Next Step For Inherited Coin Collection?

Your coins look like pretty typical circulated Walking Liberties to me. In that era, fifty cent pieces were very heavily used and many of them show it. Some of yours have pretty excessive toning. I had a similar problem that I think was caused by the paper flap in that kind of folder being not of archival quality. Since these halves aren't mint state coins, it's not a big deal.

How I feel about heavily circulated coin sets changes frequently. Sometimes, I really appreciate them and other days, like when I'm freshly back from a coin show with row after row of high grade coins, I'm less enthusiastic. But the tie to your grandfather is something you won't be able to replace so I recommend hanging on to most of them. Over time, that tie will probably be more valuable to you than whatever you'd get for the silver.

But I wouldn't recommend "freezing" the collection as your grandfather kept it. It's your collection now and your grandfather wouldn't have a problem with you selling some and buying others in ways that made the collection more appealing to you. The tie to your grandfather will still be there even if it's not the exact same group of coins.

A very wise lady who collected oriental antiques taught me that the happiest collectors are the ones who are fully aware that they are merely the temporary stewards of their collections. If we do a good job preserving our treasures, they can be enjoyed for many many generations. Who knows, one day, you may get the opportunity to pass these coins on to your grandchildren.

ozerman..I'm on board with several others here: the coins are worth more than melt, whether you keep them for your own interest or you sell them to someone else. The coins you posted are not in bad condition...I like them.

Have you decidedly become interested in collecting coins now that you've done some research? If so, have you decided you're interested in collecting all denominations or maybe some other parameter of collection, like issued denominations for specific years, etc.

There are all sorts of way to begin collecting coins....all sorts of ways to continue...all sorts of ways to be collect-specific or expansive.

I tried to be interested in collecting very modern coins (1990 and later)....must not have tried hard enough !

Update...

J_H_S I'm definitely interested in collecting and I did start some time back before joining this forum.

I started small filling Dansco albums for cents, nickels, dimes, quarters and Kennedy halves. Between my own searching and my grandfathers coins I'm only missing a couple of key dates throughout the albums.

I've filled new folders of Indian Head cents, Buffalo nickels and Mercury dimes both which are just missing a few key dates.

I transferred the Liberty and Franklin halves out of the old folders and into better storage, trading a few duplicates out for years/mints I was missing. Also transferring Peace dollars and Morgan dollars into better storage.

I've filled up folders of all circulating coinage (aside from dollar coins) in duplicate/triplicate as well as moved the large quantities of extra Buffalo nickels and wheat cents into more appropriate storage containers compared to their previous falling apart envelopes.

Lastly I've been buying lots of silver coins like maple leafs, silver eagles and philharmonics and have been archiving one of each year that I get.

Still haven't really gotten into all the foreign coins yet. I still really just don't know where to start with them or if I'm even interested in pursuing them.

Thanks for the interest.