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 Replies: 41 / Views: 3,052 |
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New Member
United States
11 Posts |
I've recently received via inheritance, a toolbox with a sizable stash (40 or fifty lbs) of silver coins, including a dozen or so Morgans, a couple with the CC mint marks. The rest of the collection is rather motley and is "ok" condition dimes from 1917-1964, Washington quarters from I believe the 20's through 1964. Lots of Liberty, Franklin and Kennedy half dollars from the teens through 1964 Kennedy-series. Have a baggie full of the WW2 nickles that were 35% silver, too. The entire collection, like I said, is not in great condition, but is varied. I would imagine most of it is bound for the melter's but before I do that, is there a particular date of any particular coin in these varieties that would be worth more than melt value given that the conditions of these are pretty rough? Rough to me being the dates are fairly worn, the raised edges are worn fairly smooth, feathering is absent great detail. There are some samples that are pretty nice, especially in the Morgans, but overall, good condition and circulated at best. I'm told in another venue that given the recent increases in prices for melt, only coins in the very best un-circulated or mint/proof condition command prices higher than the silver content by weight. Also, when selling weight for melt, do they estimate troy, or short-weight U.S. ounces? Any advice? Edited by what2do
02/24/2009 1:29 pm
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Pillar of the Community
United States
3098 Posts |
Well, let's take a look at them if we can get some good dates and average quality.
I thought "melt value" was just a market price saying... didn't know that people would actually send coins to be melted into lifeless bars!
Plus, an entire bag of WWII nickles? You might fill a lot of our member's holes!
**Re-read your questions. First of all, any coinage silver that's not a complete flat disk would have some premium, although not significant. If you have rare dates, then any condition is fine. And when they measure it, they measure in tr oz, but tell them to do it in grams first, *.9 to get the silver in gr, then into tr oz.
Also, there's a huge community of people buying pre-64 at 10x face, although you can probably haggle for 12x. 10x is better than melt, right?
***and to add onto mycrob, IMHO, DO NOT MELT ANYTHING!!
Edited by wd1040
02/24/2009 1:37 pm
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Pillar of the Community
United States
2602 Posts |
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New Member
 United States
11 Posts |
In the dimes, quarters and halves what would be valuable dates/mint marks? When I go through, year-by-year, most years they minted so many tens of millions of these they don't show value beyond melt. If it makes anyone feel any better, I'm not going to melt the Morgans, they'll probably be mementos unless they were extraordinary, which I don't think they are. There are also several Buffalo nickles, but the dates are worn off of them. The 10X or 12X face, is that a reflection of melt, or coinage/age/numismatic value? |
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Moderator
 United States
6563 Posts |
Quote:
The 10X or 12X face, is that a reflection of melt, or coinage/age/numismatic value? 10x the face value of the coin. A dime at 10x would be worth $1 at "melt value" |
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Valued Member
United States
462 Posts |
You can go to this website: http://www.silvercoinstoday.com/sil...-calculator/and enter how many of each silver coin you have, then enter the current spot price of silver to arrive at the silver value of your coins. Then offer them for sale for some premium over the silver value and see if you can get more money for them. Like other's have posted, there may be some coins that folks on here need for their collections and would pay more than melt value for the coin. |
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Pillar of the Community
United States
618 Posts |
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Pillar of the Community
United States
615 Posts |
Well I am telling you that selling them to a smelter isn't going to get you the most money. They are your coins though.
-SWUSC
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Pillar of the Community
United States
2669 Posts |
CC Morgans are worth WAY over melt! Can you post some pictures of at least the Morgans so we can give you a rough idea of what a collector would give you for them rather than the smelter?
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Pillar of the Community
United States
2669 Posts |
For all coins, condition is important to base the value on. The coin could be a key date in a series and even in rough condition it would be worth a fair amount. So don't be too quick to get rid of them - do a little research first (these forums are a great starting point!) and you'll learn a lot about the values of what you have. At least that way, if you do decide to sell them, you can make sure you are given a fair price for them. and  |
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Pillar of the Community
United States
3098 Posts |
 Over the weekend, would you mind taking photos of them and posting them up?  |
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New Member
United States
11 Posts |
Too bad there's no one here from the DC region, I'd grab a 6-pack, a bag of chips and give em first crack at trying to describe it. I tried to take a couple of pics, but with the flash, they turned into a white blur. Soooo, that leads me to ask what the trick is to getting these shots you folks take? The clarity and detail is wunnerful! I'll post some tonight. My camera is digital, capable of 6 megapixels. Do I take 1 coin per pic, two? Front/back?
Look, guys, I didn't mean to seem so melt-happy, I'm not, and if something has some significance (and to an enthusiast, I guess EVERYTHING is historically significant) I'm not going to melt it. Seeing a group that's into the coins themselves like you folks here has given me a slightly different slant on things. A slant not nurtured elsewhere on the web in areas that deal with this stuff. Out there, it's melt-first, ask questions later. I had no idea until today (and I've had this stuff since last summer) that regular peeps were still doing this stuff as hobbyists and historians as so many of you clearly are. Dang, I'd give anything to have one of you nearby..
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Pillar of the Community
United States
2669 Posts |
Take a couple different pictures of both sides, with different lighting, that way you'll be able to tell which works best. Check out the photography forum for some good ideas on lighting. You'll need a tripod, or at least a VERY steady hand, and use the macro function (little flower icon on the camera). I'm glad you're not melt-happy  Here you can relax and find out about what you have there. You might be surprised. It's also addicting! |
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Pillar of the Community
United States
1424 Posts |
How close to DC are you? I live in calvert county but it's about an hour drive south of DC.
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Valued Member
United States
325 Posts |
take one of those old coins in your hand and think about the places it might have been. Saloons, stores, wars, schools, the people that might have used it in commerce, or as a gift. That's what makes all these silver, gold and clad discs worth something. Although the minted amount has a bit to do with it too. |
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Pillar of the Community
United Kingdom
1077 Posts |
Easiest way to get pics for the forum is to scan them.
It's not the most artistic for lighting etc. but it gets the job done, in focus and big enough to get all of the detail under 90kb.
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Replies: 41 / Views: 3,052 |
Posted 02/24/2009 1:35 pm
we like 
