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 Replies: 17 / Views: 3,086 |
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Valued Member
United States
362 Posts |
I had this thought tonight as I was looking at some of my silver, specifically the Silver Proof sets. Why does the mint not make ALL the coins in silver? I think it would be neat to have a silver Cent, silver nickle and I think the $1's would look beautiful in silver. Anyone know why they do not do this?
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Moderator
 United States
23522 Posts |
Um, a dollar's worth of silver is about the size of your smallest fingernail, and a silver penny would fall through a window screen....
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Valued Member
United States
162 Posts |
I think just tradition, but I agree, a full silver set would look great. I'm assuming it would be a regular sized penny made of silver and not one cent's worth of silver made into a penny.
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Pillar of the Community
United States
4132 Posts |
I think he means for proof sets... I think proof set coins are supposed to be representative of circulating coinage. It's true that dimes, quarters and halves no longer are silver, but they used to be. The traditional composition of cents and nickels are bronze and cupronickel. I do wish they made the proof cents out of bronze instead of plated zinc (they did for 2009, but I guess that was just for the one year).
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Pillar of the Community
United States
5841 Posts |
I understand what you're saying, SuperDave, but with that argument I'd have to ask why they produce the 90% silver dime, quarter and half?
I think the point is that they do make a silver dime, quarter and half with the silver proof sets and charge a lot for them. So why not also make a silver penny and nickel and charge even more?
Personally, I think the answer is simply because dimes, quarters and halves were traditionally made from silver for many, many years prior to 1965, whereas pennies and nickels weren't. Plus, a silver penny wouldn't look real and a silver nickel is, well an oxymoron...
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Pillar of the Community
United States
5841 Posts |
All right, I obviously type waaaay too slow...
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Moderator
United States
23522 Posts |
Hadn't even considered issues not meant for circulation.  |
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Pillar of the Community
United States
764 Posts |
i was hoping the Sacagawea dollars would have gold proof issues. there were plans for it in 2000 and 25 or so 2000-W gold proof coins were minted, but the plans were scrapped |
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Bedrock of the Community
United States
12437 Posts |
Quote:
Why does the mint not make ALL the coins in silver? Because the Mint does not have the legal authority to do so. Composition changes to that degree would require Congressional legislation, current legislation allows for usage of silver for denominations that have been traditionally 90% silver. However, metal changes do occasionally happen on a small scale- the last known example would the the 2000-W Sacagaweas struck on 1/2 oz Gold Eagle planchets. |
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Valued Member
 United States
362 Posts |
Well I guess it must be "tradition", but, since proof sets are not meant for circulation they could break with tradition and change. It's not like the mint is doing a lot right these days so maybe they need to be less traditional. Besides you know they would make a nice premium on them if they made them. I know I'd buy a set or two. The price would not be too bad, an ALL silver set would have around $70 in silver and then add in their premium so say $90-95? Maybe they think that would be too expensive and they would lose orders....
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Pillar of the Community
United States
997 Posts |
I always thought that Proof coins should be representative of the circulating coins, same composition and mint marks. It is why I also don't believe they should be making half dollars for mint and proof sets if they are not made for circulation.
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Rest in Peace
United States
9104 Posts |
 n9jig Halves are still made. Four coin set isn't real exciting. |
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Pillar of the Community
Canada
3692 Posts |
Lol, there's a gold buyer here that buys your "silver nickels". It just sounds funny when he says it. Still, he's the only gold buyer to still have scantily-clad dancers and $100 bills.
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Pillar of the Community
United States
609 Posts |
I think the only way the government would put silver in coins would be like this.   This is probably the only possibility of having silver in coins now. Although I believe this will never happen, there would be nothing stopping me from getting a nail and punching out the silver center if it did. |
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Rest in Peace
United States
9104 Posts |
except laws regarding the fraudulent altering of coins.
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Pillar of the Community
United States
609 Posts |
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Replies: 17 / Views: 3,086 |
Posted 09/04/2011 8:42 pm
