Great American Coin Hunt: Millions of rare, valuable coins are being released into circulation

Start checking that pocket change because you may just find a valuable, rare coin.

More than a million new and vintage coins will be dropped into circulation by collectors and coin dealers for the Great American Coin Hunt during National Coin Week, April 21-27.

The Willy Wonka-type stunt, sponsored by the American Numismatic Association (ANS), is being billed as the biggest coin drop in American history. It’s intended to spark interest in coin collecting.

The U.S. Mint and hundreds of coin dealers and collectors are participating, announcing their coin drops on Twitter, Facebook and Instagram using hashtag #GreatAmericanCoinHunt. There also is a map of where coins are being mixed into circulation posted at GreatAmericanCoinHunt.com.

Keep a sharp eye out for vintage coins from the 1800s, Indian and wheat pennies, buffalo nickels, silver dimes, Ike dollars, five and 10 dollar blue and red seals, and silver certificate bills will be spent at malls, grocery stores, restaurants and other establishments, according to a news release by the ANS.

The U.S. Mint also is participating, announcing it will circulate 10 million first-ever 2019 America the Beautiful Quarters bearing a W mark minted at West Point. The coins (some are listed on eBay for about $40) will be mixed in with other quarters produced in Philadelphia and Denver, according to a news release. The coins were shipped to banks on April 1 and likely will appear in circulation within four to six weeks, according to the mint.

“We want to encourage Americans to consider coin collecting by making the W mint mark quarters only available in general circulation,” said United States Mint Director David Ryder. “We’re fortunate to be able to feature the W mint mark quarters at the same time dealers around the nation are mounting a similar effort to celebrate and promote the hobby of numismatics.”