Silver Coin Spoon

A silver coin spoon is not what many think. It is not a coin in silver similar to a bezel perhaps.

It is simply a spoon. The term coin silver refers to silverware produced in America during the early colonial times. European silver coins were brought over by colonists and the silver was used to make American silverware. Partially to use the silver as the coins were not really of any use outside of Europe and partially to retain the value of the silver.

There was also silver plate being produced (as it is now also) and here another metal is coated or plated in silver. This is known as EPNS, an abbreviation for Electro Plated Nickel Silver. Often found on silverware or hollow-ware like teapots or heavy serving bowls. This is nickel alloy covered with a layer of silver using the electroplate process.

Sometimes it can be difficult to tell the difference between real silver and silver plate but coin silver should have a silversmith stamp consisting of the first letter and last initial stamped on the piece. Sometimes the city of manufacture was also stamped on the piece and there are also catalogues and books available to consult whenever there is a query regarding a coin silver piece.

If there is no such mark then it is likely not coin silver. Of course silver coin spoon is simply spoons of this genre as distinct to knives, forks etc.

Silver coin spoons are actually collectors items and some people make a hobby of collecting then and love to displace a cabinet of fine silver coin spoons from various manufacturers. The cost is generally not large and a silver coin soon can be bought for anywhere from 50 to 200 US dollars.

Some of them tend to be fairly ordinary but sometimes you will fine a very fine example of patterns characteristic of the manufacturer.

Silver coin spoons can be bought from antique dealers and also on eBay. In all cases ensure you know what you are buying and that it can be established beyond all doubt that what you are getting is truly a silver coin spoon

All about Silver

Silver is used extensively in industry as well as in coinage and jewellery and for decorative functions. Mainly because it has excellent conductivity, and thermal properties as well as excellent corrosion resistance and is malleable enough to be worked yet durable enough to be used for the above purposes.

In commercial applications, the special chemical properties, superior thermal and electrical conductivity, high reflectivity, malleability, ductility and good corrosion resistance give it a unique place in industry.

For coinage and jewellery silver is graded in the same way as gold by weight or carats but more usually by degree of purity or fineness. Sterling silver is slightly less than pure silver and has some copper added to improve the hardness.

Silver does tarnish and proprietary silver cleaners are available to remove such tarnish.

40 percent of the worlds silver used is in photography as silver bromide used to develop photographs and only14 percent is actually used in jewellery and coinage. However it is in jewellery and coinage that it is most well known.

Most countries in the world have a silver coinage and whereas once it was in cons of circulation nowadays it is mostly in brilliant uncirculated cons, proof and commemorative coins for presentations and coin collectors.

By this way much effort has gone into creating coins for the sake of their looks and beauty rather than functional and the quality of silver coins has increased as a result markedly over the years.

Now one can get some truly beautiful coins such as the Canadian maple leaf, Chinese Pandas, British Britannias among many others.

So although this is not all about silver it does show that silver is an important part of everyday life and also can ad pleasure in many different ways.

Silver Maple Leaf Coin

A silver maple leaf coin is one of the more successful silver coins in terms of collectors.

The maple leaf coins were introduced in 1979 as gold bullion coins and, building on that success, the Royal Canadian Mint began to strike a silver one ounce silver maple leaf coin in 1988.

This was extremely popular paving the way for collectors with modest means to also participate in the pleasurable art of coin collecting. One ounce solver bullion coins are much easier to collect than gold with the value of silver proportionately less.

The silver maple leaf coin is also very attractively designed and features the Canadian Floral emblem of the maple leaf. The face value was five Canadian dollars. These coins are legal tender in Canada.

When buying silver maple leaf coins always ensure that you are getting at least BU (Brilliant Uncirculated) coins. Also available are proof coins which are coins that have been especially struck and polished. These coins are produced for collectors and as commemorative coins only and tends to be more expensive.

Silver maple leaf coins are quite beautiful as coins and many collectors collect exclusively silver maple leaf coins of each year and type.

Ensure you always buy from a reputable dealer and that the coin actually fits the description of the coin given. Ensure the dealer has a guarantee that if the coin is not as described you can return it for a refund.

Provided you practice some simple due diligence collecting silver maple leaf coins can be a pleasurable and possibly even profitable experience.

World Silver Coins

Collecting world silver coins can be a fascinating and interesting hobby. For example, not all silver coins are round, there are some very strange shapes out there. Although round coins are considered more suitable for general use and in vending machines, many countries issue non round coins for commemorative reasons or to be different or perhaps even out of perversity

Some collectors actually collect coins that are anything but round. Here are some examples.

Many people will have seen the fan shaped sterling silver coins from Poland. These were issued to commemorate the World Exhibition Expo 2005, held in Aichi, Japan and were issued by the National Bank of Poland

Bermuda has issued a triangular coin. The Proof 1988 sterling silver 3 dollar coin is struck on a rectangular planchet. This coin is clearly representing the Bermuda triangle.
On the reverse is the ship, Deliverance, sailing towards the island.

A curious coin but not the strangest.

Perhaps the oddest silver ‘coin’ is the 10 dollar coin from the Republic of Naru. This coin was struck to celebrate the introduction of the Euro and, as you can see from the image on the left, this coin is shaped in the outline of the nations comprising the EEU (European Economic Union). It has a value placed on it of 55 dollars and there are not very many around unsurprisingly. This is a coin that one would treat with some delicacy as it would be easy to snap of the odd country or two in handling.

Yet Another unusual issue is coin issued by the Somali Republic in 2004.Shaped like a guitar and issued in silver and copper-nickel versions this curious coin commemoratives the 50th anniversary of rock and roll music and the Stratocaster guitar.

Of course these are only a few of the many non round coins available and have the fun with collecting world silver coins is seeking them out

Junk Silver Coins

Junk silver coins are silver coinage that has no real value to collectors but does have value as silver content.

