In Depth Study:

BU Roll Buyer's Guide

The first type of machine wrapped roll we discuss also utilized preformed paper tubes like those discussed in the prior section.  In this case, the machine is only used to seal the rolls.  The coins are still inserted manually in the tube and then the machine is used to crimp the open end of the paper tube.  Typically the non-factory end is not crimped as tightly.  Also, the paper tends to be loose around the roll since the tube is slightly larger than the diameter of the coins so that the coins can be easily inserted without jamming.  These crimping machines are very inexpensive (compared to a wrapping machine) since all they do is seal the tube.  This type of crimping machine is available for a few hundred dollars for higher volume users.  For smaller volume users and home use, hand versions and a supply of preformed tubes can be purchased for less than $10.

Image 5: High speed wrapping machine.

The vast majority of rolls today are wrapped with a wrapping machine (see Image 5).  These sophisticated machines--often costing as much as a small car--have larger hoppers capable of holding a few hundred rolls of coins at a time.  The machines reject misshapen coins, coins of other denominations, off-center strikes, and the like.  They count the correct number of coins into the roll for the chosen denomination, tightly wrap the roll and nicely crimp the ends.  The entire process takes no more than a few seconds per roll.  

Image 6: Rolls of wrapping paper.

These high speed wrapping machines utilize wrapping paper that comes on a large roll, just like toilet paper,  only in a even larger roll (see Image 6).  Several companies manufacture paper for these machines.  From the volume of rolls we have seen, N.F. String & Son appears to have the lion's share of the market.  Partly, that might just be that N.F. String & Son appears to be the only manufacturer that actually puts its name on the roll. Many new roll collectors mistake the presence of the N.F. String & Son name on the wrapper to mean they were the company that wrapped the roll.  About twice a month we receive a request for rolls "wrapped by N.F. String & Son" and have to explain that "they just print the paper."  Visit the N.F. String & Son website to learn more about the company and see the coin and currency wrapping products they sell.  Other vendors of rolls of wrapping machine paper include Clean Sweep Supply, US Bank Supply, and Keysan among many others.

The various suppliers of this paper generally have slightly different designs.  However, all conform to American Banking Association standards on the colors used.  Typically the paper is white (although occasionally kraft) with the color of the printing indicating the denomination (see Table 2).   The printing will specify the dollar value of the roll and the denomination.  

Image 7: Various quarter wrapping paper styles.

Many of the manufacturers will also custom print the paper with the name of the armored car company.   As a result, there are a variety of different looks within the same standards.  Image 7 shows three variations : N.F. String & Son (top), generic (middle), and printed with armored car company name (bottom).

Image 8: "Shrink wrapped" rolls.

Beginning in the 1990s, a new type of machine was introduced that wrapped coins in a plastic sleeve, making them appear "shrink wrapped" (see Image 8).  The plastic is tightly stretched over the roll of coins keeping them together.  The coins are easily removed by squeezing the roll or tearing away the plastic wrapping. 

Image 9: Paper styles used circa 1935-1975.

The paper styles shown above are examples of the types in use today.  When one looks back at older rolls, the style was different.  It seems the above-described styles (mostly white with color coded printing) came into being around around the mid-1970s.   Prior to that and going back to the 1930s, most of rolls tend to have been wrapped in solid color paper (see Image 9).  Typically, the paper itself is color coded to denomination with the printing typically being in red or black.  The solid wrapper colors generally correlate to the color scales shown in Table 2 above.  The cent and nickel are the main denomination seen with variations.  While red wrappers are very frequently encountered on cent rolls of this era, and blue wrappers are typical on nickel rolls of the era purple wrappers are also common for both denominations.  Sometimes, kraft colored paper can be found on all denominations from this era.