The humble coin roll is the province of banks, cash registers, and children learning about money. However, managing the billions of coins in the monetary system requires an easy system of organization, and that’s why rolls are an essential part of our currency.
Conveniently, coin rolls also provide an easy way to invest in currency. So, let’s discuss all the different permutations of coin rolls that you may encounter.
We mentioned the fact that each coin roll bears its own value. The value is nothing more than the sum of the value of each coin in the roll.
However, if you want to calculate the value of coin rolls yourself, there is a simple formula to use. Take the face value of one coin, and multiply the value by the number of coins in a roll.
So, for instance, there are 40 quarters in a roll of quarters. Since each quarter is worth $0.25, a roll of quarters is worth $10, since 40 x $0.25 = $10.
Of course, there’s probably no reason to do the calculations yourself. You have people for that kind of thing – us.
Coin | Coin Value | Coins per Roll | Coin Roll Value |
---|---|---|---|
Penny | $0.01 | 50 | $0.50 |
Nickel | $0.05 | 40 | $2.00 |
Dime | $0.10 | 50 | $5.00 |
Quarter | $0.25 | 40 | $10.00 |
Half dollar | $0.50 | 20 | $10.00 |
Dollar* | $1.00 | 20 | $20.00 |
Dollar** | $1.00 | 25 | $25.00 |
* Indicates the Eisenhower Dollar.
** Indicates the Sacagawea or Presidential Dollar.
There are standard coin rolls for every denomination of coin in circulation. The exact number of coins in each roll depends entirely on which coin is being rolled. Each roll also bears a standard value according to the collective value of the coins.
Finally, each type of roll has defined specifications – their dimensions and weight are a matter of record.
Quarters, or quarter-dollars, are one of the four main coin denominations in the United States. In all likelihood, the quarter is one of the most-used coins in the country. It is the largest of common coins used in the country.
Each roll of quarters contains 40 coins, and is worth $10. A standard quarter is 0.955 inches, and aside from the width of the tube itself, a roll of quarters is of an equivalent width to a single coin.
In terms of length, each roll is 70 mm long, or roughly 2.75 inches long. It weighs 226.8 grams – about half a pound.
The ten-cent piece is the smallest coin in the American system. It is so small, in fact, that it has been – at times – used as a guitar pick by both famous and less-than-famous musicians. In a sense, the dime is the least-respected coin, due to the disparity between its value and its size.
Because of the thinness (0.053 inches) of the coin, a roll dimes has 50 coins, rather than the 40 quarters in a roll. The 50 dimes add up to a $5 value for each roll. They are about 2.5 inches long and weigh 113.5 grams, or a quarter of a pound. In fact, a roll of dimes is almost exactly half as heavy as a roll of quarters (or half-dollars).
The nickel is the thickest of the four most-common coins in the United States. As is the case with quarters, a roll of nickels contains 40 coins in a roll. 40 nickels means a roll value of $2.
Each roll bears the same diameter as each coin – 21.21 mm, or 0.835 inches. Because of its thickness, each roll is slightly longer than 3 inches – making it the longest of the four major coin rolls. Interestingly, a nickel roll clocks in at 200 grams (0.44 lbs), lower than the mass of 40 quarters rolled up.
If quarters are the most-used coins in the US, pennies are the easiest to identify on sight. After all, their distinctive brownish hue stands apart from the other big three coins and, for that matter, most of the rest ever issued.
Though their composition and size has varied over the years, pennies have been their current shape and size since 1982. These days, pennies are 0.75 inches in diameter and bear a thickness of 0.06 inches.
Because they are on the thinner side, pennies are rolled together in groups of 50. Thus, a roll of pennies is worth $0.50, while the cost to make a penny is 3.07 cents. A roll of pennies measures 2.99 inches lengthwise, and weighs 125 grams, or 0.27 pounds.
A roll of half dollars weighs the exact same amount as a roll of quarters – 226.8 grams, or a half-pound – but contains only 20 coins, rather than 40. The reduced number in the roll means that half dollar rolls are the shortest of the bunch at 1.69 inches, but they are also more than an inch wide.
Since there are 20 half dollars per roll, each roll is worth $10.
There have been incarnations of the dollar coin since the 1790s. In that time, the vast majority of the coin’s series have maintained a diameter wider than any other American coin – 1.5 inches, or 38.1 millimeters. Because these versions are so large, a roll contains 20 coins. Accordingly, each roll is worth $20.
However, other versions of the buck have been minted with diameters barely exceeding those of quarters. In fact, one of the more familiar groups of recent times – the “golden” Sacajawea dollars – are only 2 mm wider than the 25-cent pieces. Each roll of these smaller dollars contains 25 pieces and is, thus, worth $25, regardless of its version.
Depending on which type of dollar coin you’re rolling, a roll may be anywhere from 1.043 inches to 1.5 inches wide.
A roll of Morgan dollars or Eisenhower dollars – two of the most prevalent mintings, would yield a roll 1.5 inches wide. A roll of the smaller golden dollars would only be 1.043 inches wide.
Dollar rolls are shorter than other rolls due to their reduced coin counts. However, they can weigh up to a pound and a half, so be aware that they are quite heavy.
Coin rolls are comprised of coins of the same denomination, but they are rarely separated according to their vintage.
As metal prices for commodities like copper and silver have continued to rise over the years, it has created a situation where the value of the metal within some of the coins exceeds that of the coin’s face value. So, if you go purchase coin rolls from your bank, you now have the opportunity to go on a type of treasure hunt collecting rare and valuable coins.
What you’re trying to find are coins that fall into one of three camps. The first camp consists of those pre-1965 dimes, quarters, and half dollars. These coins are made of 90% silver, which means that they can have values 10 times greater (or more) than their face value. They also have some historical value and significance which can increase their value, too.
The second camp is the short run of 40% silver half dollars produced between 1965 – 1970. These coins, minted in the wake of the Coinage Act of 1965, were part of the stepback from such heavy silver-laden coins. After 1970, half dollars joined their dime and quarter brethren in the realm of no silver content.
Finally, a third target for you are pre-1982 pennies, which are primarily made of copper, rather than zinc. In particular, the Lincoln wheat cents and copper Lincoln Memorial pennies from before 1982 are great options for you to stash, as they have a good deal of copper to boot.
Of course, buying an entire roll of 90% silver quarters or half dollars is an easy way to have a known quantity of high-silver-value coins in your collection. Likewise, if you want a surefire way to lock in your silver, be sure to browse our full selection of junk silver.
If you need some new rolls for your collection, there are plenty of options for you here at JM Bullion, too.