What % are bullion buyers paying for U.S. Silver coins?

jesbroken · December 23, 2025 5:08PM

If I decided to sell my raw silver and have 63 Walkers, 83 Washingtons, and 75 Mercury Dimes all different dates(no keys) in albums. Where would be the best place to sell, Ebay, BST, or to bullion dealers. What % would be fair to expect to receive at this time, say at today's rate. Not concerned about the albums, obviously.
Thanks,
Jim

DisneyFan · December 23, 2025 7:44PM

In general, what area are you located?

alaura22 · December 23, 2025 7:59PM

@jesbroken
Jim
Just list it on the BST if you don't mind packaging and shipping and waiting for payment.
Cut out the middle man

lilolme · December 23, 2025 8:39PM

@jesbroken said:
If I decided to sell my raw silver and have 63 Walkers, 83 Washingtons, and 75 Mercury Dimes all different dates(no keys) in albums.

What % would be fair to expect to receive at this time, say at today's rate.

Thanks,
Jim

.
I did a quick look for 'buy' rates/prices. First using $72 for silver spot would mean $1 face spot = 72 x .715 = 51.5 (rounded) or 51.5x face.

I see buy prices ranging generally around 44x to 46x face. However, these can vary depending on how much is being sold (<$100 face to $1000 bags). A low around 42x and high 50x but this is limited data. Also keep in mind if you can walk in/up and sell and avoid shipping and insurance charges and anything else, that might be worth something.

So right now using the 44x to 46x face and spot at 51.5x face (all approximations), then paying 5.5 to 7.5 back of spot (if silver decides to go up significantly more or down finally). But again can vary depending on factors mentioned and over time the amount back of spot can also change.

oreville · December 23, 2025 9:01PM

I might suggest shipping your coins in smaller quantities to minimize the weight and not draw attention to the higher value. Also buyers here might pay closer to full x51.5 of face if you sell by the roll. No harm in giving it a try.

oreville · December 23, 2025 9:03PM

Silly me. I have forgotten to properly type 51.5x of face.

jesbroken · December 23, 2025 9:04PM

@DisneyFan said:
In general, what area are you located?

Southern WV.
Jim

jesbroken · December 23, 2025 9:25PM

Was considering leaving in albums for shipping protection as they represent complete sets less keys.
Jim

MsMorrisine · December 23, 2025 11:12PM

there are a few threads on the pm forum. try asking over there.

jdimmick · December 24, 2025 1:24AM

Lot of places are minus 5 to minus 7

ElKevvo · December 24, 2025 4:30AM

eBay pro - It will sell quickly and you will get paid quickly
eBay con - The fees will take a large chunk out of the net

IMO in this market eBay is not the way to go.

K

logger7 · December 24, 2025 4:38AM

$7 behind is fairly standard: https://www.azcoinexchange.com/buylist.htm

Maywood · December 24, 2025 4:56AM

I’m making the same decision and called someone local yesterday, was told $44 x face. I’m going in on Monday.

logger7 · December 24, 2025 5:05AM

A local auction sold $145 face of 90% for around $4300 earlier in the week. Shop buyers are making lots of money with the current spreads.

jmlanzaf · December 24, 2025 5:59AM

@ElKevvo said:
eBay pro - It will sell quickly and you will get paid quickly
eBay con - The fees will take a large chunk out of the net

IMO in this market eBay is not the way to go.

K

Bullion fees are as low as 4%.

Fun little math problem. Would you rather sell a widget for $10 with zero fees or $20 and a fee of 40%?

Maywood · December 24, 2025 6:32AM

I bought most of the stuff I’m selling based on its Numismatic value, mostly 10-20 years ago. The silver value is past that and there’s no realistic way to sell everything as “coins” and make a profit.

itsnotjustme · December 24, 2025 6:37AM

@jmlanzaf said:
Fun little math problem. Would you rather sell a widget for $10 with zero fees or $20 and a fee of 40%?

Unless there is some trick here, clearly $20 with a 40% ($8) fee, netting $12,

pcgscacgold · December 24, 2025 7:06AM

@itsnotjustme said:

@jmlanzaf said:
Fun little math problem. Would you rather sell a widget for $10 with zero fees or $20 and a fee of 40%?

Unless there is some trick here, clearly $20 with a 40% ($8) fee, netting $12,

I guess one trick might be the 28% Capital Gains tax that would come into play. For some, the $10 cash and carry would result in more than the $20, 40% fees and a report to IRS. Although both should be reported I doubt they are.