The coins still have the value of the silver content which can be quite substantial.

Junk silver refers mainly to those coins minted pre 1964 or 65. Pre 1965 the amount of silver in silver coins was around 90%, after that date the amount of silver in each coin was reduced to around 40 percent or so, so it is a good idea, if you are accumulating silver this way, to stick to the pre 1965 coins.

Although there will be wear and tear on the coins, scratch marks nicks and the face worn, the silver content is still usually about 99.9 percent intact making these coins worth their silver content.

For those concerned with the future economic uncertainty these coins make an ideal hedge therefore.

You can get ‘junk silver’ very easily. Many dealers sell old silver in bags of various denominations and sizes. You can buy a less than a hundred dollars worth or up to thou8sands of dollars worth. Only restricted by your budget and willingness to part with money.

Also you can even check your change in your pocket. You might be surprised at how much real silver you have.

Old silver coins can also be found on eBay and at flea markets but ensure you know the current value of silver to ensure you are not paying too much. Ensure you know the weight of the coins you are buying and do not pay more than 25 percent over the value of the silver in the coins. (there will always be a mark up as the dealer has to make his money of course).

As stated previously, avoiding all 1965 or later coins to make things easier.

Here is the silver content of various earlier silver coins:
Silver dollars contain 0.77344 Troy oz. silver content
Half dollars contain 0.36169 Troy oz silver content
Quarters contain 0.18084 Troy oz silver content
Dimes contain 0.0723 Troy oz silver content

Work out before the value of each coin before you buy. There is no substitute for doing due diligence to ensure you are getting the best deal and not paying a premium.

Following this principle will help to ensure you pay the least for your junk silver coins.

Silver Coin Bezels

Silver coin bezels are a great way to show off a silver coin you may have.

A bezel is actually a device for securing one thing to another and the term applies in many areas including electronics. It is commonly used to describe a metal or plastic frame to hold a watch face or coin and in this case could be used as a pendant.

It is also that part of a ring that can hold a gemstone in place.

A silver coin bezel of course is a circular ring specially constructed to hold a silver coin. There are many different sizes to accommodate the various silver coins available from small coins such as the British sixpence to the American silver eagles, Canadian or Chinese silver coins and even the British 2 pound Britannia.

As well as ensuring that you get the right size bezel for your silver coin one you would also look at the style or design. Is there a style or design suitable to hold the coin of your choice? Not too think and not too think. It should be durable also, especially if you are going to use it everyday. I would suggest that you get a sterling silver bezel as that is not pure 100% silver but is alloyed with a stronger metal such as copper, for example, to increase it’s hardness and durability.

Also the coin you intend to use would of course be attractive enough to want to mount it in a bezel but I would recommend you don’t use a coin if great value as the value of the coin will drop markedly once you have it mounted in a bezel and worn on a regular basis. Using a proof or even brilliant uncirculated coin would not be wise as the value of that coin by virtue of being a proof or BU coin will vanish.

There are many silver coins one can use that have minimal value, even if purse 99.9 percent silver. Due to wear and tear of the coin. These would only have the silver content value which would be, at the time of writing, around ten US dollars per troy ounce.

Getting the right silver coin bezels you’re your silver coins can result in a delightful presentation of your silver coin and an excellent fashion accessory also.

British Silver Coins

British silver coins are an excellent investment for the future. The quality of British silver coins is high and they are always very much in demand.

First introduced by Great Britain in 1997 the proof Britannia was struck with 95.8 percent purse silver and is one of the worlds heaviest silver coins. The British Royal Mint strike just 100,000 of these coins each year.

The name comes from he days of the Roman Empire when the Emperor Claudius, who had the title Britannicus, decided to inscribe his coins with, “De Britannis”. And so England was named Britain and the word Britannia has been association with Great Britain and the coins.

Acquiring a brilliant Uncirculated 2 pound silver bullion Britannia contains one full ounce of solid fine silver. This coin is a ‘must have” for collectors of the larger silver coins. Many will collect each year from 1997 onwards.

The 2006 edition of this coin is now available and will continue to attract keen interests from collectors world wide. The 2006 coin is issued in the same original design being 95.8 percent pure fine silver and with the usual 100,000 limited issue is sure to be snapped up by collectors and dealers alike.

Since 1582 all British silver coins have been made up of 925 parts of fine silver and 75 parts of copper. This gave the silver an additional hardness and has been known as Sterling Silver. Although Sterling silver is still used for silver objects in 1920 it was decided that the silver content of coins would be reduced and the British silver coins such as the half a crown, the florin and shilling would be struck as fifty percent silver alloyed with 5fifty percent copper.

From 1921 to 1946 therefore all silver coins were only half silver content. The silver content was further reduced to nothing and all silver coins were made with ‘cupro-nickel’.

Proof coins continued to be made even up to today for sale to collectors and to commemorate special occasions and the silver proof versions of the 1999 and the 2000 millennium crowns were struck in .99 fine silver.

British Silver Coins are considered some of the finest silver around and are always in demand and if you can add some British Silver Coins to your coin collector they will certainly enhance your collection.

999 silver coin

An example of a 999 silver coin is the Guernsey Eight Double one-ounce fine silver coin.

Per Wikipedia, The Bailiwick of Guernsey (French: Bailliage de Guernesey) is a British crown dependency in the English Channel off the coast of Normandy. It has a warm almost temperate climate as is warmed by the gulf stream Guernsey has it’s own mint and produces some very nice gold and silver coins.

Whereas most countries feature the current head of state, the State of Guernsey uses a Guernesiais motif, hence the ancient seal of King Edward I given to the island in 1279 that featured on the Doubles. The original seal bore the three lions of England, crowned later to become leopards, surmounted by a branch to represent broom or 'planta genista', Edward's badge of rank. Above the seal was 'Guernesey' in French, the legal and everyday language of the island at that time.

