The Good Old Days, What Were ASEs And Junk Selling At?

When the Eagle program was announced in 1986 I was stationed in the Washington DC area. Silver was at
$3 to $4 oz. Everyone was excited about getting some
of these new coins, until we heard about the premium.

The coin shop we all went to was in Springfield VA.
the first ones they got they were selling at $7.00
per coin. Most of us were not excited anymore. We
thought that was to much of a premium.

By 1987 many of us, that were going into that coin shop,
had changed our minds and started buying them. I even cashed in some of my two daughters saving bonds and
bought them rolls of silver Eagles at $140 a roll.

If I remember right, one of the guys going in there was
buying rolls of 1/10th oz. gold Eagles at less than $50
per coin.

These are interesting posts. I started a couple of months ago when silver had just dropped below $20 per ounce.

I have been going crazy buying everything and have a very random coin collection. The premiums on rounds at our local coin shop increased when silver hit $18 per ounce. This increase didn't matter as they sold out of rounds about a week ago. My point is the rounds cost nearly the same when silver was $19 per ounce as $17.

One thing I have really enjoyed reading are threads (from other sites) back in 2011. Some thought the price would drop, and others thought is was going to $100. The lesson I have learned from reading these posts is that just because silver is $17 doesn't mean it can't drop to $12.

I would have the same problem as Traevin in that I probably wouldn't sell much of my stuff for $50. Part of this is because I really like most of the stuff I have picked up. For instance, my first 10 oz bar was an old JM Matthey bar with a torn plastic cover and toning in those areas. The bar makes me wonder about it's history, who bought it, and why it was sold for under $20 per ounce. My point is I don't even want to get rid of average bars and certainly not the semi and albums.

What were the highest you have seen ASE sell for? I think the highest I have seen is about $23 per coin, and rounds about $22 per coin.

When I started in the late 1990's I could get a eagle for under $10. I loved photography and my dad's work offered monthly photo contests to decorate the plant. The rewarded was a uncirculated eagle. I think I got about 14 that way. Later when the plant decided to redecorate I got all the huge framed enlargements of my architecture photos of the city so I ended up with a double prize. They wanted a more place neutral setting and hung motivational posters. It got so depressing looking

I got into a habit of buying foreign bullion coins and the most expensive for one ounce was like $15 for my Australian Kookaburra. Silver junk coins carried only a small premium from what I remember. I have a few 1964 halves for like $1.50-$2 on special. I got a few cleaned silver dollars for like $7 a piece. My best buy was a 1987 proof eagle for $16 for my birth year.

I lost interest in coins when I got into high school until a year ago. I was quite impressed looking at my old albums how much silver I had bought and the prices I paid for it.

I remember when silver was $6 visiting an antique store with a rotating shelf display. He had 1 ounce rounds and bars for $8, as well as Peace and Morgans for the same price. I snapped up all of his Pandas for that price.

Today, really only nickels are a true money. When I say that I mean their value in metal is comparable to its face. Some feel they (along with pre 1982 pennies) could be the item to hold. Just like those dimes, quarters and halves of the mid 1960s.