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 Replies: 13 / Views: 2,575 |
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Valued Member
Canada
62 Posts |
I notice people selling post 1980 fifty cent coins on ebay stating they're sterling silver. I can't find anything on the net about that. They all have the usual crest on the back. Are they sterling or are they bs*ing? |
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New Member
Canada
8 Posts |
From the mint web site;
1980 to 1999
Composition: 99% nickel (minimum)
Weight (g): 8.1
Diameter (mm): 27.13
Thickness (mm): 1.9
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Valued Member
 Canada
62 Posts |
I contacted one of the sellers, said the proof sets from 1996 have silver coins. Smells like crap to me.
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Pillar of the Community
Canada
2366 Posts |
Proof sets were made with the circulation coins in sterling silver (except the penny & loonie) from 1996-2011. Starting in 2012 they are now all .9999 silver. For example, the composition of the coins in my 1998 set are:
Silver Dollar 25.175g 92.5% Silver
2 Dollar 8.83g Sterling Silver, gold plated inner core
1 Dollar 7.0g Nickel plated with Bronze
50 cents 9.3g Sterling Silver
25 cents 5.9g Sterling Silver
10 cents 2.4g Sterling Silver
5 cents 5.35g Sterling Silver
1 cent 2.50g Bronze
Edited by kuh_85
05/05/2012 5:45 pm
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Valued Member
Canada
62 Posts |
If someone is offering these on ebay, how do you know for sure you're getting a silver one? |
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Valued Member
Canada
62 Posts |
Oh wait...I weight them. ;-)
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Valued Member
Canada
62 Posts |
Do you have the specs for 2001?
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Bedrock of the Community
United States
10284 Posts |
I have been buying the 5 cent silver proofs to add to my set of Canadian nickels and even grabbing extra duplicates silver proofs for the past few years. I thought they were all .925 sterling silver up until last year but I see that people are advertising the 2012 silver proof nickels as .9999 pure silver.
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Rest in Peace
United States
9104 Posts |
 , hagbard and snaggle! |
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Valued Member
Canada
115 Posts |
If it's a PROOF 1996 or later, it's silver (at least sterling). If it's before 1996, it's NOT silver.
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Valued Member
Canada
62 Posts |
The question is then, how do I determine if its proof? I've now got it in my hands, it weighted 9.4g.
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Pillar of the Community
Canada
2366 Posts |
The old magnet test. Silver is non-magnetic.
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Valued Member
Canada
62 Posts |
Yep, non-magnetic. So 50 cent pieces are magnetic otherwise?
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Valued Member
Canada
115 Posts |
Yes, the non-silver are magnetic.
Are you new to this ? You can tell if it's proof by the finish on it; the fields are mirror, the bust and other raised areas are frosted.
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Replies: 13 / Views: 2,575 |
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Posted 05/05/2012 5:37 pm
