Is circulated silver REALLY only worth melt after picking?
Catmandu
Posts: 8 ✭
I have been going through the Washington Quarters I have, filling a Dansco book as suggested. I am up to 1962, and only had 15 holes to fill. Today, I went to the local coin store and was able to fill five of those holes (particularly happy about the 1932-S I was able to buy).
The quality (fine at best) and quantity of the leftover coins prior to 1958 were such that I did not feel bad at all selling them to the coin store at spot less 6%. But as I get to the later coins, I am not so sure I shouldn't take some time to evaluate what I have. Both the quality and quantity of the coins is getting better ($50 of 1964's to go through!).
Below are what I feel are 'average' examples of what I have. The luster of the 1964 is really quite nice, and the toning on the 1962 is appealing, to me, at least.
Should I put more effort into getting them into the hands of folks that want them (maybe as lots on BST, or eBay), getting a bit more coin in my pocket to find the quarters I need? Or are they truly routine? I am concerned I have recency bias, having looked at so many lesser quality coins as I worked up to these later ones.
Apologies for the photos, doing my best with an iPhone and desk lamp, for now.
Comments
Check sold listings on eBay and see what comparable coins are selling for, also keeping in mind the eBay seller fees.
The obverse of the 1964 has a lot of marks. You can do a lot better.
Those coins are truly routine. While they have decent eye appeal, there are ten of thousands of them out there in nicer condition.
They are truly routine.
Circulated 64s are scarcer than UNC 64s.
The high price of silver has eliminated most of the numismatic premium of common date silver coins.
Not much of what you buy anymore is worth it. Food for thought.
Strange. Why would you buy it then?
Doggedly collecting coins of the Central American Republic.
Visit the Society of US Pattern Collectors at USPatterns.com.
At current melt a 90% quarter is worth $5.84. So to answer your question re modern 90%, "Is circulated silver REALLY only worth melt..."
The answer is yes, they're only worth melt.
For what it’s worth, I like putting together albums where the later date common coins match the earlier date key date coins. 1964 quarters are common in all grades, but having the later common dates match the condition of the keys in the same sets is more of a rewarding challenge to me. It satisfies the need to collect something in an organized way with a matching theme and not about the money.
Mr_Spud
Gold has jumped recently, and silver has been inching upward for a couple of months, just hold onto them for a while. With all the turmoil going on both nationally and internationally, silver and gold likely will continue to rise.
Gold is worth it.
I love it! Yet another way to collect coins. Collect an entire set of silver coins from junk silver in a particular (low) grade. It's a fun way to collect silver as well.
Establish goals and expectations at the outset of collecting.
Experience the World through Numismatics...it's more than you can imagine.
You mention obtaining a 32-S. Use caution with the 32-D and 32-S. Many counterfeits exist.
Depends - many have a numismatic value. Consult your Pricing sources. I use CDN CPG. Coins not worth incurring slab cost go to my raw coin retail browse boxes (2x2) for shows. I am not a bulk (rolls, etc) BV based seller at this time. Don’t let them rip you with some generalization - do your research.
Your nice 25c above do not appear to be something I would just throw into roll sell BV based. Doesn’t mean I would not sell them close to melt but would not give away at whsl or below melt. Generally borderline material would put in roll container for that particular inventory class sell pieces at some pct above BV. Hey silver could go up.