The Great American Coin Hunt is underway: Check your pocket change this week!

The Great American Coin Hunt is now fully underway as part of National Coin Week. Initially, the Great American Coin Hunt started as an idea formed between several coin dealers, but has since evolved into a viral, grassroots campaign that has taken off in the online numismatic community with tens of thousands of enthusiasts planning to participate in the phenomenon. The plan urged hundreds of coin dealers and collectors to drop over one million vintage and collectible coins back into circulation in the United States in an effort to generate renewed interest into the hobby to demographics that have previously been untapped. Coins and notes that are being released include Buffalo nickels, Ike dollars, Wheat cents, Silver Certificates, five and 10-dollar blue and red seals — and more. These desirable numismatic treasures will be gracing venues ranging from grocery stores to restaurants from April 21, 2019, to April 27, 2019.

Buffalo nickels. Hover to zoom.

The stated goals of the campaign are as follows:

  • Inspire a new generation of coin collectors and dealers. From kids to adults, we will make searching your coins fun again.
  • Increase traffic to local “mom and pop” coin shops.
  • To gain national media attention to our hobby and profession.
1909-s VDB Wheat cent.

While this idea is not considered completely novel, as it has already been discussed for decades among collectors and dealers who have already implemented similar programs on the local level, the scale of the drop in the Great American Coin Hunt is on a whole different level. It is being called “the biggest coin drop in American history.” Managers at banks, restaurants, gas stations, and grocery stores are crucial in the plan to distribute the coins effectively, but everyday participants are also encouraged to distribute coins into high-traffic areas like malls and airports and to eschew using digital forms of payment for the entirety of the event week. Organizers also plan to release an undisclosed amount of specially marked coins which can be redeemed for genuine numismatic rarities at participating coin shops across the United States. Companies participating in the Great American Coin Hunt will be displayed on the event’s website, with companies pledging more coins getting a more prominent spot on the site’s listings.

Organizers explain that to avoid the chance of losing a key or semi-key date coin forever, they will be distributing a limited amount of vintage coins with hologram stickers on them. Treasure hunters will be able to take these coins to their local participating RAD dealer, which will be listed on the website of the Great American Coin Hunt. That dealer can trade that stickered coin for a true rare coin with a listed Red Book value of up to $100. The dealer would have the choice and would cover the cost of the giveaway.

Locations of the Great American Coin Hunt posted on ZeeMaps.

On social media, the campaign is using the hashtag “#GreatAmericanCoinHunt,” which has yielded a great deal of interest on Instagram, Twitter, and Facebook. Various online numismatic publishing websites will be covering the Great American Coin Hunt as well, but again, the campaign urges everyday collectors and participants to contact their local news on social media to help spread the word in a grassroots fashion.

The Great American Coin Hunt has also been covered extensively in the wider news media as well. Tune in for additional coverage!

Participants in the program have already begun to post where they will be spending their coins on ZeeMaps. Organizers of the Great American Coin Hunt are also encouraging collectors and dealers to drop coins in publicly accessible areas for those who wish to hunt with metal detectors. These areas will be marked on ZeeMaps as well.

For more information, please visit the website of the Great American Coin Hunt.

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  1. Mint News Blog is not a retail website. If you wish to buy a coin or banknote, you should contact a reputable dealer. One of our sponsors (see ads at left and top of page) may also have what you’re looking for, so be sure to check out their websites.
  2. Per policy, we do not advise on the value, authenticity, or rarity of readers’ coins and banknotes. For this kind of assistance, you should contact a reputable dealer, preferably one who’s certified by the American Numismatic Association and/or the Professional Numismatists Guild.
  3. Vulgar and/or abusive comments will not be tolerated. Nor will trolls.
  4. Allegations of fraudulent or criminal activity against a named party, when said activity has not been proven in a court of law, will be removed.

Comments

  1. cagcrisp says

    Newmont Goldcorp corp (NEM) reported earnings per share of $.33 vs. consensus of $.28/share…

    April 25 (Reuters) – U.S.-listed gold miner Newmont Goldcorp reported a higher-than-expected quarterly profit on Thursday, as a boost in gold production and lower costs countered lagging gold prices.

    Gold production rose nearly two percent to 1.23 million ounces in the quarter, but the average realized gold price fell by $26 to $1,300 per ounce.

    All-in sustaining costs to produce an ounce of gold fell to $907 from $943.

    Newmont closed its $10 billion acquisition of Goldcorp Inc last week, creating the world’s biggest gold producer with assets across the Americas, Africa and Australia.

    Adjusted net income fell to $176 million, or 33 cents per share, for the quarter ended March 31 from net income of $185 million, or 35 cents per share in the same period last year. Analysts’ on average had estimated profit of 27 cents per share on revenue of $1.83 billion, according to IBES data from Refinitiv.

    Total sales fell to $1.80 billion from $1.81 billion. (Reporting by Nishara Karuvalli Pathikkal; Editing by Bernard Orr)

  2. cagcrisp says

    Here is Possible good news IF Stephen Moore actually makes it through to the Federal Reserve Board (I Hope he is NOT confirmed)

    From WSJ; “Mr. Moore has expressed many unorthodox economic views. These include advocating in the past for a return to the gold standard, which links the value of a dollar to the price of gold. The U.S. abandoned a gold standard in the Great Depression, reinstituted it and then abandoned it again in the 1970s. Many economists say a gold standard handcuffs the central bank in a downturn.”

    From WSJ: “Mr. Moore said Wednesday he thought the Fed should pursue stable prices and use broader commodity prices as a barometer for future inflationary pressure. He said he didn’t support a return to the gold standard.”

    …SO…At Least for NOW he is against a return to the Gold Standard…

  3. James Thompson says

    These W Quarters are bring out the worst in people on Ebay. I purchased the W American Memorial quarter for $49.99 while all the other sellers want $100 plus for one coin. The seller I bought from cancelled my order because He/She found out they could get more money for the coin. Isn’t greed one of the seven deadly sins.
    This is craziness!

  4. Achmed says

    And isn’t it crazy to pay nearly 50 $ for a coin with a mintage of 2 million? And nearly no metal value. All National Park S quarters have a smaller mintage and nobody would pay even 10 $ for them.

  5. John Q. Coinage says

    W quarters a joke here, I even seeing one new quarter here on the west coast is a surprise. I will stick to coin* machines kids……………..
    $50 really…..people are that driven for a clad Comm Unc/AU coin……..oh well I like the guy with ROLL$ of them, like 7…how’s that for distribution……. Likely Trump’s baker…..yes Baker he makes his blondies, he won’t eat a brownie…..

  6. jmac says

    I found an 1866 Indian Head Cent in good condition in change.
    My local dealer said it bids at $48 but as far as I’m concerned anything over a cent is pure profit.

  7. jayjaspersgarage on ebay says

    I am planning on searching a couple of quarter boxes from the bank in a month or so. In the mean time the lowest price on epay for a “W” quarter is $30 and dropping. Coin find: Found another sixty two cents and a random Japanese coin in a Coinstar machine in the local supermarket this afternoon. What else is going on? Silver is crushing me and gold has rewarded me as of late.

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