The Eight Doubles is legal tender and first minted in 1830; it was released periodically until 1966 together with the One, Two and Four Doubles.

The term 999 comes from the fact that the coin is 99.9 percent pure silver (or sometimes gold).

A 999 Guernsey Eight Double fine silver coin usually costs around 12 British pounds or around 20 US dollars.

SPECIFICATION
One troy ounce
Purity 999 fine silver –
Diameter 32mm
Weight - 31.1035 grams
Coin Edge - Plain

Although these coins were minted for a number of years, the quantity available is limited and they would therefore make a fine addition for a serious collector and the Guernsey Eight Double is a fine example of a 999 silver coin.

The Australian Lunar Silver Coin

The Australian Perth mint is continuing the Australian Lunar Silver Coin series
With the issue of the silver bullion coin for the year of the Dog.

The delightful silver bullion coin of one ounce pure silver will capture the hearts of all dog lovers everywhere.

This coin is limited to a mintage of only 3800 in Australia and is legal tender by law in Australia.

The dog featured is the German Shepard and although the coin is silver the dioog is in striking color.

In addition there is a special one ounce gilded edition of the silver coin also available.
This one ounce silver coin comes with a numbered certificate and a gold colors presentation case.

There is also a two ounce pure silver coin in the same genre. Only 750 of these coins have been struck! This is an exceptionally low mintage and these coins are sure to be snapped up very quickly. Like the others this beautiful coin comes in a presentation case with certificate of authenticity.

Not just for any dog lover but all con collectors will be pleased to own any or all of these
Coins and having a The Australian Lunar Silver Coin would certainly enhance any coin enthusiasts collection.

Silver Coins Wholesale

Silver coins wholesale is a great way to buy silver.

The picture on the left shows some Tibetan silver coins that were sold on eBay. The winning bid was 1 cent. And the weight of those silver coins (there were actually 5) was 98. grams.

Apart from the unique sale there are some great buys in wholesale silver to be gotten. And as the price of silver is rising again it is a good way to stock up for the future.

One method is bags of silver. Many dealers well ‘bags’ of silver coins. These are usually mixed bags of pre 1964us silver dimes with the odd eagle thrown in.

One can get lots of 500 US silver dimes, 1000 silver dimes and more. Usually they are mixed dates pre 1964 and the coins will contain about 40% silver.

Also available are silver quarters and ever liberty dollar coins.


A good buy is the 10 kilo bags of silver coins. The silver content in these bags usually amounts to about 5 kilos of silver in old coins. Price on query but will be over the current silver price per ounce with markup and delivery of course.

Buying silver coins wholesale is a good way to stock up on silver for a rainy day. Many people stock up with a view to not being caught with their pants down in the face of economic adversity but equally it can be fun buying and sorting out those old quarters and dimes and even eagles. You just never know what you might find when you buy silver coins wholesale!

Collectible Silver Coin

What constitutes a collectible silver coin you might ask.

This depends to some degree why you are collecting silver coins.

If you are collecting merely for the beauty of the coin and future investment consideration are of no consequence then you might just collect those coins that look really nice and are slightly more expensive for the silver value.

On the other hand if you are collecting silver coins purely for the future investment value you might actually be more interested in collecting those silver coins that are expected to appreciate in value over the coming years not just for the silver content perhaps but also for the rarity and or antique value.

Alternatively you might even look at silver bullion in the form of silver bars. Silver bars, however can be seen as an investment rather than a hobby and as they are not legal tender in most countries, so can attract tax considerations either at the point of purchase or later when one comes to sell and possibly make a profit. In addition silver bars will only appreciate as a result of the silver content and in line with the current silver price whereas the right silver coins can appreciate in value far in excess of the silver content if they are rare and much sought after.

So the reason why you are collecting silver coins is important as it can play a major part in deciding what coins, if any, you collect.

There are some coins that could be considered beautiful and a good buy for the future also of course. Canadian Silver Maples and US Eagles come to mind. Also The British Britannia and Chinese Pandas are examples of good quality silver coins that have an inherent beauty and are also a good buy for the future.

When it comes to buying a collectible silver coin ensure you know why you are buying the coin and that will go along way to ensuring you buy the right coin for you.

Canadian Silver Maple Leaf Coins

Silver Maple Leaf Coins are among the most popular silver coins coin enthusiasts seek.

There is a rich diversity of this coin and a good example of this is the Titanic Silver Maple Leaf coin.

The name Titanic in this case refers to the size of the coin not it’s fate which seems to be that it will continue to be very much in demand. The Titanic, in fact is a 5 dollar silver coin originally minted in 1988 as a one ounce pure 99.99 percent silver coin.

Although it is believed 26,000 of these coins were minted, at the time they were all sold to one dealer. As a consequence they have been in short supply ever since. I is possible, however to locate dealers who come across a small supply and the price

Each five dollar coin contains one full troy ounce of silver and features the queen's portrait on one side and the famous Maple Leaf design on the other. It also contains the special Titanic privy mark! The coin, when purchased, should be Brilliant Uncirculated (BU) and sealed in its original mint soft clear plastic.

This is a very nice coin and much prized by collectors. Anyone who can manage to get one or more of the 5 dollar Canadian Silver Maple Leaf Coins will be a happy chappie indeed!

Disney Silver Coins

Disney silver coins and coin sets (there are 7 in the complete set) are very much in demand and you would be hard put to find any from a dealer.

They are available on eBay but one should ensure one picks a power seller or near power seller with a excellent feedback record before one buys.

The Disney Silver coin set was minted around the 80s and all are 99.99 percent pure silver. Each coin is a 1 troy ounce commemorative Proof and about 1 1/2 inches in diameter.

