Junk Silver Coin Prices

Junk silver coins are very popular among survivalists who are concerned with future financial and economic crisis as they can be purchased in bags of coins for not much above the spot price and remain legal tender and can be spent in small amounts.

Junk silver coins refer to those coins minted prior to 1964 and which contain a certain amount of silver, something today’s coins do not.

The condition of the coins is largely immaterial as it is the silver content people are after not the beauty or even the historical value of the coins.

The most popular U.S. junk silver coins are Mercury and Roosevelt dimes, Washington quarters, Franklin half dollars, and the Kennedy half dollars, which were minted on or before 1964. All these coins have a 90% silver composition and called "coin silver".

Although when minted many coins contained 0.7234 troy ounces of silver, it is a standard practice to assume the silver content being .715 due to the inevitable erosion of the coin and therefore the silver content. The less common junk silver coin, however is the Kennedy half dollars from 1965 to 1970, which was composed of only 40% silver.

One of the advantages of silver junk coins is that as it is known the silver content is only a percentage of the total weight, there is no certification or authenticity demanded of the coins as there are with silver bullion bars.

So the U.S. minted coins in 90% silver through 1964 stopping in 1965, the exception being the Kennedy half dollars which continued to be minted but with only 40 percent of silver through to 1970 when it was then discontinued. From then silver all but disappeared except in commemorative coins and special proof issues.

“Junk” really refers to the value of the coins in terms of numismatic collective qualities and not the silver content. A coin collector is generally uninterested in such coins with the exception that you might rarely find a very rare coin in excellent condition. Other than that the coins are bought and sold purely for the silver content and, currently, as the value of silver is rising, so is the price of junk silver coins.

Junk silver prices are tending to rise and so the cost of buying junk silver coins rises too. However the junk silver can usually be bought for a very small mark up or premium over the spot price of silver, particularly during these periods of economic stability.

Although junk silver coin prices remain set to rise as the value of silver rises, they are still an excellent buy for the future whether you are a survivalist or not.

When to Sell Silver

When to sell silver is important and judgment must be made as to sell too soon or too late can mean a loss on one’s original investment or potential future improvement in investment.

Currently the value of silver is increasing weekly and it is a great time now to buy silver.

When to sell silver should really not be dependent on the value of silver but on your need to convert it into cash. It is a good idea to own a selection of silver. Coins, valuable and just those for the silver content (junk coins they are called) and small and large silver bars are a good mix. Then you can keep and or sell what ever is required at the time. Owning just one large 400 ounce bar of silver restricts you in that you would have to sell the entire bar. However owning some coins and some smaller bars as well as larger ones, say 10 ounce, and 100 ounce bars and one ounce coins, gives you a choice and enables you to still retain some of your assets.

Take special consideration when selling silver coins especially. Sometimes they are hard to replace due to limited mintage or rarity.

Consider who you sell to. If you belong to a coin collectors club or know a reputable dealer, that can provide good outlets to sell silver. Advertising in newspapers and auctioning on eBay are other avenues. Make sure, in these instances, you know and can trust the buyer, especially if the value you are selling is high.

It really is better never to sell your silver asset unless you really need to and then sell only enough silver to convert to what you actually need.

It is very important knowing when to sell silver just as it is important knowing when to buy silver.

Silver Roman Coin

Collectors of the silver roman coin will understand the long history behind roman silver coins and how they came to originate.

In fact there are even books written about the roman coins with lists of the coinage available.

Generally the silver coin range was from around 27BC to several hundred years AD, with most coins featuring the head of the Roman empire.

To acquire these sorts of coins one would have to have a keen interest and some experience to know just what you are buying. There are specialist dealers that deal exclusively in ancient coins so it pays to shop around.

Buying ancient roman silver coins would not be advisable through an auction such as eBay unless one is very well versed in the types and conditions of such coins and clearly knows what one is buying.

Nevertheless it can be a very interesting hobby and such coins can usually be had for a few hundred dollars or less.