GoldFinger1969 · December 24, 2025 8:26AM

Going to my LCS today...will report back. Hopefully I get 90-93% of FMV. Already facing a $6 (10% ?) discount because of the refiner which I think is BS.

With all the modern hedging techniques available today that were not around in 1980 and not as well-known in 2011, there shouldn't be that gouging of the retail client.

coastaljerseyguy · December 24, 2025 8:38AM

@GoldFinger1969 said:
Going to my LCS today...will report back. Hopefully I get 90-93% of FMV. Already facing a $6 (10% ?) discount because of the refiner which I think is BS.

With all the modern hedging techniques available today that were not around in 1980 and not as well-known in 2011, there shouldn't be that gouging of the retail client.

Yes appears most of the refiners are discounting 10% over spot for our 90%. However, even if they immediately sell a contract for today's price, they still have to refine and assay the silver and cover their overhead, i.e. labor, equipment, energy, taxes, etc. Who pays for that? And if the physical bars are going to COMEX or LBMA for delivery, most likely none of the refiners we deal with are their approved refiners. So there is a another moving part in the chain.

jmlanzaf · December 24, 2025 10:55AM

@pcgscacgold said:

@itsnotjustme said:

@jmlanzaf said:
Fun little math problem. Would you rather sell a widget for $10 with zero fees or $20 and a fee of 40%?

Unless there is some trick here, clearly $20 with a 40% ($8) fee, netting $12,

I guess one trick might be the 28% Capital Gains tax that would come into play. For some, the $10 cash and carry would result in more than the $20, 40% fees and a report to IRS. Although both should be reported I doubt they are.

Sure. And stealing $10 worth of silver from your LCS is even more profitable.

There's no "trick". It's like the BP argument. People obsess over fees. But the only thing that matters is net. Sometimes, it's well worth the fees.

jmlanzaf · December 24, 2025 10:57AM

@GoldFinger1969 said:
Going to my LCS today...will report back. Hopefully I get 90-93% of FMV. Already facing a $6 (10% ?) discount because of the refiner which I think is BS.

With all the modern hedging techniques available today that were not around in 1980 and not as well-known in 2011, there shouldn't be that gouging of the retail client.

You can't hedge refining costs or inventory costs.

GoldFinger1969 · December 24, 2025 7:36PM

@coastaljerseyguy said:
Who pays for that? And if the physical bars are going to COMEX or LBMA for delivery, most likely none of the> >refiners we deal with are their approved refiners. So there is a another moving part in the chain.

But they didn't discount anything or nearly as much when prices were lower.....in the NY/NJ area it's been about 4 months (or when silver was just under $40).

I went today and I was not happy that I got $44 per $100 face (~$62/oz.). I thought $47 should be the minimum. Cost me about 10-12% off what I was hoping to net.

Better than nothing, but pissed.

jmlanzaf · December 24, 2025 7:53PM

@GoldFinger1969 said:

@coastaljerseyguy said:
Who pays for that? And if the physical bars are going to COMEX or LBMA for delivery, most likely none of the> >refiners we deal with are their approved refiners. So there is a another moving part in the chain.

But they didn't discount anything or nearly as much when prices were lower.....in the NY/NJ area it's been about 4 months (or when silver was just under $40).

I went today and I was not happy that I got $44 per $100 face (~$62/oz.). I thought $47 should be the minimum. Cost me about 10-12% off what I was hoping to net.

Better than nothing, but pissed.

That's because the refining and storage costs became an issue when the price increased. It's not that unusual. When there is less selling, the 90% and sterling probably sell as is. There was a comex shortage and everything had to go to 999.

blitzdude · December 25, 2025 4:30AM

@GoldFinger1969 said:

@coastaljerseyguy said:
Who pays for that? And if the physical bars are going to COMEX or LBMA for delivery, most likely none of the> >refiners we deal with are their approved refiners. So there is a another moving part in the chain.

But they didn't discount anything or nearly as much when prices were lower.....in the NY/NJ area it's been about 4 months (or when silver was just under $40).

I went today and I was not happy that I got $44 per $100 face (~$62/oz.). I thought $47 should be the minimum. Cost me about 10-12% off what I was hoping to net.

Better than nothing, but pissed.

