I just discovered something yesterday that sort of blew my mind. Probably won't be anything new to any of you guys. I buy silver every friday. Sometimes at a store, sometimes on ebay. Yesterday I was buying on ebay and looking for silver half dollars. I came across a listing for a "2004 silver kennedy proof" and had a look. The picture looked beautiful but I honestly thought it was fake. I mean, I didn't know they ever made any half dollars in silver after 1970. So I had to look it up and was dumbfounded to discover that the mint really did make and still make silver versions of these coins in proofs. I don't know how I've been a silver collector all of these years and never realized this. So, now that I've shown my ignorance, here's some questions I'm having a hard time answering. First, I have seen a few websites that say these modern silver proofs are 40% silver, while some say they are 90% silver. I actually bought one (hasn't arrived yet) but the ebay listing says it is 90%. If it is truley 90% silver, then it isn't a bad deal. I only paid a couple of bucks more than what a 1964 circulated half dollar would normally cost. A fair deal, I think. However, If it is 40%, then it is not such a good deal and I probably won't be buying anymore. Second question - I also found a 2006 Quarter in silver proof and bought that as well. (I'm also assuming it is 90% silver) But I haven't been able, so far, to locate any other modern coins in silver such as dimes, nickels, or the smaller dollar coins. Do they exist? What would I search for to find them? I mean, if I put in "silver dollar" I just get listings for peace and morgan dollars along with some silver eagles and eisenhowers. If I put in "silver nickel" all I get are listings of war nickels. I normally just collect the older silver coins for bullion. But I wouldn't mind getting some of these proofs. I keep the bullion in tubes, but whenever I get a really nice looking coin in I put it in an airtite and keep it in a special part of my collection that is worthy of admiring. I think I'll be growing that section soon.
These coins in the U.S. Silver Proof Mint set are 90% silver. Follow the link to the U.S. Mint website: http://catalog.usmint.gov/webapp/wc...ctId=16860&langId=-1&parent_category_rn=10211
the only 90% modern silver coins would be the dime, quarter an half dollar, an the silver dollars i believe would be eagles or commemoratives.... also half dollar 90% commems.
In 1976 the mint issued three coin (quarter, half and ike dollar) sets in both proof and uncirculated. These are 40% silver. Starting in 1992 to the present the mint has issued silver proof sets. The halfs, quarters, and dimes in these sets are 90% silver. The other coins in the set are the the same as in the regular proof sets. In my opinion too, they are an attractive way to collect silver. There are times on ebay that you can pickup individual coins for slightly over melt. I have added about 2 dozen of the state quarters to the collection that I pounced on with a last second snipe.
Ahhh.. This explains why I saw some as 40% and some as 90%. That's good, now I'll know what to look for. I actually don't mind buying 40% silver, as long as I'm paying 40% prices.
Redbook is a great place to start with US coins. As aside, I picked up a Korean War Memorial commemorative for ~$24 which included OGP. About $7 over spot price for silver content at the time...but I didn't buy it as bullion.
