Most of the coins in your pocket are worth exactly their face value. But every once in a while, something special slips through — a coin that is worth far more than the nickel, dime, or quarter it appears to be. Coin roll hunting and checking your change is a low-cost hobby that occasionally produces real finds. Here are the coins to watch for.
Pre-1965 Silver Coins
This is the most common and most valuable category of coins found in circulation. Dimes, quarters, and half dollars minted in 1964 or earlier contain 90% silver. With silver trading above $75 per ounce in 2026, a single pre-1965 quarter is worth roughly $14 to $15 in silver content alone — about 60 times its face value.
While these coins are becoming increasingly rare in circulation, they do still turn up. Bank rolls, change jars, and cash transactions occasionally produce one. Kennedy half dollars from 1965 to 1970, which contain 40% silver, are somewhat more common and still worth several dollars above face value.
Wheat Pennies
Lincoln wheat cents, minted from 1909 to 1958, are easily identifiable by the two wheat ears on the reverse instead of the Lincoln Memorial. Most wheat pennies are worth between 5 and 25 cents, but certain dates and mint marks command significantly more. The 1909-S VDB is the most famous — worth hundreds of dollars in any condition — but other key dates like the 1914-D, 1922 plain (no mint mark), and 1931-S are also valuable.
Error Coins
Mint errors are coins that were produced incorrectly — double strikes, off-center strikes, wrong planchet errors, and die cracks, among others. These mistakes are surprisingly common and can make otherwise ordinary coins worth multiples of their face value. A doubled die Lincoln cent — where the lettering or date appears doubled due to a misaligned die — can be worth hundreds or even thousands depending on the severity and date.
The most famous error coin found in circulation is the 1955 doubled die Lincoln cent, but more recent errors exist as well. The 2004 Wisconsin state quarter with an extra leaf on the corn stalk and various 2005-2009 era die varieties have all been found in rolls and pocket change.
Valuable Nickels
Jefferson nickels from 1942 to 1945 — known as war nickels — contain 35% silver. They are identifiable by the large mint mark (P, D, or S) above Monticello on the reverse. With silver prices where they are in 2026, each war nickel is worth several dollars. These turn up in circulation more often than you might expect because many people do not realize they contain silver.
Buffalo nickels (1913-1938) occasionally appear as well, though they are becoming quite scarce. Most are worth $1 to $5 in circulated condition, but key dates can be worth much more.
What to Do If You Find Something
If you find a coin you think might be valuable, handle it carefully by the edges and place it in a protective holder. Do not clean it. Look up the date and mint mark online to get a preliminary sense of value. Then bring it to a reputable coin dealer for a professional assessment.
In the Greenville area, CoinBox Gold & Silver in Fountain Inn and other local dealers are happy to evaluate individual coins and tell you what they are worth. There is no charge for a quick look, and you might be surprised by what that odd-looking coin in your change jar turns out to be.
The odds of finding a truly rare coin in pocket change are small — but they are not zero. And the search itself is half the fun. Next time you get change back from a purchase, take a second look before you drop it in the jar. You never know what might be hiding in plain sight.