Just some important points to keep in mind.

Pick a reputable dealer. There are some fake silver roman coins around and, although there are people who like to collect those, mostly they are sold with a view to cheat people and so you would not be getting genuine ancient silver roman coins.

Ensure you can get a certificate of authenticity or at least a guarantee that the coin is genuine.

Make sure you can return the coin of found not to your satisfaction.

Don’t buy coins from people you do not know or who advertise coins in newspapers.

Coin collecting clubs are also a good source of coins, especially clubs that specialize in ancient coins. This is also a valuable resource to learn more about roman coins.

You can build up a very good silver roman coin collection provided you do some due diligence and ensure you study well and know what you are buying.

Silver Coin Collector

Nowadays, with the steady increase in silver it is becoming popular to be a silver coin collector. So it is important to keep in mind some guidelines when becoming a silver coin collector.

The most important thing to do when collecting silver coins is due diligence. Acquaint yourself with the world of silver coin collecting. Knowledge is power so you need to ensure you make a jolly good study of silver coins and what is available.

Knowledge of such things as the condition of coins, the types and how much silver is contained in silver coins will help you make good choices. You can collect silver coins from around the world and there are many articles on this web site that describe many of them.

You can collect entire rolls of silver coins as well as individual specially made silver coins such as Proof or commemorative coins.

Knowing who to buy from is important. Choosing a reputable dealer or even buying from a established mint is always advisable.

Understand the terms and conditions of the seller. For example, can you return the coins if you are not satisfied?

Buying coins from auctions is an area where extra due diligence and knowledge is needed. Perhaps not to be ventured into until one has some experience and a good understanding of the values of silver coins.

Antique and rare silver coins also require extra knowledge .

The good thing about being a silver coin collector is that it is an interesting and fascinating hobby or interest as well as potentially quite profitable. If one is interested purely in collecting silver coins then the value of the silver may not be an issue. Some people collect purely to own a beautiful coin or set of coins with a particular theme they like.

What ever the reason you collect silver coins to be a silver coin collector is truly an interesting and absorbing interest and, with the price of silver these days, can become an excellent asset for the future.

When to Buy Silver

When to buy silver is very important especially if you are accumulating silver for the future.

In times of economic turmoil people tend to turn towards precious metals such as silver and gold. Gold is an excellent asset to hold but silver has some advantages among which it is cheaper per ounce and easier to buy and sell quickly.

What sort of silver should you buy? Probably a variety of silver is the most optimum. A selection of silver coins, small bars or ‘biscuits’ or 10 and 100 ounce bars would be prudent. Then you can sell the quantity you might need to sell to raise a more specific amount of money.

Gold tends to be more expensive and selling an ounce of gold may net you more that you would be willing to convert into cash whereas you can sell one or several ounces of silver to cover a specific need.

The best time to buy silver for the long term is always now. What ever the price, the cost of the silver will average out in the long term. The more you can buy at one time will reduce the dealer and shipping costs and bring you closer to spot price (Spot price is what the current going rate for silver is on the daily markets. You can see this by checking the charts at the top of this web site).

Always ensure you buy silver from an authorized mint or dealer and if you are buying silver coins get a certificate of authenticity as well.

The above basically tells you when to buy silver but always do your due diligence and remember there are no certainties in investment!

100 Ounce Silver Bars

With the rocketing price of silver, 100 ounce silver bars are becoming more popular with investors as well as collectors.

Silver investors know that the cheapest and most efficient way of accumulating silver is in the form of 100 ounce silver bars. However there are a few pointers it is important to keep in mind when collecting 100 ounce silver bars.

Firstly ensure that you buy your silver bars from an established dealer in silver or even the refinery itself. Johnson Matthey is one such refinery. Established since 1817, the hallmark of Johnson Matthey is known world wide. And as a result of this, it is imminently possible to liquidize or ‘cash in’ a Johnson Matthey silver bar almost anywhere in the world.