When purchasing ensure that the coin or coins are sealed in the original round, clear, acrylic coin case. That case is inserted into a blue suede "book". The cover is embossed with the Mickey 60th logo in gold, and the center page holds the coin so it can be viewed from both sides. The inside cover holds a booklet about each coin. They are airtight & unhandled this way. The packaging is quite nice. The book then comes in a matching logo gift box.

Originally they were around 44 dollars each but I have seen them on eBay for down to 15 dollars US.

The first of the set of seven is called, "Disney Around the World" The front of the coin shows Minnie Mouse, Mickey Mouse, Goofy, Donald Duck,& Daisy Duck holding hands. What is UNUSUAL about this coin is the Goofy is the "center piece" and not Mickey. The reverse side is a continuation of hand holding, Pinocchio, Peter Pan, Snow White and Dopey. Each coin was struck in accordance to proof condition, and should conform to the specifications contained on an accompanying Certificate of Authenticity.

These are much sought after coins and happy would be the coin collector that has or can acquire the full set of the Disney silver coins.

2006 Proof Silver Dollar Coin

The Royal Canadian Mint has struck a new 2006 Proof Silver Dollar Coin.

This coin commemorates the Victoria Cross, the Highest military Decoration during the Crimean War.

The Victoria Cross was awarded, “…for most conspicuous bravery, or some daring or pre-eminent act of valor or self-sacrifice, or extreme devotion to duty in the presence of the enemy.”

94 of these awards have been presented to Canadians, 8 for acts of bravery carried out prior to and during the South African War (1899-1902); 70 during the First World War (1914-1918); and 16 during the Second World War (1939-1945).

The Victoria Cross is one of the most recognized military medals in the world. It features a cross pattee with the Royal Crown surmounted by a lion guardant and a scroll inscribed with ‘For Valour’. The date of the act is engraved within a raised circle on the reverse. The cross is suspended from a straight bar which has the rank, unit and name of the recipient engraved on the back. In 1993, a special Canadian version was instituted. It is identical to the original with the exception that the inscription on the scroll is in Latin (Pro Valore).

Specifications on this very fine gold coin are:

Face Value: 1 dollar
Mintage: Produced to demand
Composition: 99.99% silver
Weight (g): 25.175
Diameter (mm): 36.07
Edge: Reeded
Finish: Proof
Certificate: Not serialized
Artist: Royal Canadian Mint engravers
Price is $34.95 CAN

Many collectors will be happy to own one of these coins, especially if they have fought in a war and the 2006 Proof Silver Dollar Coin will make an outstanding addition to any collection.

2006 $1 Fine Silver Proof Coin

The Royal Australian Mint has struck a 2006 $1 Fine Silver Proof Coin to celebrate 50 Years of Australian Television

“On the evening of September 16, 1956, crowds gathered outside department stores and in homes across Australia to witness the moment TCN Channel Nine flickered to life accompanied by the famous phrase "Welcome to Television".
It has been 50 years since Bruce Gyngell uttered those words and Australian TV appeared. Television linked Australia to the world and brought us closer to amazing images like seeing man walk on the moon.”

This special $1 silver proof coin commemorates 50 Years of Australian Television and will be popular among the seasoned collectors and people of all ages new to the past time of coin collecting. The fine silver proof coin is highly collectible at $38.00 and goes extremely well with a set of all the 2006 mint mark coins bearing the same design.

The denomination is one dollar of 99.9 percent pure gold. It weights in at 11.66 grams with a diameter of 25mm. it is a proof coin with a limited mintage of 12,500. the designer was V. Gottwald

This is a truly beautiful coin and the 2006 $1 Fine Silver Proof Coin will give much pleasure to coin collectors world wide.

2006 FIFA World Cup Commemorative Silver Coin

The Royal Canadian Mint has struck a 2006 FIFA World Cup Commemorative Silver Coin

The Canadian Soccer Association was founded in 1912 and has affiliations with the Fédération International de Football Association (FIFA). Between 1995 and 2002, there was a fantastic 61 percent increase in the number of registered soccer players in Canada.

In 2006, Germany will host the 2006 FIFA World Cup and the Royal Canadian Mint is issuing a coin to honor the "2006 FIFA World Cup Germany TM"

This coin is a very nice 99.99 percent fine silver, proof-finished coin very nicely presented

The reverse of the coin features a soccer player celebrating the scoring of a goal and the obverse depicts Her Majesty Queen Elizabeth II..

This is a very fine coin, especially for Football enthusiasts and the 2006 FIFA World Cup Commemorative Silver Coin will make a fine addition to any coin collection

2006 Baby Britannia £2 Silver Bullion Set

The British Royal Mint has announced a 2006 Baby Britannia £2 Silver Bullion Set
Has been struck.

Priced at £29.95 the new Baby Britannia has been struck in .958 pure silver.

Peer the British Royal mint, “A 2006 Britannia silver coin, appropriately struck in Britannia .958 silver, sparkles in an elegant presentation case to make a wonderful gift for a new arrival.

Its colourful booklet allows space to record important details such as baby’s name, date, time and weight as well as provides space to insert Baby’s first a photograph. A Certificate of Authenticity which incorporates a personalised gift card completes the presentation.”

This would make a fine gift for grandparents to give to a grandchild on christening or just as a gift for the future.

Housed in a luxurious presentation case, the Britannia silver bullion coin is struck in .958 silver and accompanied by a colourfully illustrated booklet which provides space to record the baby’s name, weight, time and date of birth Baby’s first photograph can be inserted into the booklet

Include is a Certificate of Authenticity signed by the Deputy Master of the Mint.

The 2006 Baby Britannia £2 Silver Bullion Set will make an ideal gift.

