What Would You Buy Within The Following Budgets?

Disagree about hoarding silver. I believe what we're seeing now is a result of gold speculators realizing that the gold market is approaching it's bubble burst, and turned to silver in the meantime. Expect gold to pull back significantly within a year, followed by silver shortly thereafter.

I agree though with the other commentors about buying ultra-high grade common date coins, especially pre-1965 silver. MS67 Mercs can be had for $50-75 right now, and most Washington 25c MS65 or better are cheap as well. Wouldn't go for Roosevelt dimes though.

KenRingold silver 90% and 40%, U. S. coins are not currently being melted. When these are sold to a coin or bullion dealer they are either sold to a walk-in patron or sent to a smelter or refinery where they are bagged and sold to investors in $1,000.00 face value bags. The reason they are not melted is that there is too much demand for silver coin by people who would rather stockpile their silver in that form versus bars, rounds or ingots.