If possible, one should take personal delivery of your silver bar. Also store it in a safe place. It is a good idea to keep your affairs in this regard private and not tell your friends and acquaintances you have a 100 ounce silver bar. Some companies offer to store your silver and gold bars but this should be avoided as a general rule. Instances of companies ‘removing’ the bars have been known and in the event any government wishes to ‘call in’ any metal such as silver or gold, these storage houses are the first to be visited by the government.

With 100 ounce silver bars, the amount you pay over ‘spot’ (spot is the actual value of the metal on the exchanges and markets) is much less than for a coin or a small one or half ounce or even ten ounce bar. This makes it much more worth while to accumulate as your silver is worth more much quicker when the value of the silver rises as it is doing now.

Buying a small one or even ten ounce bar would include a heavier mark up which must be accounted for and covered before you make a profit as it were.

Accumulating 100 ounce silver bars is an excellent investment and a good way of providing for your future if you do your due diligence and be aware of the points above.

Collecting Silver Dollar Coins

Collecting silver dollar coins has been called the hobby of kings and if you are into collecting the rare coins worth many thousands that would of course be true.

Thankfully you do not have to be a king to collect some fine silver dollar coins. There are some very nice coins available modestly priced and with a regular purchase every so often it is possible to build up an very impressive collection of quality silver dollar coins.

The US government has been minting silver coins for many years now and these are silver eagles, mostly. You can buy silver eagles from many dealers around the country.

Usually the composition of the US silver dollar is 90% silver and 10% copper (to add strength and durability). The actual silver weigh is .7736 troy ounces.

There is now a trend towards including more silver and producing silver coins with 99.99 percent silver. These would be proof coins and Brilliant Uncirculated (BU) and as they are not ‘in circulation’ do not need to be so hard or durable.

The last circulating silver coins minted were in the 1970s and were only 40 percent silver the rest being nickel.

Many people collect silver dollar coins in sets by year. They will collect each issue that comes out and eventually will have a set of silver coins. This tends to improve the value as a set is worth more per coin proportionately than individual coins.

It pays to browse and do due diligence, make a good study of the coins available and the prices and values for them. There are many hundreds to chose from and thousands have been minted over the years. From the 1804 coins worth many many hundreds of thousands to the latest issues worth a few dollars.

With silver increasing in value almost on a daily basis, it seems that collecting silver dollar coins is a worth while hobby and one that can make us all kings in our own way.

2006 silver eagle coin

Adolph A. Weinman's Walking Liberty was originally designed for the 1916 half-dollar but now graces the obverse of the American Eagle Silver coin and this is no less true of the recently issued 2006 silver eagle coin. Silver Eagle coins are congressionally authorized and produced by the United States Mint.

Since their launch in 1986, the American Eagle Silver Dollar has become one of the the most popular collected coins in U.S. history. The design of the coin is considered by many to be one of the most beautiful coins ever produced.

As per the US Mint, “The United States Mint produces proof versions of the American Eagle Coins for Collectors. The American Eagle Proof program was first introduced in 1986 with the sale of gold and silver proof coins. Platinum was later added to the American Eagle Proof line-up in 1997.”

“The term "proof" refers to a specialized minting process that begins by manually feeding burnished coin blanks into presses fitted with special dies. Each coin is struck multiple times so the softly frosted, yet detailed images seem to float above a mirror-like field. After scrutiny by white gloved inspectors, each American Eagle Proof Coin is placed in a protective plastic capsule and mounted in a handsome satin-lined velvet presentation case. An official Certificate of Authenticity accompanies each coin.”

The American Eagle Silver Proof Coin is available in the traditional one ounce size and can be purchased directly from the United States Mint as well as professional coin dealers. Always ensure the coins are properly sealed in their original plastic and are accompanied buy the Certificate of Authenticity.

They are the genuine article produced by the U.S. Mint at West Point, New York and have a face value of one dollar and are one-ounce of .999 fine silver.

