Newbie question about BU rolls

[Guest]

I just got into collecting cents a few weeks ago and have seen rolls on ebay advertised as BU. So I learned that BU means brilliant uncirculated. My question is: Where do these coins come from(besides the mint)? Can you get them from the bank? Do BU rolls always contain the same date/mm coin or can they be a mix of dates/mm's? How can you tell if a coin is truly BU. I ask this because in my searches I have found rolls with some quite brilliant coins with little to no wear mixed in with more worn and obviously circulated coins. So I am a little confused about the precise meaning of the term. Thanks

[coop]

Someone years ago bought a bunch of the rolls from a bank the year they came out. They may have been sold several times or you may be buying them from the orginal owner. Just like now, you can buy OBW rolls from the bank and keep them for years and later sell them. They are from private owners. Hope this helps.

[liveandievarieties]

BU Roll is a term generally used to describe a solid date and MM roll of coins that has not been handled, as in no fingerprints, hasn't been in pocket change. Kept together since the year it was made. In cents, BU also means full red unless otherwise stated. As mentioned, these are rolls that were acquired in the year they were made and kept together as a roll of 50.
Best way to tell if a roll is BU is to go to the bank and get a brand new roll of 2011 or 2012 cents. Any BU rolls should resmble this in quality, fresh, bright and fully red.

As stated by coop, you can often get the current year's coins in a full BU roll at your local bank. For earlier years you'd have to go to a coin dealer or on eBay.

[ztpi1]

Thanks. that clears things up a bit. I'll have to ask about it the next time I go to the bank