That's brutal considering melt is currently 52x. I would have thought that as the price of gutter metal remains elevated the spread would slowly start to close. Any idea what they were offering for .999? THKS!

jmlanzaf · December 25, 2025 6:25AM

@blitzdude said:

@GoldFinger1969 said:

@coastaljerseyguy said:
Who pays for that? And if the physical bars are going to COMEX or LBMA for delivery, most likely none of the> >refiners we deal with are their approved refiners. So there is a another moving part in the chain.

But they didn't discount anything or nearly as much when prices were lower.....in the NY/NJ area it's been about 4 months (or when silver was just under $40).

I went today and I was not happy that I got $44 per $100 face (~$62/oz.). I thought $47 should be the minimum. Cost me about 10-12% off what I was hoping to net.

Better than nothing, but pissed.

That's brutal considering melt is currently 52x. I would have thought that as the price of gutter metal remains elevated the spread would slowly start to close. Any idea what they were offering for .999? THKS!

The refining doesn't get any cheaper. I'm not sure why people continue to not understand this. 90% should never sell for melt, technically.

Currently upstate is at -$5.50 on 90% (-7.5%) and they are at -1% on 0.999.

The only reason 90% or 0.925 ever trades close to melt is because it is being sold as 90% or 0.925 so it doesn't need to be refined.

No one asked, but 40% is at -$6 (approx -8.5%).

blitzdude · December 25, 2025 6:46AM

@jmlanzaf said:

@blitzdude said:

@GoldFinger1969 said:

@coastaljerseyguy said:
Who pays for that? And if the physical bars are going to COMEX or LBMA for delivery, most likely none of the> >refiners we deal with are their approved refiners. So there is a another moving part in the chain.

But they didn't discount anything or nearly as much when prices were lower.....in the NY/NJ area it's been about 4 months (or when silver was just under $40).

I went today and I was not happy that I got $44 per $100 face (~$62/oz.). I thought $47 should be the minimum. Cost me about 10-12% off what I was hoping to net.

Better than nothing, but pissed.

That's brutal considering melt is currently 52x. I would have thought that as the price of gutter metal remains elevated the spread would slowly start to close. Any idea what they were offering for .999? THKS!

The refining doesn't get any cheaper. I'm not sure why people continue to not understand this. 90% should never sell for melt, technically.

Currently upstate is at -$5.50 on 90% (-7.5%) and they are at -1% on 0.999.

The only reason 90% or 0.925 ever trades close to melt is because it is being sold as 90% or 0.925 so it doesn't need to be refined.

No one asked, but 40% is at -$6 (approx -8.5%).

I've bought and sold 90% for close to 20 years. I never had a problem getting melt and many times even over when selling. The fact that everyone is so far back of melt tells you that it's all going straight to the refiners, the retail market at present is completely dead.

Upstate is definitely offering better than almost everyone else. Still brutal but kudos to them for not completely lowballing. RGDS!

291fifth · December 25, 2025 6:51AM

@GoldFinger1969 said:
Going to my LCS today...will report back. Hopefully I get 90-93% of FMV. Already facing a $6 (10% ?) discount because of the refiner which I think is BS.

With all the modern hedging techniques available today that were not around in 1980 and not as well-known in 2011, there shouldn't be that gouging of the retail client.

What the market will bear ... or is it price fixing at the country club?

Cougar1978 · December 25, 2025 6:52AM

Buyers of junk silver are paying a pct of BV. It can vary based on the buyer, their inventory needs, and outlook. Slabbed bullion material it can be a pct of CDN bid for that issue.

coastaljerseyguy · December 25, 2025 7:36AM

The numismatic premium is gone for the common stuff. When silver was $12 I could sell Morgans for $15. But I'd still rather sell them at $42.

jmlanzaf · December 25, 2025 8:39AM

@blitzdude said:

@jmlanzaf said:

@blitzdude said:

@GoldFinger1969 said:

@coastaljerseyguy said:
Who pays for that? And if the physical bars are going to COMEX or LBMA for delivery, most likely none of the> >refiners we deal with are their approved refiners. So there is a another moving part in the chain.

But they didn't discount anything or nearly as much when prices were lower.....in the NY/NJ area it's been about 4 months (or when silver was just under $40).

I went today and I was not happy that I got $44 per $100 face (~$62/oz.). I thought $47 should be the minimum. Cost me about 10-12% off what I was hoping to net.

Better than nothing, but pissed.

That's brutal considering melt is currently 52x. I would have thought that as the price of gutter metal remains elevated the spread would slowly start to close. Any idea what they were offering for .999? THKS!