The US silver eagle coin is one of the most beautiful coins to collect and they are well worth adding to your coin collection.

US Silver Coin Values

US silver coin values can vary tremendously depending on their rarity, condition and other factors.

The Hawaiian silver half dollar pictured recently sold for over 65,000 US dollars for example, at a Bowers and Merena Auction.

Many early silver coins sell at auction repeatedly and the price or value increases each time.

The silver content in such coins is not very high and certainly is not a factor in the sale of such coins. But the condition and rarity certainly is.

Probably the rarity of these coins is the biggest factor in determining their value. Such coins are usually well looked after so the condition hardly changes at all over the years. The more time marches on, however, then the rarer such coins become. It becomes less and less likely that more of that same coin will surface and so the number of that coin remains limited.

One can do a search for rare silver coins and keep a record of US silver coin values and watch as, over the years, they increase in value.

This means if you intend to buy a rare silver coin the chances are you will almost certainly improve the value of your coin simply by holding on to it and reselling it at a later date.

Such coins should be kept in a protective case away from prying hands and fingers as they can easily damage and reduce the value of a coin just by handling it.

Such coins, over a few years then, can increase by 100, 200 or even 300 percent in value. It is a good idea to get the coin properly and professionally appraised each year to keep track of the value and also for insurance purposes.

US silver coin values are only likely to increase over the years so if you are fortunate enough to have any US silver coins it will pay to look after them very carefully.

Silver Eagle Proof Coin

American Silver Eagle Proof Coins were first created by Adolph A. Weinman in 1916. Later in 1986 the US Mint selected the world famous design, "Walking Liberty." For the obverse of that coin.

The silver eagle proof coin is a one ounce 99.9 percent pure silver coin. It has a face value of one US dollar and each coin undergoes a specialized minting process with special die administered to the coins which have had fed to the press. The coin is scrupulously checked for any imperfections and then sealed in a protective bubble or case and presented in a velvet lined presentation case.

When you buy a silver eagle proof coin you should ensure that the protective plastic case is still sealed and has not been tampered with and that the presentation box is intact also. There should be a certificate of authenticity which matches the coin.

Silver eagle proof coins have continued to be produced by the US Mint since 1986 and are considered, by some, to be the most beautiful of all silver coins produced in the US.

There are also the Brilliant Uncirculated (BU) versions of the coin but these coins can deteriorate as they are not in a plastic protective case but come in rolls and so can get marked, scratched or even chipped. This can affect the value of the coin quite dramatically.

For serious collectors the silver proof coins offer the best long term value.

Many collectors build up an impressive set of coins and to have a set going back to 1986 would be an impressive collection indeed.

Collecting the silver eagle proof coin is a fun activity for collectors. As well as being able to appreciate the beauty of the coin they can rest assured knowing the value is increasing with time.

Silver Coin Series from the Perth Mint

From January this year was issued the first of a Silver Coin Series from the Perth Mint series of three 99.9 percent pure silver coins featuring Australia’s iconic landmarks.

The first of these landmarks is the City of Melbourne.

As the mint states, “The coin's reverse depicts Melbourne. The capital of Victoria and Australia's second largest city, Melbourne is famed for its culture, cuisine and sporting obsessions. Founded on the shores of Port Phillip Bay during the 1830s, Melbourne was shaped by the discovery of gold in the middle of the 19th century. Among the modern city's glass and steel skyscrapers, grand civic buildings and imposing facades built with gold rush wealth embody the essence of 'marvelous' Melbourne.”

“The coin's reverse depicts a view of Melbourne from the Yarra River. The design includes rowers and Southgate pedestrian footbridge with towers of the Central Business District represented in colors in the background. The year-date and The Perth Mint's traditional ‘P’ mintmark also appear in the design.”

This coin is available as a single coin or as a subscription set. Collecting coin sets is always a great idea as the value is well enhanced by virtue of it being a set.

