In Depth Study:

BU Roll Buyer's Guide

Starting with the introduction of the Sacagawea Dollar in 2000, the US Mint has sold specially wrapped rolls of some denominations to collectors (see Image 10).  Actually, the the first specially wrapped rolls of Sacagawea Dollars were distributed to Wal-Mart and other promotional partners as part of the introduction of the Sacagawea Dollar.  Later that year, rolls wrapped in the same gold and black paper were sold to collectors.  These specially wrapped rolls of Sacagawea Dollars have been offered each subsequent year as well.

Starting with the issuance of the New Hampshire quarter in late 2000, the US Mint began selling State Quarter rolls specially wrapped in a orange, black and white wrapper.  These wrappers have the two letter postal code for the state as well as the P or D mintmark in large letters.  These rolls have been offered for each subsequent state as well.  However, none were issued for the 1999 states or the first three states in 2000.

In 2002, the US Mint sold Kennedy Half Dollars in blue and white wrapped rolls.  The rolls were again offered the following year with 2003-dated halves.  In 2004, the Mint offered not only 2004-dated halves in these specially wrapped rolls but also released 2001-dated halves as well.

In 2003, the US Mint offered specially wrapped rolls of 2003 Jefferson Nickels and the special packaging of this denomination continued the following year with the issuance of the commemorative reverse Westward Journey nickels.

While the US Mint sold these rolls directly to the public, they were not wrapped at the US Mint (remember, we said the Mint does not wrap rolls).  Instead, they were shipped to an outside contractor in bulk bags for wrapping (source: Coin World and Coin World).  Thus, the handling these coins received is essentially the same as those issued through the Federal Reserve for circulation.  The coins were shipped off-site in bulk bags to a third-party contractor for wrapping.   The contractor then dumped the coins in a wrapping machine hopper and wrapped them in the specially printed paper.  Next, they were shipped to the Mint's order processing contractor in Memphis, Tennessee.  There, they were stored until needed to fill customer orders when they were then shipped through the US Postal Service to the ultimate customer.

Image 10: From left to right, BU rolls sold by the US Mint: Sacagawea Dollars, State Quarters, Kennedy Half Dollars and Jefferson Nickels.