2006 $20 Silver Coin-Notre Dame Basilica of Montreal

The 2006 $20 Silver Coin-Notre Dame Basilica of Montreal celebrates Canada’s Architectural treasures starting with the Notre-Dame Basilica in Montréal.

The Notre Dame Basilica of Montreal is a big favorite with tourists and even postcards from the city feature the impressive alter and spectacular gilded statues that impresses visitors so much.

The building was quite innovative for its time. The architect, James O’Donnell only added to its interest by infusing its distinctly classical structure with gothic ornamentation - a move that was later repeated in other churches that were built in Quebec.

Declared a Minor Basilica by John Paul II in 1982 and witness to some of the greatest events that have marked the city of Montreal, Notre Dame Basilica stands as an architectural treasure that transcends religion and culture

The 99.99% pure 2006 $20 Silver Coin features a hologram and is impressive in it’s own right.

Any collector would be please to own the 2006 $20 Silver Coin-Notre Dame Basilica of Montreal coin.

Queen Elizabeth II Silver Proof Coin

The Perth Mint has announced the launch of the one ounce silver proof coin celebrating Queen Elizabeth II’s 80th Birthday called the Queen Elizabeth II Silver Proof Coin.

This is a proof 99.9% silver coin with an official photograph on the coin. It is a limited mintage of 12,500 and the Perth mint is selling it for 72 AUD (about 53 USD) plus shipping.

This is an eagerly awaited coin with a ‘P’ Mintmark and is legal Tender in Australia.

Struck by The Perth Mint with permission from Buckingham Palace, this colored commemorative coin celebrates Her Majesty Queen Elizabeth II's 80th Birthday.

The coin's reverse depicts an official color photograph of Her Majesty by George Bodnar. The design includes the inscription HM QUEEN ELIZABETH II 80th BIRTHDAY 21-4-2006.

This superb commemorative coin is issued as legal tender under the Australian Currency Act 1965. The Ian Rank-Broadley effigy of Her Majesty Queen Elizabeth II graces the obverse.

Each coin is housed in a blue presentation case and stylish shipper illustrated with a portrait of Her Majesty The Queen, accompanied by a numbered Certificate of Authenticity.

This coin is sure to be a much sought after collectors item. With the limited mintage of only 12,500 the Queen Elizabeth II Silver Proof Coin is sure to go fast!

Morgan Silver Dollar Coin

One of the most popular coins of the century is the Morgan silver dollar coin. This is a US silver coin that was specifically minted from 1878 to 1904 and also in 1921 also. Although there are heaps of them they are a limited mintage and there are no more being minted.

The supply is not inexhaustible therefore.

It was named after the designer, George T Morgan who designed both the obverse and the reverse of the coin

The Morgan silver dollar coin has a silver content of .900 which is 0.77344 troy ounces (24.057 grams) of silver per coin.

Specifications are:
Diameter: 38.1 millimeters
Weight: 26.73 grams
Composition: .900 silver, .100 copper
Net weight: .77344 ounce pure silver
In 1878 the US government instituted the Bland-Allison Act to force the mintage of millions of silver dollars. The mintage was far in excess of what was required resulting in the excess silver dollars accumulating in treasury vaults. As a result of these many mint and near mint silver coins with mint marks and mint dates now obtainable. Some are rarities and some are common and many people specialize in collecting the Morgan silver dollar coin as a result.
In 1918 the Pittman Act ordered that massive quantities of silver coins me melted down into bars and 270 million Morgans were melted down. As a result there are some very rare dates which are sought after by collectors. It has been estimated that only 17 percent of all Morgans minted exist today. Sometimes small caches are found in private collections and they always attract much interest and sell for high prices. A further melting down occurred in the 1960s due to rising silver prices.
There are many stories about the Morgan silver dollar coin and it is one of the collectors favorite coins

British Silver Coin

Probably the best well known British silver coin is the Britannia. This coin is struck from 95.8 percent silver and is classed as one of the worlds heaviest silver bullion coins.

Compared to the millions of Canadian maples and American Eagles, only 100,000 are minted each year and the Britannia continues to be very popular with collectors. The 2006 mintage is now available and is likely to be no exception here.

Since the Roman Emperor Claudius had his coins inscribed with the title ‘De Britannis’, when he was entitled Britannicus, Britannia has been associated in the minds of Britons and others Great Britain.

The large 2 pound uncirculated coin is always in great demand by collectors, containing a full one ounce of fine silver.

The 2006 issue returns to the original design this year, as it does every other year. Struck in 958/1000 'Britannia Silver', the coin is also Britain's purest silver coin and is LARGER than a full crown size.

Great Britain has a history of producing silver coins and even up to recently silver was 50 percent of many circulated coins. From 1582 all British silver coins were 925 parts of silver out of 1000. The other 5 parts were copper and this was considered sterling silver. This standard of silver continued right up to 1919-1920 when most British coins were struck as 50/50, half silver and half copper. This applied to the halfcrown, florin and shilling. In 1947 all the ‘silver’ coins were struck in the common cupro-nickel (copper-nickel alloy) which most coins are today.

So if you get any silver coins prior to 1947 they will have a silver content of at least 50 percent.

The British Royal mint, however, continues to produce collectors coins of Brilliant Uncirculated and proof quality coins each year of silver and gold.

British silver coins are always a special favorite with collectors and are sure to continue giving pleasure for years to come.

Ancient Silver Coins

With ancient silver coins probably the most important factor is that there are many fakers around.

There are more genuine coins than fakes of course but fakes do abound. In the ancient silver coins area of coin collecting. Unless you are an expert or experienced in ancient silver coins it is difficult to tell the difference between genuine and fake coins.

Some people actually collect fakes, particularly famous ones, from well know fakers such as the 20th century copyist Peter Rosa.

