairie design. The real curveball was a Philippine peso mixed in, adding some international flair to the hunt. Around my neck of the woods, Tallgrass W quarters seem to circulate more than others, making them my most frequent W find over the years. Funny how much variety you can find in a single roll!

Scarcity Insights for Modern Quarters

After searching thousands of quarter rolls, I’ve realized rarity depends heavily on where you live. Take the El Yunque quarter: they’re practically ghosts in my area—I’ve never even found a half-roll’s worth! This regional variation means your “white whale” might be common in another collector’s backyard, so swapping stories with fellow hunters really helps piece together the puzzle.

Understanding W Mintmark Distribution

W quarter distribution is wildly uneven. In 2020, only the Tallgrass Prairie design flooded my local banks. Any other 2020 W quarters I’ve found likely hitched rides with tourists or travelers, since fresh rolls I opened back then contained only Tallgrass Ws—roughly one per three or four rolls. This taught me a hard lesson: when special coins hit circulation, go big. I kick myself for not hoarding more Tallgrass rolls when I had the chance!

Broader Market Observations and Tips

From what I’ve gathered, W quarters range from fairly common to needle-in-haystack rare depending on the design. Some hunters report Samoa bats turning up regularly in their region, while Marsh-Billings-Rockefeller quarters remain the stuff of legends. Here’s what’s worked for me:

• Save rolls from key years: Stash away rolls from 2019-2020 releases—they’re time capsules that keep giving.
• Check mintmarks religiously: That tiny W makes all the difference. Getting high-grade examples slabbed can really pay off.
• Know your region: Cross-reference U.S. Mint distribution maps with your hunting grounds to focus your efforts.
• Embrace the grind: Celebrate the small victories, like silver finds, when boxes full of clad test your patience.

Returning to coin roll hunting has rekindled my love for this hobby. If you’re chasing silver or hunting rarities, I’d love to hear about your adventures—good luck out there!