PALM BEACH COUNTY, Fla. — Now's a great time to keep a close eye on your pocket change!
The Great American Coin Hunt is underway and making waves around the country.
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From now until Sunday, April 28 at 11:59 p.m., more than a million new and vintage coins will be dropped into circulation by the U.S. Mint, as well as coin dealers and collectors.
"It's going to be coin dealers like myself getting kids interested in the hobby," said Gary Tancer, owner of the Coin & Jewelry Gallery of Boca Raton.
Over the next several days, dealers and collectors will visit businesses and drop off bags of rare coins so they can be worked into the day-to-day cycle of commerce.
Tancer said he plans to cycle in coins like wheat and Indian pennies, Eisenhower dollars, and buffalo nickels from as far back as the 30s and 40s.
"It's a great way for kids to enjoy the hobby with their family," said Tancer. "It's just getting everybody interested in the hobby again. It's a great hobby."
Tancer said the value of rare coins has decreased over the last decade, so now is a good opportunity for children to put together a collection of rare coins at a low cost.
The event, sponsored by the American Numismatic Association, is being called the biggest coin drop in American history.
You can see a map of where the new and rare coins are being mixed into circulation, including right here in South Florida, by clicking this link.
To learn more about the Great American Coin Hunt, click here.
How is your hunt for a 2019 #WQuarter going? Some followers have asked what the difference is? Here is a side-by-side comparison of a 2019 quarter minted at Philadelphia next to one minted at West Point. @ANACoins #GreatAmericanCoinHunt pic.twitter.com/WNEezuRxR1
— United States Mint (@usmint) April 11, 2019
WPTV's Miranda Christian is working this story, and will have more throughout the day online and on air.