Many fakes come marked "Copy" in accordance with the US Hobby Protection Act. These are fine as you know what you are getting. However there are those that are not marked as fakes but non the less are fake or counterfeit.

Greek, Roman, Persian, Parthian, Byzantine and Egyptian ancient silver coins are the most popular coins collected. All ancient silver coins were struck by hand and so there are variations in each coin.
ancient silver coins.

The better quality, especially after all this time, the coin is the more value it has of course. Some coins can be worth many thousands. Most however are in fair or poor condition and worth only a few hundred if that.

Ancient silver coins do have a fascination all their own however. Extensive in depth information on the subject is available from
Ancient silver coins contain much history and, as well as the possible values, much interest for the avid coin enthusiast.

American Eagle Silver Bullion Coins

Per the US Mint, “American Eagle Silver Bullion Coins are affordable investments, beautiful collectibles, thoughtful gifts and memorable incentives or rewards. Above all, as legal tender, they're the only silver bullion coins whose weight and purity are guaranteed by the United States Government. They're also the only silver coins allowed in an IRA.”

American Eagle Silver Bullion Coins each contain a minimum of one troy ounce of silver 99.9 percent pure. The US has been minting these since 1986 and has produced a mintage each year since.

The design is based on Adolph A. Weinman's 1916 "Walking Liberty" half dollar, widely considered one of the most beautiful American coins ever minted.

Most of these coins are available from reputable dealers around the country but a collectible proof version of the American Eagle Silver Bullion Coin is available directly from the United States Mint. American Eagle Silver Bullion Coins

Silver eagles can be easily sold also to most dealers and, of course, privately and, like many purse silver coins, are easily transported and stored.

It is worth while having a collection of American Eagle Silver Bullion Coin for the future as well as just for the beauty of the coins.

Mongolian Silver Coins

Mongolia, interestingly enough, has its own silver coins and in one set Mongolia honors it’s own dinosaurs with two Mongolian Silver coins.

Mongolia is not noted for any precious metal coin issue so this is quite notable.

Two recently issued silver coins of sterling silver proof coins features the Protoceratops Andrewsi, a plant-eating dinosaur while the other, the Velociraptor Mongoliensis, a quick and agile predator. Both lived around 75 million years ago and were discovered in the Gobi Desert in the 1920s.

The coins are dated 2001 and have a mintage of only 2500 coins each. They are 38.6 mm in diameter each and very nicely presented. I cannot find out exactly but believe they are about half ounce silver each.

If one can fine these coins they would be an excellent addition to any collection. The only place I can find these coins available is at: Mongolian silver coins.

2006 Royal Canadian Mint Silver Maple Leaf

After the resounding success of the Canadian Gold maple leaf coins in 1979 the Royal Canadian mint then started, the following year, to produce a one ounce 2006 Royal Canadian Silver Maple Leaf coin.

Following the same format the Silver Maple Leaf coins are struck in fine silver with a purity of 99.99 percent. The idea being that people then have a convenient and easy way to buy and own silver bullion in the form of silver coins.

The coin is issued annually and the new 2006 Silver Maple Leaf coins keep up the tradition with a attractive five dollar face value coin designed to appeal to collectors (pictured)
Featuring the classic Maple Leaf design, the coin is struck to a Brilliant Uncirculated condition. A portrait of Queen Elizabeth II features on the obverse of the coin and it comes with a certificate of authenticity
The price is a very affordable 15 dollars plus shipping.

This coin will bring pleasure to any coin enthusiast as well as providing an excellent source of silver bullion that is easy to transport and sell if required.

Having some of the new 2006 Royal Canadian Silver Maple Leaf coins will certainly enhance any collection

Scrap Silver Coins

Scrap silver coins can be a fruitful area to make a few dollars. And not just the coins, any scrap silver is worth it’s weight in … silver!

Scrap silver coins can be found in junk coins and bags of old coins. These can be purchased sometimes quite cheaply and you are only interested in the silver content, usually around 40 to 70 percent in old coins.

Do check each coin first to ensure it is not a rare or valuable one! Some times you can find quite valuable coins in junk bags that may have been missed (rare I know but possible).

There are other areas where you can find scrap silver. Old unused photographic paper. 40 percent of all silver is actually used in the photographic industry. Silver is used on photographic paper as part of the developing process of photographs.

Silver is also used in electronics, jewellery and many other areas. It is not difficult to find scrap silver in many areas of our lives.

Scrap silver coins and other scrap silver can be easily turned into money. Unless you have a foundry, the melting point of silver and any materials it is bound to will be too hot to melt down oneself. But one can go to a scrap dealer, who will pay you by weight for the scrap silver less a small handling charge.

As far as scrap silver coins are concerned, the main criteria for a silver coin as to whether it is considered scrap or a collectors item is the quality and condition of the coin. To be a collectors coin it needs to be in uncirculated condition, unless it is particularly rare when the condition is of secondary importance. If it is a common coin and has been used, it is good for the silver content and therefore scrap.

There is money in scrap, particularly silver scrap coins and it only takes a bit of work to find them and perhaps even make a few bob from them!

Sterling Silver Coins

One should be careful of the term sterling silver coins. Sterling silver is an English term that applies to silver that is an alloy of silver containing 92.5% pure silver and 7.5% other metals, usually copper. This is distinctly different to fine silver which is a minimum of 99.9 percent pure.

In silver coins one is looking for the fine silver, not the sterling silver.

Sterling silver originated in England round about the 13th Century, although there is some though that it comes from the Old French esterlin. Another theory is that the word originated in Germany from the word easterling which meant the grade of silver using in the local currency.

At any rate the important thing to remember when it comes to silver coins is that one is not looking for sterling silver coins but pure fine silver coins.

