Why collect from circulation...seriously...why?

For about four years now I have worked through circulated coins and diligently filled Whitman coin folders. I have done this for for everything from Lincoln Cents to Eisenhower Dollars.

Don't get me wrong I have a World coin collection (which even has some silver) that I love and I spend my money on coins featuring John F. Kennedy, but circulation coins will always be my first and true love.

But why?

My wife thinks I'm a bit odd for spending countless hours tracking down a 2009-P Jefferson Nickel when I could just buy one online for a few bucks. And it's not like I'm pulling big money coins out of rolls from the bank. So what exactly am I doing and why do I love this so much?

I think I love the hunt, that feeling of accomplishment when I fill in an entire book based on perseverance alone.

Does anyone else feel this way?

Anyone else love prospecting for a 1909 VDB Lincoln Cent in rolls and rolls of 2019-Ds?

Yes, I also like collecting from circulation. I have a small little hoard of finds I don't know what to do with (any suggestions?)

I'm not sure what is meant by collecting from circulation? Do you mean collecting coins still in circulation?

How did you get the Eisenhower dollars?

"How did you get the Eisenhower dollars?"
Great question (& if Americans are scoring such finds- why not collect from circulation?)

Personally, I think it's just the joy of the hunt (for what's uncommon). I'm not a coin collector but a banknote collector. I remember back in 2012 thinking when Canada switched to polymer (oh good now I'll be able to get something good shape since it's plastic!)

WRONG!

I soon discovered that plastic seems to wear even worse than paper. So, like so many collector friends I know, I threw in the towel. Then I found out there were a couple scarce prefixes & the hunt began..... But yeah- most of the circulated stuff I did find has very little premium as it's just too bad shape.

Quote: "Mr. Midnight"​How did you get the Eisenhower dollars?

​I work at a bank. Those show up in teller drawers on occasion. I buy them from the tellers for face value (they'd much rather have a dollar bill in their drawer than an Eisenhower dollar since it is awkward to store).

Oh yes the joy of the hunt. Yes you can still get Eisenhower dollars. I have gotten all my Eisenhower dollars from circulation . I have gotten two this year ,one from the bank and one from the gas station. Theoldest coin I have received in changes was a 1903 nickel, right after my wife died. The oldest coin I pick up from a parking lot was a 1918 1 cent coin. in the piggly wiggly lot. Both in really bad shape. But I still keep. I still find silver now and then. Get to know you gas station people. They find all kinds of stuff. The guy who ran the one I go to finds all kinds of stuff. I buy all Canadian at face value. I have gotten 1cent to a 2 dollar coin. Yes one of his clerks took it And here in the US we do not make a 2 dollar coin. But do not get any of the new stuff, magnetic. He let me buy a 1928 red seal 2 dollar bill for 2 dollars. Afew weeks back. I use cash for everything. And every place I go, I ask if they have anything odd. Like out of county or like 50 cent coins. In fact last week at the bank,the guy there knows me, And with out me even asking, He pulled up a 1983 D 50 cent coin. And asked if I want. Keep your eye open .
And you will be surprised what really out there. Happy hunting daryl

Yes more just love the hunt. Oddest things I gotten. From sudway change maker was a French Indochina 10 centimes 1922 A,silver. Came out as a us dime. Just right after a big Hmong get to gather. And in the parking lot of a post office I pick up a Ecuador 1 sucre km 89 1988. I find it very odd and interesting , that a coin made in Germany then went to Ecuador. Ended up in the parking lot of the post office here in Oshkosh WI.
edit still get Canadian 1 cent coins even still they stopped making them. The odd thing is I still get a few a year of King George VI 1 cent coin .

my biggest , The casino here, well by Green Bay. Back about 10 years ago. Got 50 cent slot machines. The first night a came home with about 20 dollars of 1965 to 1969 part silver ones. And 3 1964 full silver ones. All for 40 dollars. And about 4 hours of keeping me busy. Back when I had extra time. You have to keep your eyes open and be in the right place. I really love the hunt.
I stopped posting everything I find because it made me feel odd.

Quote: "ALLRED1950"​ Yes more just love the hunt. Oddest things I gotten. From sudway change maker was a French Indochina 10 centimes 1922 A,silver. Came out as a us dime. Just right after a big Hmong get to gather. And in the parking lot of a post office I pick up a Ecuador 1 sucre km 89 1988. I find it very odd and interesting , that a coin made in Germany then went to Ecuador. Ended up in the parking lot of the post office here in Oshkosh WI.
​edit still get Canadian 1 cent coins even still they stopped making them. The odd thing is I still get a few a year of King George VI 1 cent coin .

​All those coins you wrote about (found or bought from your gas station buddy) have really travelled all over (been exchanged hundreds to thousands of times)! There must be an interesting history to each one.

I asked my wife if I could borrow a $5. Here's the note she handed to me:

That's the first thousand # note I've ever seen so I tucked it away & used my credit card ! This two-digit radar also happens to be a "Millennial" birth year note (so even though it's in ratty shape- still a cool #).

Now I see her check her serial numbers regularly & the hunt goes on

I look at all my bank notes. Find a lot of star notes. I found a 1 dollar bill star note with the number 00003948.from 1995
Bout a month ago I found a 1 dollar 2013 note with the number 00007046. Last week I got all happy looked a 1 dollar bill. 2013. And thought I found some great still odd it number is 8000707. I thought the first 8 was a zero. But when I got home and took a good look at it but was an Are you looking for any US star notes let me know. Have 3 or 4 of them just sitting here on my desk.

edit still can not get my microscope to work. but found in my desk top

Are we talking current coins here?

Well yes , but to me it all about the hunt. This year I have a Sacagawea 2005 P and a2012 native American dollar.
And a Harry S. Truman and Ronald Reagan dollar.

Mainly to find missing dates, or coins in better condition.
You might be lucky to find a rarer coin, like the Kew Gardens 50 pence. There is also sometimes rotational variants.
Knowledge is the main ingredient of this search, as you need to know what is actually out there.

It’s better to say you found it hiding in your change than to just buy it.

Quote: "GoldenGarfield"​It’s better to say you found it hiding in your change than to just buy it.

​That's where all my coins come from, most of which are foreign

Quote: "Serial_Number_8"​​I asked my wife if I could borrow a $5. Here's the note she handed to me:
​
​That's the first thousand # note I've ever seen so I tucked it away & used my credit card ! This two-digit radar also happens to be a "Millennial" birth year note (so even though it's in ratty shape- still a cool #).

​
If you find someone born in year 2000 and having initials HBS I bet you can sell this note for quite a bit

Quote: "smoked_caramel"​

Quote: "Serial_Number_8"​​I asked my wife if I could borrow a $5. Here's the note she handed to me:
​​
​​That's the first thousand # note I've ever seen so I tucked it away & used my credit card ! This two-digit radar also happens to be a "Millennial" birth year note (so even though it's in ratty shape- still a cool #).

​​
​If you find someone born in year 2000 and having initials HBS I bet you can sell this note for quite a bit

I understand what you're saying but in this case it's not about the money. I have rarely come across a thousand # radar (at shows, auctions anywhere). It's just one of those # like this solid 8 radar (that's 8888888) $5 Journey note I got in my Lotto change about 12 years ago. I've actually seen more solid radars than 1000 # 2 digit radars. But when they're found like that they're just not worth selling really (because they're so beat up & hard to buy for anything near face value) & they take on a bit of sentimental value.
Here's another keeper: