Sun Sentinel Palm Beach Edition
Great American Coin Hunt is on
Millions of rare, valuable coins are being released
Start checking that pocket change because you may just find a valuable, rare coin.
More than a million new and vintage coins will be dropped into circulation by collectors and coin dealers for the Great American Coin Hunt during National Coin Week, April 21-27.
The Willy Wonka-type stunt, sponsored by the American Numismatic Association (ANS), is being billed as the biggest coin drop in American history. It’s intended to spark interest in coin collecting.
The U.S. Mint and hundreds of coin dealers and collectors are participating, announcing their coin drops on Twitter, Facebook and Instagram using hashtag #GreatAmericanCoinHunt. There also is a map of where coins are being mixed into circulation posted at GreatAmericanCoinHunt.com.
Keep a sharp eye out for vintage coins from the 1800s, Indian and wheat pennies, buffalo nickels, silver dimes, Ike dollars, five
and 10 dollar blue and red seals, and silver certificate bills will be spent at malls, grocery stores, restaurants and other establishments, according to a news release by the ANS.
The U.S. Mint also is participating, announcing it will circulate 10 million first-ever 2019 America the Beautiful Quarters bearing a W mark minted at West Point. The coins (some are listed on eBay for about $40) will be mixed in with other quarters produced in Philadelphia and Denver, according to a news release. The coins were shipped to banks on April 1 and likely will appear in circulation within four to six weeks, according to the mint.
“We want to encourage Americans to consider coin collecting by making the W mint mark quarters only available in general circulation,” said United States Mint Director David Ryder. “We’re fortunate to be able to feature the W mint mark quarters at the same time dealers around the nation are mounting a similar effort to celebrate and promote the hobby of numismatics.”
West Point coins, which have a “W” under the the words “In God We Trust” on the face of the coin, are valuable because they make up less than 1 percent of 2019-dated quarters. This is the first new mint mark to appear on circulating U.S. coinage since the Denver Mint opened in 1906.
The five 2019 coins, part of a 56 coin issue released from 2010-2021 to commemorate U.S. National Parks and historical landmarks, also celebrate the 227th anniversary of the United States Mint on April 2. The first 2019-W Quarter recently was found by “Desperate Housewives” actor Shawn Pyfrom in California.