This 2006-dated coin is struck from 1oz of 99.9% pure silver in proof quality and is issued as legal tender under the Australian Currency Act 1965/ The coin also depicts Ian Rank-Broadley's effigy of Her Majesty Queen Elizabeth II on its obverse.

With a limited mintage of only 7500 and a price of around 52 US dollars plus about 20 dollars shipping this coin is set to be a valuable addition to the Discover Australia series.

Each coin is housed in a superb presentation case with a lid made from Australian sheoak timber. The case comes in a protective outer shipper featuring Discover Australia's distinctive logo and each coin is accompanied by a numbered Certificate of Authenticity.

The Silver Coin Series from the Perth Mint is a magnificent collector coin program . All the coins are scheduled for release between 2006 and 2008 and will surely make a valuable addition to any coin enthusiasts collection.

Commemorative Silver Coins

Some coin collectors collect commemorative silver coins.

There are heaps of these available from the gold and silver commemorative coins commemorating the new Zealand win of the Americas Cup in 1995 to the 2005 marine Corps commemorative coins of the US to the heaps of commemorative coins of the Slovak Republic commemorating a host of events and people. Just about most countries that produce coins will produce commemorative coins are one time or another if not on a regular basis.

Commemorative coins are usually proof quality if not proof coins and come presented in special attractive boxes or containers with numbered certificate of authenticity..

They are usually more expensive than the usual coins and also have a severely limited mintage in the thousands rather than the tens or hundreds of thousands. As a result they usually increase their value quite well.

When buying commemorative coins always buy from the mint if possible. This reduces the profit margin to the mints rather than dealers also, and also ensures that you will get a guaranteed product. If the coin is not up to the standard expected the mint will invariably exchange it or issue a refund.

When your commemorative coin or set of coins arrives check carefully that they are sealed within their plastic bubble and have not been tampered with. Check each coin, with a magnifying glass to ensure there are no hairline cracks or specks which would show that the coins had been touched by hand or there had been specks of dirt between the coin and the die when it was struck.

Lastly, check the certificate against the coin to ensure it is accurate and relates to that coin.

Collecting commemorative silver coins can be a lot of fun and increase your asset value very nicely provided you ensure that what you have bought is what you got.

Silver Coin Appraisal

Silver coin appraisal is very important to ensure that you know the real and true value of your silver coins, especially if they are rare and unusual.

In you have a significant silver coin collection then a regular appraisal is important for insurance purposes. A loss through fire or burglary can be devastating both financial as well as emotionally and, while insurance cannot compensate for the emotional loss, at least it can compensate you for the financial loss you may suffer. Therefore it is quite important that a proper appraisal of your silver, and indeed, any other valuables you may have, is done to establish the true value of your coin collection.

The Antiques Roadshow cannot be everywhere so you will need to take your coins to a professional coin dealer who is also a member of a respected coin association in your country and get them to appraise the coin or coin collection.

You will have to pay for this service but the small amount you pay is worth it to get a proper assessment of the value. You will need to ensure that you get a written statement that fully describes each coin and the estimated value as of that date.

Sometimes you can seek the coin(s) you have online and see what online dealers are charging for them. That gives you some idea of the value. Keep in mind however that dealers will add their own mark up to the price so you would not get the amount a dealer is asking for.

Another aspect to be mindful of is the condition and quality of the coin. Silver coins are graded according to a specific system and your coin will fall somewhere on that grading system. This system is also easily found on the net.

Lastly keep in mind that coins in sets of coins and proof coins generally are worth more than single coins.

It pays to do your due diligence and shop around. This is really a part of your silver coin appraisal.

Silver Coin Grading

An important part of determining the value of a silver coin, particularly a rare or unusual one is silver coin grading.

Some of the factors used to determine the value of a silver coin include:

The quality of the silver coin when it leaves the mint. It is possible that even proof coins can have very tiny imperfections that result during the striking process. If there is even so much as a tiny hair or dust mote between the coin and the die when it is struck an imperfection will be left.

