Remember emptying your piggy bank onto the floor to see if you had enough change for candy, a comic book, or a trip to the corner store? You probably counted every penny, nickel, and dime without paying much attention to the dates or designs. Back then, a quarter was a quarter, and what mattered was what you could buy with it.
But some of those familiar coins are worth another look today. Some older coins contain silver, while others are sought after for a scarce date, an unusual design, or a production mistake.
That doesn’t mean every old coin is worth a fortune. Most are fairly common, and their value depends on details such as condition and rarity. Still, before you take that forgotten jar of change to the bank, here are some childhood coins worth checking.
Dimes, quarters, and half dollars dated 1964 or earlier
Those silver-colored coins you once saved for a treat could be worth more than their face value because U.S. dimes, quarters, and half dollars dated 1964 or earlier were generally made with 90% silver. Check the dates on any old coins you have tucked away, since their silver content alone can make them worth keeping.
Kennedy half dollars from 1965 through 1970
As a kid, getting a half dollar felt like hitting the jackpot, especially when you were saving up for something bigger than a candy bar. Kennedy half dollars minted from 1965 through 1970 contain 40% silver, so check the dates before spending any you find in an old collection.
The unusual silver-colored pennies from 1943
If you ever found a penny that looked more like a dime, you might have come across a 1943 steel cent, which was made to conserve copper during World War II. Most are common, but the rare 1943 pennies mistakenly struck on copper blanks are highly sought after and require professional authentication.
The 1955 penny with doubled lettering
You probably never examined the lettering on your childhood pennies, but some 1955 Lincoln cents have a noticeable doubling of the date and lettering caused by a minting error. Genuine examples can be valuable, so a penny with these unusual details is worth having examined.
Wheat pennies from 1909 through 1958
Remember finding a penny with two stalks of wheat on the back and setting it aside because it looked different from the others? Most wheat pennies are worth only a modest premium, but certain dates and mint marks, including the 1909-S VDB, are especially sought after by collectors.
Buffalo nickels
Finding a Buffalo nickel in your change was always a little more exciting than getting an ordinary five-cent piece, thanks to its distinctive Native American portrait and bison design. These coins were minted from 1913 through 1938, and examples with scarce dates or well-preserved details may be worth more than heavily worn ones.
Mercury dimes
A Mercury dime might have caught your eye because its winged-cap portrait looked nothing like the Roosevelt dime you were used to seeing. Produced from 1916 through 1945, these dimes contain silver, while their date, mint mark, and condition can add to their collector value.
Standing Liberty quarters
If you came across a quarter featuring a standing figure instead of George Washington, you were holding a Standing Liberty quarter minted between 1916 and 1930. These older quarters contain silver, and certain dates or coins with well-preserved details may be particularly desirable to collectors.
Coins with unusual minting errors
That oddly shaped or off-center coin you found as a kid might have been damaged after leaving the Mint, but some unusual coins have genuine production errors. Coins struck off-center, struck more than once, or made on the wrong metal blank can interest collectors, although professional examination may be needed to confirm the error.
The big Eisenhower dollar coins
An Eisenhower dollar felt enormous compared with the quarters and dimes in your pocket, which is probably why so many families saved them rather than spent them. Most regular versions are common, but certain special silver-clad collector editions the Mint produced are worth identifying.
Bicentennial quarters, half dollars, and dollars
Remember saving a Bicentennial quarter because the colonial drummer on the back made it look different from your everyday change? Most circulated Bicentennial coins are common, but the Mint also produced special 40% silver collector versions that may be worth more than face value.