The refining doesn't get any cheaper. I'm not sure why people continue to not understand this. 90% should never sell for melt, technically.

Currently upstate is at -$5.50 on 90% (-7.5%) and they are at -1% on 0.999.

The only reason 90% or 0.925 ever trades close to melt is because it is being sold as 90% or 0.925 so it doesn't need to be refined.

No one asked, but 40% is at -$6 (approx -8.5%).

I've bought and sold 90% for close to 20 years. I never had a problem getting melt and many times even over when selling. The fact that everyone is so far back of melt tells you that it's all going straight to the refiners, the retail market at present is completely dead.

Upstate is definitely offering better than almost everyone else. Still brutal but kudos to them for not completely lowballing. RGDS!

Most of it is. There was a need for comex bars.

ElKevvo · December 25, 2025 9:47AM

@jmlanzaf said:

@ElKevvo said:
eBay pro - It will sell quickly and you will get paid quickly
eBay con - The fees will take a large chunk out of the net

IMO in this market eBay is not the way to go.

K

Bullion fees are as low as 4%.

Fun little math problem. Would you rather sell a widget for $10 with zero fees or $20 and a fee of 40%?

I am pretty good at math (Physics degree) so I get your point...but if the widget is worth $10 and since it is a widget a safe assumption is that there are plenty of them available for sale at $10 how many buyers would there be at $20?

Maybe eBay fees are 4.0% for some sellers but these seem to be the eBay fees I pay when I sell as listed on eBay's fees page and I often have to go the free shipping route to be competitive. Nothing I have ever sold is even close to the $7,500 amount for lower fees. But if gold keeps going up there might be a chance!

K

MasonG · December 25, 2025 10:41AM

@ElKevvo said:
Maybe eBay fees are 4.0% for some sellers

There are lower fees if you have an eBay store.

Most Coins & Paper Money categories, except bullion:
9% on total amount of the sale up to $4,000 calculated per item
2.35% on the portion of the sale over $4,000

Bullion:
7.5% if total amount of the sale is $1,500 or less, calculated per item
5% if total amount of the sale is over $1,500 and up to $10,000 calculated per item
4.5% if total amount of the sale is over $10,000 calculated per item

BAJJERFAN · December 25, 2025 4:27PM

As an aside are the bullion folks paying spot for gold?

jmlanzaf · December 25, 2025 5:04PM

@BAJJERFAN said:
As an aside are the bullion folks paying spot for gold?

Not for 14k or 18k scrap.

But, like silver, they are for 999 (give or take 1%)

dipset512 · December 26, 2025 2:32PM

@ElKevvo said:
eBay pro - It will sell quickly and you will get paid quickly
eBay con - The fees will take a large chunk out of the net

IMO in this market eBay is not the way to go.

K

If you have quite a bit, I'd pay the eBay subscription $27.99 for a month and that effectively lowers the fees.

Without Subscription: 13.25%
With Subscription: 9%

If you sell less than ~$658/month: You're losing money on the subscription
If you sell more than ~$658/month: You're coming out ahead

For your situation, some back of the napkin math (assuming AU/BU):

LCS:

63 Walkers: 63 × $21.73 = $1,368.99
83 Quarters: 83 × $10.78 = $894.74 (at 75% of $14.37)
75 Dimes: 75 × $4.31 = $323.25 (at 75% of $5.75)

Total: ~$2,587

eBay (with subscription):

63 Walkers @ $34: 63 × $34 = $2,142
83 Quarters @ $13 each: 83 × $13 = $1,079
75 Dimes @ $9 each: 75 × $9 = $675

Gross sales: $3,896
Fees at 9%: $350.64
Subscription: $27.95
Net: $3,517.41

You come out ahead ~$930 going with eBay. But you'd have to ship out individually and takes additional time.

blitzdude · December 26, 2025 2:41PM

@dipset512 said:

@ElKevvo said:
eBay pro - It will sell quickly and you will get paid quickly
eBay con - The fees will take a large chunk out of the net

IMO in this market eBay is not the way to go.

K

If you have quite a bit, I'd pay the eBay subscription $27.99 for a month and that effectively lowers the fees.

