Old Mint Roll Pennies, What to do....

[Silver handle]

I happened upon a sale a couldn't refuse. A guy that knows me locally was aware that I horde copper pennies as bullion. He brought me 7 rolls that were marked the year and mint. Majorly they appeared to have not been tampered with in any way. They are (2)-1962P, (2)-1963D, (1)-1971S, (1)-1973P, (1)-1974P. All seven rolls has the corresponding coins on each end with great luster. Just to verify that they were what I was buying I carefully opened the one of the 63D. I also noticed that the 73P appeared to have been inspected prior, so I carefully opened that one as well. Both inspected rolls were indeed same years and mints throughout. I made the deal base on 10% below melt value.

Of course I held my excitement towards to 71S roll. But now I feel I have a huge decision and have come here seeking advice of other members that I know and trust. That decision being, should I open the 71S roll or sell it as is. Normally I'm always inclined that a bird in the hand is worth two in the bush. I know there are still 71S DDO in the wild. and the opportunity to find a possible 69-70 grade coin worth thousands of dollars is almost irresistible. Then again I could stand to make a thousand times my investment just selling the roll as is, provided I could find someone interested. Thus my conundrum. So what say you RCdotO?

[hobo finds]

I would open it up.

[fasteddy]

I would toss 'em in with the rest of my unopened original bank wrapped rolls. This option wasn't on your poll questionnaire.

[Silver handle]

Thank you for input fasteddy. I have added the keep option. At present I'm still more inclined to sell the roll as it is, then take my profits and add to my hoard.

@hobo finds: Curios why you would open it? Do you feel my chances are that good at finding a DDO in a mint roll?

It is from Wells Fargo. Wish I could post a pic without a hosting site.

[hobo finds]

If you dont open it you would never know. I hope you have one in there....

[hobo finds]

A few more posts and you should be able to post pics

[Recyclersteve]

Don’t expect any MS-69’s or 70’s in there. Grades like that are usually for one of two reasons:

1) The grading service assigns a 70 grade to something that PCGS or NGC would only give a 64 to. So they are way too liberal!

2) Coins that get really high grades with any frequency are specially struck. Example: Lots of silver American Eagles legitimately get 69’s from PCGS and NGC. Not so for Lincolns where anything above 65 is tough to get.

In an original Unc. roll of Lincolns I would expect maybe a single 66 or 67. That’s it.

[dakota1955]

I would open them.

[realhumancopper]

What does an unopened 71-S roll sell for these days? thanks.................hal

[Silver handle]

What does an unopened 71-S roll sell for these days? thanks.................hal

What a great question Hal. I asked my LCS since I couldn't find any for sale, or that have sold recently. His opinion was this: Gray sheet has a Unc with mint luster @$7-8 per penny. I have 50 so $350-400. I'm kind of looking at this like a box of baseball cards with the possibility of 1 or more super rare valuable cards contained within one of the 50 packs. Should there be a DDO, it could fetch $700 or more depending on the grading. To me that would make this roll worth a little more than the $350-400 range. After all, how many unopened rolls can be floating around at this point some 48 years later. My thoughts at present would be to begin asking in the $500-$550 range and see if I get any offers. This allows room for investors interested in searching to come forward as there is only a sight risk of loss.

For those paying attention to the poll. I have yet to cast, and I will also proxy my LCS vote as well. So even though it may appeared tied at the moment there are 2 swing votes in the end.

[NDFarmer]

What does an unopened 71-S roll sell for these days? thanks.................hal

What a great question Hal. I asked my LCS since I couldn't find any for sale, or that have sold recently. His opinion was this: Gray sheet has a Unc with mint luster @$7-8 per penny. I have 50 so $350-400.

Am I understanding you correctly? You are saying that UNC 1971- S pennies should sell for $7.00 to $8.00 each making a roll worth between $350.00 and $400.00?

I just did a search on eBay and it looks like they are selling between $10.00 and $20.00 per roll there for UNC coins.

[Silver handle]

My apologies, not Unc, MS+ say 62 or better. Lots of eBay ads for $8 and up. Mind you those are graded. I'll see about trying to load a few pictures. That would help with understanding what I have.

[Silver handle]

https://photos.app.goo.gl/kjJvWrA9YdSbVBjU8

The 2 rolls on the right have been opened. The last two obverse photos are each end of the 71s. Tight seals on both sides. Should anyone find a link of an unopened roll, I'd love to see it.

[everything]

You got a good deal on these, and why would anyone believe the roll is un-searched.

[rainsonme]

Schrodinger's Cent. You dont know if there's a DDO until you look. Finding a really valuable coin would be a thrill for me; I will cast my vote now.

[coppernickel]

Talk about a conundrum.

Whatever you do, please let us know.

[Silver handle]

@everything. They would believe it is un-searched because it is unopened. Not sure if you looked at the pictures, but you can clearly tell the roll has yet to be tampered with. As my LCS stated, " They don't make them anymore" referring to not only the coins themselves but the wrapper with the bank logo in that style.

@rainsonme. You are so right. it truly is Schrodinger's Cent. Yet I'm still leaning toward keeping the cent in the roll. I've even worked out the odds that I have a better shot at finding a DDO in this roll, than I do at hitting the lottery jackpot. As everything pointed out, I got a great deal. So I really cant lose either way. I just wanted as many opinions and eyes to help me make such a hard decision. Throw the think tank at it, as it were.

@coppernickle. Would be happy to let you know. I might sell them right here in fact. Then again it is a KSA weekend