The weight of the coin and how much silver it contains. A silver coin should be 99.99 percent silver or thereabouts and certainly the specifications should be known.

If the coin is in it's original seal or bubble. The less exposure to air and accidental touching the better.

If a certificate comes with the coin describing the qualities and specifications of the coin.

It is vitally important that when you receive a coin fresh from the mint that you do a careful examination of both sides of the coin to ensure there are no imperfections. This should be done while the coin is in its protective holder or bubble and should, under no circumstances, ever be removed and handled. Hairline cracks can be created just by handling a silver proof coin and this is the reason why many silver coins are downgraded from perhaps Proof-63 and Proof-64 instead of Proof-69 or Proof-70. Anything that touches the surface of the coin can leave hairlines.

Silver coins should never be cleaned as even cleaning a silver coin can adversely affect it’s grading. Unless it is professionally done cleaning of silver coins should be left to a professional. Chemical cleaning can sometimes remove a layer of silver leaving a bright surface underneath. This can be spotted by a professional grader however as can mechanical cleaning where abrasives are used. These will commonly scratch the surface of the coin and reduce the grading and therefore the value also.

It is probably wiser to avoid any cleaning whatsoever as the fact of cleaning itself may affect the grading of the silver coin.

For older silver coins the amount of circulation wear or, for an uncirculated mint coin (MS60 through to MS65) how close it resembles a "perfect" condition when first struck.

Proof silver coins are struck in a special way with extra attention to the striking process and these silver coins are meant for collectors primarily these days.
All rare silver coins should be independently certified for grade and authenticity by a leading independent grading services.

Certified silver coins protect both the buyer and the seller by providing protection and an agreed grading and value for the silver coin.

Silver coin grading is very important to ensure you can demonstrate the true value of your coin collection and well worth the small amount it costs to obtain certification.

Pure Silver Coin

A pure silver coin is readily available both from dealers as well as on the net and at or in auctions.

Many countries produce a one ounce pure silver 99 percent or above silver coin and these can be anything from the US silver eagles, to the Canadian silver maple leaf, Chinese Panda, British sovereign and the variety issued by the Australian Mints.

Even coins featuring famous people are available from the late Princess Diana to Marylyn Monroe naked, no less have been issued by mints around the world.

This is a bonanza for the silver coin collector as it is possible to not only get single coins but also set with different themes, such as the Australian Kookaburra silver coin set for example which features a different coin each year.

Others include Somali Monkeys, Mexican 1 Onza Plata Pura to name just a few.

A quick search on the net will net you hundreds of varying types and styles and mintages but all with the same theme of purse silver but in different sizes from one troy ounce up to one kilo coins.

If you decide to seek out and buy some of these sets always be sure to buy from a reputable dealer or the mint directly if possible. Ensure the quality of the coin, near proof, proof or brilliant uncirculated, is exactly as is stated in the promo and also ensure that it is sealed in the original container and has a certificate to go with it.

It can be heaps of fun collecting a pure silver coin or set of coins provided one is sensible about it and does one’s due diligence.

Five Coin Silver Set

The Perth Mint, Australia has produced a Five Coin Silver Set Celebrating 40 years of decimalisation in Australia.

This beautiful set is a quality proof 99.9 percent pure silver set of coins with a numbered certificate of authenticity.

According to the Perth mint, “Forty years ago, on the 14th February 1966, Australia introduced decimal notes and coins, marking the end of its British-style currency system based on pounds, shillings and pence. To celebrate the anniversary of decimalisation in Australia, The Perth Mint is delighted to announce this Figures of Note Five-Coin Set featuring designs inspired by the historic figures represented on Australia's original decimal currency notes.”

“Each 2006-dated coin is struck from 1oz of 99.9% pure silver in proof quality.
Colored Reverse Designs”

“The colored reverse of each coin depicts historic figures as they were depicted on decimal currency notes issued between 1966 and 1974. They are:
Her Majesty Queen Elizabeth II, Australia's Sovereign, who appeared on the front of the first $1 note.”

