Expert: Dan Moore - 3/25/2008

Question
QUESTION: Dan, I'm interested in searching SACAGAWEA coin rolls for submission for grading at PCGS/NGC and want to know the best possible way to increase my chance of getting high grade coins. Are US mint rolls better/worse than bank rolls? Is there a difference between them? or please advice if there is a better approach.

ANSWER: Allyn,

I hope you had a nice holiday.

Unfortunately, there will be little or no difference between rolls that are mint wrapped and those that are "bank" wrapped.  The coins come from the same minting process, go through the same banging around in big mint bags, and go through essentially the same kind of rolling machines.

The only difference I've found is that the denver Mint coins are generally of higher quality than the Philadelphia Mint ones, so you may find more high grade D-mints.

I hope this helps,

Dan


---------- FOLLOW-UP ----------

QUESTION: Hope you had a good holiday as well and thanks for the answer it clears up my question.  A follow-up question is where is the best place to look for high grade coins is it buying the uncirculated mint sets from US Mint or just order mint rolls from a bank? How do I increase my chances? and finally where is the best source to buy Mint sets if it is the best method?  How do dealers do it?
Thanks Allyn

Answer
Allyn,

Buying mint sets will increase your chances of finding those high grade coins, but the coins are going to be the matte finish coins made specially for mint sets -- not the regular business strike coins.

All you can do is order boxes of rolls and cross your fingers -- there is no secret method dealers do, they just go through a LOT of coins.

Dan