Sterling silver better refers to silver objects which have a hallmark that indicates the quality of the silver, the year of manufacture and the city in which the object was made.

The same basic system of establishing these facts by hallmark has been in existence in England for several hundred years and is still used today.

Establishing the authenticity of silver coins however is established by doing an appraisal of the coin by a reputable and experienced appraiser and having an certificate that establishes the quality, condition and value of the coin.

No coin should be described as sterling silver and if it is one should be careful as it is likely not a proper silver coin at all but possible a fake or counterfeit. If you want to see some English silver coins simply pop over the British Royal Mint Silver coins where you can find official silver coins and sterling silver items for sale.

This way and keeping in mind the above you will not be taken in when you see the term, sterling silver coins.

Old Coin Silver Dollars

Rare and old coin silver dollars are an excellent way of building up a silver coin collection.

Rare coins and old silver dollars have been increasing very well over the past ten years.

In fact the general increase in value is something like twenty percent and much more in some cases.

Some rare silver coins, such as the 1804 silver dollar for example, are worth literally millions.

But we can probably do very well just doing some study and watching out for that special coin that is rare enough to perk our interest and to appreciate in value steadily over a period of time.

Early American Eagles are sure to improve in value and are currently an easy buy. Common dated Morgan silver dollars in BU (Brilliant Uncirculated) condition will generally sell for less than 30 US dollars but, again, these are likely to improve as time wears on as they are no longer produced and more collectors demand to have their own.

It is always a good idea to buy the best quality coins you can afford. This means buying Proof quality or Brilliant Uncirculated coins.

Not long ago, in Dallas Texas, a very rare Nineteenth Century silver dollar (pictured), previously owned by a legendary banker known as the "King of Coins," was purchased for $3.3 million at auction.

Greg Rohan, President of Heritage Galleries & Auctioneers, the firm that handled the sale stated at the time, "The coin is one of only five 1885-dated Trade Dollars made by the United States Mint. The anonymous buyer is a financial services executive and sophisticated art collector who is putting together one of the finest coin collections in the country,"

The record prices for a rare coin is $7.59 million paid by an anonymous bidder in 2002 for a 1933 Double Eagle $20 denomination US gold coin.

So it is possible that one day you might find or own Old Coin Silver Dollars worth millions, and when you do you will probably be a very happy person.

Silver Coin Collection

Having a silver coin collection is an advantage in many ways.

It provides a future asset that grows. It provides interest as the beauty and aesthetic presentation of many coins is truly appealing. It is also educative since, as there is much history connected to many coins and how they are produced and why, one tends to want to know about the coins and their place in history.

Some collectors collect only one type of silver coin, perhaps all American or all Canadian coins. Some collect a particular type. Silver dollars or Pandas. Other collect proof coins only. Proof coins are those that have been specially struck for collectors or as presentation gifts for VIPs or to commemorate a particular occasion or person in history.

Some collect only rare or old coins. Usually that requires a degree of wealth. Many rare coins can be worth thousands, even millions in some rare cases.

Some collectors are interested in the monetary value only with little regard for the aesthetic appeal, and so collect only coins that they consider will improve in value over time.

There is such a diverse range of silver coins that one can collect almost anything.

Probably it is, at least initially, a matter of taste after first noticing all those nice shinny things!

Whatever the reason and what ever coins one collects, having a silver coin collection is sure to give immense pleasure one way or another as well as give some additional security for the future.

Trade Silver Coins

It is a good idea to know how to trade silver coins as it is one way of increasing the value of your portfolio or collection.

First of course you need to be absolutely sure about the value of the silver coins you currently own.

If they come with a certificate of authenticity that is excellent as it establishes the worth of the coins

If you think you may have a valuable coin(s) it is worth while getting it appraised and the value certified.

The next step is to find an outlet to sell or exchange or trade your coin(s).

This could be an auction site or a site specifically set up for trading coins.

The next step is to study the coins being traded so you are fully familiar with the types of trade going on and what cons are traded for what. It is easy, if you do not have much experience, to trade down instead of up. That is to say you trade a more valuable coin for one of lesser c\value. Ideally you want to trade a coin for one of equal or more than the one you are trading.

You may not necessarily trade up but if there is a coin you are specifically looking for, perhaps to complete a collection that will be worth substantially more by virtue of being a complete set.

In that case it may be worth while to trade down.

Then you offer your coin for a trade. Of course specifying what coin you would like in return.

This can be a worth while exercise, especially if it helps you to complete a set you would otherwise not be able to do.

Sometimes you can wait ages to complete a set and this might be a faster way of doing so.

There are some distinct advantages to being able to trade silver coins and this is the best way to go about it.

1804 U.S. Silver Dollar

The 1804 U.S. Silver Dollar coin is probably the most famous silver coin in the world.

At a recent auction one 1804 US silver dollar coin so for over four million dollars the most paid for any coin in the world ever.

In fact no silver dollars were minted in 1804. Any silver coin you find with a date stamp 1804 were actually minted in 1834 and in the 1850’s and none of them were intended to be circulated!

The reason for this was that the price of silver was rising dramatically and silver dollars were disappearing from circulation as the silver was melted down for the silver content. At the end of 1803 the US government decided to halt silver coin production with none minted in 1804.

However in 1834 as there were presentation sets of silver dollars being produced for diplomatic gifts the inclusion of the 1804 was essential to complete the sets. So several 1804 coins were struck and these are referred to as "original" or Class I 1804 dollars.

It is considered that there are only 8 genuine 1804 coins in the world although it has been thought that the King of Siam (Thailand) and the Imam of Muscat received about 10 presentation kits with 1804 coins as part of the set.

In the late 1850s, The so-called Class II and Class III 1804 silver dollars were struck and presented to the prominent numismatists of that era.. Only 7 specimens of these types are known to exist.

