Discovering expensive coins in your pocket change can be a fun way to find hidden riches without the need to learn a great deal of knowledge about coinage. This can be a very entertaining way to enjoy the process of discovering hidden treasures.

3 Must-Know Tips for Spotting Valuable Coins in Everyday Change

This article will provide you with three essential pieces of advice that will assist you in identifying coins that have the potential to be worth a substantial amount of money:

1. Know the important dates and mints

There are coins that are more valuable because they are hard to find. These coins are often linked to certain times or mint marks. As an example:

• Few coins were made in some years, like the 1909-S VDB Lincoln cent or the 1937-D 3-legged Buffalo nickel. These coins may have traits that make them stand out.
• Marks of mint: Watch out for mint marks like “D” for Denver, “S” for San Francisco, and “W” for West Point. There are some mint signs that are harder to find than others, and coins from certain mints may be worth more.

Make a list of valuable coins and the important dates on them. Then, compare your change to that list. The Red Book, which is an in-depth guide to U.S. coins, can help you learn about mint years and changes that are worth your time.

2. Search for mistake coins

Mistakes made when the coins were made can be worth a lot more than their face value. Some common mistakes are:

• Double strikes are when a coin is hit twice, making an image that is blurry or twice as big.
  Off-center strikes happen when a coin isn’t exactly centered when it’s struck, leaving blank spots in the design.
• Die cracks and other oddities: Some coins have die cracks that can be seen, which can make them more valuable as a keepsake.

Carefully look at your coins in good light to find any marks or design flaws that don’t seem right. Remember that the mistake has to be clear for it to be useful.

3. Look for silver or other valuable metals

Some U.S. coins from before 1965 still have silver in them and can be used today. For quick reference, here it is:

• From 1946 to 1964, there were silver dimes. These are 90% silver coins that can be worth a lot more than their face value depending on how much silver costs now.
• Silver quarters and half dollars from before 1964: These coins also have 90% silver in them.
  Between 1965 and 1970, half dollars were made. These coins have 40% silver in them and can be worth more than their market value.

See More: 5 Must-Know Secrets for Spotting Rare Coins Worth Millions of U.S. Dollars

Quickly use a magnet to see if a coin is made of a base metal. Silver won’t be magnetic, so you’ll know for sure. You can also learn to tell the difference between these older coins by their weight and color, as they often look a little different from newer coins.