“John Macarthur, 1767–1834, wool industry pioneer, who appeared on the front of the first $2 note; and William James Farrer, 1845–1906, developer of disease and drought resistant wheat, who appeared on the back of the first $2 note.”

Just 2,500 of these Sets will be released.

This is a beautiful set very well presented and the Five Coin Silver Set will make a valuable addition to any coin collection.

Lunar Silver Coins

The Perth, Australia Mint has mintage a beautiful series of lunar silver coins. The term Lunar refers to the Chinese years each of which is represented by a different animal. There are 12 in all and these are:

Horse
Goat
Monkey
Rooster
Dog
Boar or pig
Rat
Ox
Tiger
Rabbit
Dragon and
Snake

The Perth mint have produced, so far Rabbit, Dragon, Snake, Horse, Goat, Rooster, Monkey, and this year Dog.

So there are still several to go. Each coin is 99.9 percent purse fine silver with the animal gilded in pure 24 carat gold.. Each coin comes in a special plastic transparent capsule with a numbered certificate of authenticity. The mintage ranges with each coins with some being 50,000 but some down to only 1000 minted.

There are various selections and weights with some one kilo of silver coins also.

The Perth Mint has a great selection at lunar silver coins and these are available world wide from their site.

The lunar silver coins make a great collection for coin enthusiasts and it is most likely that the value of these, especially if a full set is collected, will only increase with the years provided they are kept in their original pristine state as issued by the mint.

There are some advantages by purchasing directly from the Mint, not the least of which is that you can guarantee you will get what is advertised and what you pay for and if the coin is not up to scratch (excuse the pun), then the mint will happily replace it for you.

You know with whom you are dealing and a mint is unlikely to run away with your heard earned cash.

Collecting the lunar silver coins series is a fun way of collecting coins and would make an ideal start to any new coin collector.

How To Clean Silver Coins

Here we will look at how to clean silver coins.

Silver coins exposed to the atmosphere for long periods will become tarnished and go black. This is due to the sulphur contained within the atmosphere. It will gradually oxidize the silver.

Silver such as plates, trays, pots and so forth need to be regularly cleaned and in Victorian times this was the duty of servants.

Silver coins however are a different matter. Unless you are an experienced cleaner it is unadvisable to clean any silver coins, especially old ones which are uncleaned. Many collectors prefer the older coins that way as it lends a certain authenticity to the coins.

Probably the only coins one should clean if really required are junk coins or early circulated silver coins. The condition is not critical as one is usually only interested in the silver content but to make them look a bit brighter one can clean them up with a soft toothbrush and some warm distilled water. Don’t use CLR or any cleaning agents on the coins as it will likely remove the silver. Olive oil is also good but you will need to soak the coin for a week or two then you can remove any residual dirt with a soft toothbrush.

At this point if there is still any dirt it is best to leave it.

What ever you do, do not soak silver and any other metal coins in the same water. Sometimes a chemical action can occur resulting in a loss of silver from the silver coin. Bronze is an example of this

Cleaning silver coins is a precarious activity at best and really the best advice if one is in any doubt at all is to simply not clean the coin at all.

US Silver Dollar Coin

The US silver dollar coin is probably the most collected silver coin in the world. Usually this would be the Silver Dollar Eagle a 99.99 percent pure silver coin

Probably the most famous US silver dollar coin is the 1804 United States, Draped Bust, Heraldic Eagle.

This is so rare that not long ago one was sold at auction for over 4 million US dollars. That is a lot of money for one coin!

There are a few 1804 silver dollars but none were actually minted in 1804. They were actually minted in 1834 and in the 1850s also. They were not meant for circulation. This was because the value of silver rise so much that the silver dollars in circulation were being melted down and being moved out of the country. The US government acted on this by ceasing production of silver coins by 1803.

