I’m surprised at how many nickels from the 40’s and 50’s are still in circulation. I have one I received in change dated to 1943.
Wheat pennies were uncommon but not hard to find when I was a kid. I still find one once in a great while.
Apparently quarters before 1965 had a high silver content. As they all but vanished from my observation when silver spiked in...1979 or 1980?
Last year, I found a 1943 Mercury dime in my change.
I received it as part of my change from a cashier in the garden section of a WalMart here in Maine.
As a kid, I used to find MANY Mercury dimes while going through my mother’s pocketbook and the change in my father’s pockets (with their permission). Also pre-1965 90% silver Roosevelt dimes, Washington quarters, an occasional Standing Liberty quarter dollar, 40% silver war time Jefferson nickels, Buffalo nickels, wheat pennies, 1943 steel Lincoln pennies, etc.
My father and I sold all the silver coins, and all silver half dollars and Morgan silver dollars, when silver reached $50 an ounce in 1980.
I even sold back then a roll of uncirculated 1963 Washington quarter dollars in a clear plastic tube that my father bought for me at a business called “The Trading Post” on Long Island.
I just got a 1963 quarter as change a few weeks ago. 90% silver. I was pretty happy.
L