Without Subscription: 13.25%
With Subscription: 9%

If you sell less than ~$658/month: You're losing money on the subscription

If you sell more than ~$658/month: You're coming out ahead

For your situation, some back of the napkin math (assuming AU/BU):

LCS:

63 Walkers: 63 × $21.73 = $1,368.99
83 Quarters: 83 × $10.78 = $894.74 (at 75% of $14.37)
75 Dimes: 75 × $4.31 = $323.25 (at 75% of $5.75)

Total: ~$2,587

eBay (with subscription):

63 Walkers @ $34: 63 × $34 = $2,142
83 Quarters @ $13 each: 83 × $13 = $1,079
75 Dimes @ $9 each: 75 × $9 = $675

Gross sales: $3,896
Fees at 9%: $350.64
Subscription: $27.95
Net: $3,517.41

You come out ahead ~$930 going with eBay. But you'd have to ship out individually and takes additional time.

Don't forget to factor in the potential scams. I was just hit for over $1k by an eBay scammer. Been fighting for weeks to recover the funds. Even if/when I do it was hardly even worth the effort. RGDS!

jmlanzaf · December 26, 2025 2:43PM

@dipset512 said:

@ElKevvo said:
eBay pro - It will sell quickly and you will get paid quickly
eBay con - The fees will take a large chunk out of the net

IMO in this market eBay is not the way to go.

K

If you have quite a bit, I'd pay the eBay subscription $27.99 for a month and that effectively lowers the fees.

Without Subscription: 13.25%
With Subscription: 9%

If you sell less than ~$658/month: You're losing money on the subscription

If you sell more than ~$658/month: You're coming out ahead

For your situation, some back of the napkin math (assuming AU/BU):

LCS:

63 Walkers: 63 × $21.73 = $1,368.99
83 Quarters: 83 × $10.78 = $894.74 (at 75% of $14.37)
75 Dimes: 75 × $4.31 = $323.25 (at 75% of $5.75)

Total: ~$2,587

eBay (with subscription):

63 Walkers @ $34: 63 × $34 = $2,142
83 Quarters @ $13 each: 83 × $13 = $1,079
75 Dimes @ $9 each: 75 × $9 = $675

Gross sales: $3,896
Fees at 9%: $350.64
Subscription: $27.95
Net: $3,517.41

You come out ahead ~$930 going with eBay. But you'd have to ship out individually and takes additional time.

For what it's worth, I love ebay. I do $200k per year in sales on ebay. I have a store and TRS discount which results in bullion fees of 7.5% of less. And i scrap virtually everything locally.

jmlanzaf · December 26, 2025 2:47PM

@dipset512 said:

@ElKevvo said:
eBay pro - It will sell quickly and you will get paid quickly
eBay con - The fees will take a large chunk out of the net

IMO in this market eBay is not the way to go.

K

If you have quite a bit, I'd pay the eBay subscription $27.99 for a month and that effectively lowers the fees.

Without Subscription: 13.25%
With Subscription: 9%

If you sell less than ~$658/month: You're losing money on the subscription

If you sell more than ~$658/month: You're coming out ahead

For your situation, some back of the napkin math (assuming AU/BU):

LCS:

63 Walkers: 63 × $21.73 = $1,368.99
83 Quarters: 83 × $10.78 = $894.74 (at 75% of $14.37)
75 Dimes: 75 × $4.31 = $323.25 (at 75% of $5.75)

Total: ~$2,587

eBay (with subscription):

63 Walkers @ $34: 63 × $34 = $2,142
83 Quarters @ $13 each: 83 × $13 = $1,079
75 Dimes @ $9 each: 75 × $9 = $675

Gross sales: $3,896
Fees at 9%: $350.64
Subscription: $27.95
Net: $3,517.41

You come out ahead ~$930 going with eBay. But you'd have to ship out individually and takes additional time.

By the way, I think those walker and dime prices are "aspirational"

dipset512 · December 26, 2025 2:49PM

I’m going off selling individually. I always assume individually will net you more.

jesbroken · December 26, 2025 2:50PM

Thanks all for replies but sold 6 rolls on bst.
Jim

pcgscacgold · December 26, 2025 2:55PM

@jesbroken said:
Thanks all for replies but sold 6 rolls on bst.
Jim

Wow, at almost $500 a roll feeless I may need to consider trimming the herd. I saw today we reached $79+ an oz and $570+ a roll. To the moon.

jdimmick · December 26, 2025 4:26PM

90% I just called today to one of the major buyers who were at -7.50, they are now at -10.00 to public, my price a bit better

What % are bullion buyers paying for U.S. Silver coins?

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