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 Replies: 15 / Views: 4,090 |
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Bedrock of the Community
United States
10045 Posts |
Finding some Canadian quarters today in a shop, I wondered how many dealers and collectors in the US don't know there are silver 1968 quarters? Tucked away in "bargain bins" could be 1968 quarters that are 50% silver, worth $1.64 each. The 50% coinage often looks grayer as below, and might fool the eye--but not a magnet which sorts these with ease. So if you find a dozen for $0.50 each, it might be worth your time.   |
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Pillar of the Community
United States
4870 Posts |
Yes, there were silver quarter business strikes in 1968.
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Bedrock of the Community
 United States
10045 Posts |
When I was a kid, I got a lot of Canadian coins in change, living near the border.
I did not realize the odd-colored '68 quarters were silver back then--.09388 oz of silver.
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Bedrock of the Community
Canada
10743 Posts |
Yeah... I find a few of these, from time to time. The trick is to carry a small magnet with you.  |
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Valued Member
Canada
386 Posts |
Usually it is pretty obvious with lightly circulated 1968 dimes and quarters. Dark metal = nickel, white metal = silver.
I have come across a few 1968 coins that had a strong whitish color and turned out to be nickel (my magnet stuck). Similarly, I have come across 1968 coins with a dark nickel-like color and they turned to be silver. Heavy circulation can change the color of 1968 coins.
A magnet is the best way to confirm 1968 coins with suspcious coloring.
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Pillar of the Community
United States
790 Posts |
On a related line, does anyone know how to tell the difference between the .500 and .800 silver issues of 1967?
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Valued Member
Canada
372 Posts |
The answer is 30% more silver in the .8 lol
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Valued Member
United States
168 Posts |
I would assume that it would weigh a couple of tenths of a gram lighter given that the dimensions are the same... dunno how you would do it as efficiently as that magnet test though.
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Bedrock of the Community
United States
10045 Posts |
I'm not sure that simply weighing the coin would work. If you have sensitive enough equipment, a specific gravity test should determine between .500 and .800 . The SG of .500 silver / .500 copper = 9.68 vs 10.17 for .800
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Pillar of the Community
United States
3294 Posts |
So the 1968 silver caribou is magnetic?
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Pillar of the Community
Canada
1248 Posts |
yes all fine and good...
BUT HOW do we determine the SP test?
Not so easy? or easy?
with a scale?
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Bedrock of the Community
United States
10045 Posts |
Quote:
So the 1968 silver caribou is magnetic? Sorry...I thought that was obviously a NO (50%Ag/50%Cu) Quote:
BUT HOW do we determine the SP test? I've done some SG tests with a scale that's accurate to .01 gram. My results appeared consistent over 3 tests per coin, but I cannot confirm accuracy either. Here's a SG test proposed by Swamperbob. |
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Pillar of the Community
United States
790 Posts |
Unfortunately you all seem to confirm what I suspected, it is essentially impossible to tell the difference between .500 and .800 coins. I just assume that all 1967s are .500 and catalog them accordingly. But as a guy that likes to collect everything, I'd love to tell the difference.
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Pillar of the Community
Canada
4227 Posts |
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Pillar of the Community
 Canada
9866 Posts |
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Pillar of the Community
Canada
838 Posts |
Yeah, I sold a bunch of silver one time and there were three separate prices used: .800 for <= 1966, .650 for 1967 (can't easily tell), and .500 for 1968.
If the metal were gold, it might actually be worth the effort to distinguish.
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Replies: 15 / Views: 4,090 |
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Posted 10/20/2009 7:34 pm