However several presentation sets were required as diplomatic gifts and a silver dollar dated 1804 was included in those sets. These were referred to as ‘original’ 1804 silver dollars and they were a severely minted mintage. It is thought by some that the King of Siam (Thailand) had ten sets but now only 8 of these coins are considered to exist.

The condition of these coins, never having been in circulating was considered extra fine to choice uncirculated. If you find one congratulate yourself because they are worth millions today. However, due to the rarity of these coins there are fakes around so one has to be careful. Paying millions for a fake 1804 coin is no fun!

It is an interesting story and the history of the US silver dollar coin is really a piece of American history!

Silver Dollar Coin Values

It is important to know silver dollar coin values if you are buying and or selling silver dollar coins.

These can vary with the year of mintage and the condition of the coin. Silver Morgan dollar coins, for example can range from a few dollars to many thousands depending on the condition and the rarity. The more rare a coin is the less important the condition is but the less rare the more important the condition. If you find a rare silver Morgan dollar that is also in Brilliant Uncirculated condition you would be indeed fortunate as it would command the heist of prices.

There are unusual silver coins available also that have a high value in other countries. Early Britannias and European coins from the last century are examples.

Peace dollars are another example of cons that become rare. In this case a complete set can run to 1100 to 2300 dollars depending on condition. A complete set would be from 1921 to 1935 with different mints in the US minting them. The piece coins were to be recalled but it seems that there are still some coins around.

This sort of thing applies to many coins, Silver Dollar Values is a good site to check the value of various coins both silver and gold.

So doing due diligence when buying or selling silver coins is important and will ensure that you do get what you pay for or, if selling that you get the silver dollar coin value you should be getting.

Silver Coin Buyer

If you want to sell your silver coins you will need a silver coin buyer. This could be an established dealer or just someone in a private sale. Also it can be done by auction.

First, in order to sell your coins to a silver coin buyer you will need to know what your coins are worth. This can be found two ways. Firstly you can get an idea by checking the prices of other coins that are exactly the same as yours. Secondly you can get them valued by an established coin dealer. A coin dealer will not give you the best price however as he has to resell them and he wants his cut as well. A private sale or even an auction can produce better results.

Other avenues to sell your coins include local coin collectors clubs, advertising in local and coin magazines also. There are also local coin shows from time to time and local papers or coin magazine will usually feature the venue for these. Other avenues include newsgroups, forums and trash and treasure or boot sales.

Online auctions are gaining in popularity, Sell your coins from home. Of course you need to practice due diligence on your buyer and ensure they are bona fide just as they should be ensure that you are bona fide also! You should also make yourself familiar with the processes used in online auctions, bidding and conditions or terms of use are most important.

Selling your silver coins to a silver coin buyer is not difficult. Most are interested din what you have to sell.

Lastly it is important that you describe your coins accurately and very specifically so that you do not get any returns saying, “this is not what I ordered”. Make sure the silver coin buyer really understands and acknowledges what they are getting and you should be fine.

Silver Kangaroo Coin

The Royal Australian Mint has been producing silver kangaroo coins for around 11 years and with the 2006 one dollar Silver Kangaroo proof Coin continues to uphold that tradition.

Designer Wojciech Pietranik has created the boundless enthusiasm of Australia in the bounding kangaroo complete with a Joey (baby kangaroo) peeking out of her pouch.

The mintage of this 99.9 percent fine silver one ounce coin is just 12500 and as these coins are always very much in demand they will soon be snapped up.

On each obverse is the current effigy of Her Majesty Queen Elizabeth II, by Ian Rank-Broadley.

Nominal Specifications
Denomination $1
Metal Fine Silver (99.9%)
Mass 1 Troy Ounce
Diameter (mm) 40.00
Finish Proof
Mintage 12,500
Designer Wojciech Pietranik

Some collectors make a point of collecting each issue of the silver kangaroo coin and build up an impressive and valuable collection as a result.

The silver kangaroo coin is sure to continue to be one of the best silver coins to collect for any coin enthusiast.