In Depth Study:

BU Roll Buyer's Guide

We have attempted to include the more common terms used in the BU roll trade and give their technical meaning as well as meaning in conventional use, if different.  If there is a term you are looking for that is not in the list, let us know by e-mailing us at wh@wayneherndon.com and we will add it to the list. 

Bank Wrapped--1. A roll wrapped by a bank.  Rolls were commonly wrapped by banks in the 1950s and 1960s.  Typically the "bank wrapped" status is evidenced by the presence of a bank name printed on the wrapping paper itself.  While technically the term could apply to rolls hand wrapped by banking personnel, the term typically is applied only to machine wrapped rolls.  2. Often, the term is more broadly used to refer to an unopened, machine wrapped roll whether wrapped by a bank or not, especially when applied to rolls from the 1970s and later (which were rarely wrapped by banks (typically the wrapping was done by armored car companies)).  

BU Roll--A brilliant uncirculated roll.  The roll may be original and/or unopened but neither is required to be a BU roll.

Crimped End--The tightly, rolled up end of a machine wrapped roll.

Fed (or Federal) Wrapped--1. Technically, a roll wrapped by a Federal Reserve Bank branch.  Rolls were commonly wrapped by Federal Reserve Banks branches in the 1950s and 1960s.  Typically the Federal Reserve status is evidenced by the presence of a Federal Reserve Bank branch name printed on the wrapping paper itself.  2. Often more broadly and erroneously used to describe a roll as being wrapped by a Federal Reserve Bank that was not actually by a Federal Reserve Bank when in actuality the Federal Reserve no longer wraps rolls.  Instead, the rolls this term is used to describe in conventional use are rolls that were wrapped by an armored car company delivering bulk coinage from the a Federal Reserve Bank branch to a local branch bank.  They are wrapped in paper that has been standardized by the American Banking Association.  This "official look" cause many (if not most) people to assume they are government wrapped.

FMS--An acronym for "from Mint Sets" used to describe a roll that was put together by cutting coins from Mint Sets.

Folded End--The folded over end of a hand wrapped roll.

H/T or Heads/Tails--Typically used to describe a State Quarter roll that has the heads side of a coin (with the mintmark) showing on one end and the tails side of a coin (with the state design) showing on the other.  This enables one to identify the state and mintmark without having to open the roll.

Mint (Wrapped) Roll--1. Often erroneously used to describe a roll as being wrapped by the Mint when in actuality the Mint does not wrap rolls.  Instead, these rolls are typically rolls that were wrapped by an armored car company delivering bulk coinage from the a Federal Reserve Bank branch to a local branch bank.  2. Rolls of Sacagawea Dollars, State Quarters or Kennedy Half Dollars sold by the US Mint (but wrapped by an outside contractor) in specially designed, colorful paper.  3. A BU roll (the term "mint" is often used as a synonym for "uncirculated" as in "mint state.")

N.F. String & Sons--A company that manufactures coin and currency wrapping products, including rolls of wrapping paper used in wrapping machines.  N.F. String & Sons is one of the most widely used brands of paper and one of the few manufacturers that prints its name on the paper, causing some collectors to believe (erroneously) that the rolls were actually wrapped by N.F. String & Sons.

OBW or Original Bank Wrapped--Technically an original, bank wrapped (i.e., has the bank name preprinted on the wrapping paper) roll.  More often used to describe any unopened, machine-wrapped roll.

Original--A term used to describe a roll that has remained intact since the year of issue.  A roll that has had a coin or coins removed and replaced is not original.  The term is often used to describe an unopened roll, however, rolls can be opened (even tubed) and still be original.

O/W or Orange/White--A term used on quarter rolls to describe the type of wrapping paper (white with orange printing) used to wrap the roll.

Put-Together Roll--The opposite of an original roll; a roll that has been made by combining coins from two or more rolls, often after cherry picking the varieties and/or high grade coins from the roll.

Shotgun Roll--1. Originally, a term was used to describe a roll that was twice the typical length (as in a double barrel shotgun).  For example, casinos frequently wrap half dollars in $20 (40-coin) rolls.   2. Some also apply the term to describe a hand wrapped roll that was wrapped utilizing a preformed tube.  The preformed end is rolled up and crimped like the end of a shotgun shell, while the other end is folded over.  3. Most often today used to describe any machine wrapped, paper roll.

Shrink Wrapped--Rolls that have been wrapped in a stretchy, plastic sleeve rather than a paper wrapper.

Tubed--A roll that has been removed from its paper wrapper and placed in a plastic tube.

Unopened--A roll that has not been opened.

Unsearched--A roll that has not been searched for errors, varieties, higher grades or other more desirable coins.  Typically used to describe an unopened roll but even opened rolls can be unsearched.