The condition of the 1804 dollars known to exist range from Extra-Fine to Choice Uncirculated. There are a few specimens that have been improperly cleaned, thus greatly reducing their grade.

Because of its great rarity and value, 1804 dollars have been widely counterfeited and some of the fake coins were considered to be genuine for a considerable period of time.

If you should happen to come across a 1804 U.S. Silver Dollar You should hot foot it to the nearest grader and get it valued to ensure it is genuine and not a counterfeit.

Silver Coin Proof Set

Silver coin proof sets are collected by coin enthusiasts and people who just like the aesthetics of the coins in their presentation.

Some people collect them for their investment value also.

There are many silver coin proof sets available. Most coin dealers, auction houses and online auctions such as eBay will have them.

All silver coin proof sets have been struck especially for collectors and have a limited mintage so usually wind up being rare to some degree.

When looking for proof coins ensure:

It is stated ‘proof’ in the information or specifications. Sometimes coins are stated as Mint. This is not proof. Proof coins are especially struck differently to mint uncirculated coins.

Ensure the coins come sealed in their original sealed packaging. If the package appears to have been opened refuse them as a) they not be proof coins or b) they may have been handled which would destroy their proof standing and they become merely uncirculated mint coins.

They should come with a certificate of authenticity or a written statement of their quality or grading.

One of the most collected silver coins in the world are the Morgan Silver Dollars, As proof coins these are a good buy as are always in demand. They are always a saleable item in times of need also. Most are worth a few dollars but there are some that can be worth a few thousand. It is worth while doing some due diligence and study if you have an interest in Morgan Silver Dollars.

There are many other silver coin proof sets around from the US, Canada, Australia, China and Europe. All of them make fine collections and, provided one follows the above ca one can build up a very nice and valuable collection over a period of time.

For any coin enthusiast, collecting silver coin proof sets is a fascinating hobby as well as a sound future investment .

2006 FIFA World Cup Germany Silver Coin

The New Zealand Mint has produced for this year a 2006 FIFA World Cup Germany Silver Coin.

This is a proof coin with .999 percent pure silver content with a face value of one dollar. It was actually struck by Valcambi of Switzerland for the New Zealand Mint. Valcambi is a high quality refiner specializing in precious metals and produces bullion bars and coins among many other metal products.

There is a limited edition of the 2006 FIFA World Cup Germany Silver Coin. Only 25,000 were minted so when they are sold the value of the coin is quite likely to rise.

The obverse has the picture of the Queen and the reverse depicts a picture of New Zealand and a footballer stretching out with a football (pictured).

This is a very nice coin and would make a worthy addition to any coin enthusiasts collection.

New Zealand produce many fine high quality coins and proof coin sets of both silver and gold.

The 2006 FIFA World Cup Germany Silver Coin is probably one of the finest and will also appeal to world cup enthusiasts world wide.

Buying Silver Coins

Buying silver coins is an excellent investment activity as well as pleasurable due to the aesthetic qualities of the coins.

Such coins as the American Silver Eagle, the Canadian Silver Maple Leaf and the Chinese Panda are just a few examples of such silver coins worth buying and keeping.

Silver is on the rise and currently reaching the peaks it did in 1984 so is a worth while portfolio to add to your investment.

When buying silver coins watch out for such coins as the 1879 Trade T$1 TRADE DOLLARS, PROOF PCGS or the 1857-S SSCA GF $20 DOUBLE EAGLES - CORONET, TYPE 1 PCGS MS-65, as examples of rare coins. There are many rare coins and some Silver Morgans are another example of rare silver coins.

These are worth many times the face value and silver value due to their rarity.

When buying silver coins also ensure that you pick a reputable dealer who is prepared to authenticate the coins you buy. A certificate should accompany any rare or proof coins bought.

Silver coins are generally easier and cheaper to buy than gold coins as silver is a lot less per ounce. But silver is rising faster than gold in value so should be seriously considered as a future long term buy.

Perhaps more important is doing your due diligence and study on silver coins and dealers. Making sure you understand the various coins and how they are graded. Who the current dealers are, what they offer and what guarantees they offer.

Doing the above you are sure to enjoy the fascinating and rewarding activity of buying silver coins!

Bag of Silver Coins

A popular way of buying silver is the Bag of Silver Coins.

Old US coins had a silver content prior to 1964 and these have suddenly rocketed in demand for their silver content.

These coins were once called ‘junk silver’ but are no longer considered ‘junk’ anymore. The silver content for each coin is around 40-90 percent so a bag of silver coins can be worth something!

By way of example, a $1.00 worth (face value) of silver dimes weighs the same as a $1.00 in silver quarters, and has the same silver content. Also weighs the same as $1.00 in silver half dollars. For example 10 dimes, 4 quarters, or 2 halves all have the same weight and are 90% pure silver composition. A typical dollar face value in US silver coins will contain about 71 % of a troy ounce of pure refined silver.

At a time when paper money is worth less and less, these coins are retaining their value and, with the increase in value of silver, increasing.

Remember, these coins are legal tender also and still have purchasing power!

Bags of silver coins, or junk silver, is also a good way of investing in silver. If the value of silver did drop, then the proportionate loss of value of the bag of silver would be less.

Many dealers sell bags of silver coins to a face value of $1000 per bag. However one can get smaller bags from various established and reputable dealers provided one does some due diligence

It is quite possible to get face value bags down to 200, 100 and even 50 dollars face value. A fifty dollar face value bag would cost you around 400 dollars and would have a mixed collection of pre 1964 silver coins with a silver content of around 90 plus percent.

For a collector that ‘knows his coins’, there might even be a valuable silver Morgan in the bag.

As well as a nice little investment, collecting bags of silver coins can also be a rewarding and fun activity and who knows, you might find that elusive coin worth thousands!