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I have been collecting nickels since about 13 and always loved the fact that you could easily find old nickels from even the 30's in circulation. Boy have things changed in the last 10-15 years! I have lately been going through a few rolls but man are they sterile! Even finding one pre 1960 coin out of 5-10 rolls is tough now at least where I live. These were once very common in circulation. Hardly seems worth the effort now.

Must be different where I live , I sorted through $50 worth of nickels a few weeks ago.

Out of the $50 , I had no less than 20 that were from before 1960, and ended up with 2 silver war nickels after everything was said and done.

it must be location. i sorted through a $100 box and found roughly 40 from the sixties 3 from the fifties 1 from the forties and a war nickel.

The US Mint has estimated 1-2% attrition rate for circulated coins.
Looking at just 1938 mintages, thats a total of 28,977,000 nickels minted. If we estimate an attrition rate of just 1% per year, thats 73% attrition since mintage, so only 7,823,800 1938 nickels are remaining in circulation. Now consider the spread when 1938's are mixed in with 72 additional years of minting.

i looked through a box a few weeks back before dumping them in jars and was surprised at the amount of pre 60's that were in there. there was even 2 war nix in there and they got dumped in the jar as well.

Went thru $20 worth of nickels yesterday. Oldest coin found was a 1963. This is a first. I usually find about 4 or 5 pre 1960 nicks. Bank wrapped rolls.

I did find a 1921 wheat penny though sorting thru $10 in pennies. Bank wrapped rolls. Fairly good copper average too about 25% +/-.

I got the morning cashier at my job picking out old nicks for me.

I have been getting them at my local coin dealer for face value.

I seldom get an old nick in change, but I get tons of them in boxes. No value AFAIC.

I just don't even save the ones from the early 1960s as something special. They just get flipped into the big ol' bucket.

I do take a second look at ones from the 50s and 40s, but about half those also go into the container. Seriously..............what's everyone going to do with rolls of 1940 and 1941 P nickels in average circulated condition? Warnix always welcome, however.

Just found a 1936 King George V Canadian nickel in a roll that I was searching down here in Central Florida. I consider that an amazing find for down here.

Enjoy your coin searches, everyone.