Coin Information I Did Not Know..

[Mitchell]

I found out some interesting information today that I did not know, and thought I'd post it in case others didnt either.

As I've posted before, I've sold much of my mom's jewelery to a gold and silver buying shop here in Forest Hills. I still go visit them from time to time, as I've become friendly with the sales people

I found out today, that any quarter 1964 or before, is 90% silver, and worth $3 each. A 1964 or earlier dime is worth over $1. There are also high worth values for 1964 and earlier JFK Half Dollars, and Eisenhower Dollars of that era.

While I was sitting and talking to my friends the jewelers, a rumpled looking guy walked in, gave the lady jeweler a coin, and walked out with a dollar bill in his hand. it turns out, according to the jewelers, the guy is a neighborhood panhandler who does this with them on a regular basis.

So, of course, I came home, and checked my coins. The earliest quarter I have is.. 1965. No dice. I cash change in at the coin counting machines in the market on a regular basis, and I can only imagine how many pre 1964 coins passed through my hands before I knew this.

So, for those that didnt know it, check your coins carefully. Who knows? A few coins, could end up paying for one's meal, or grocery bill, etc.

 

[tarr2k]

Nickles from WWII also have silver in them too. If you enjoy the hunt (haven't done this since I was a kid, so times may have changed) but getting rolls of half dollars was good for searches to see if you could get lucky with a Franklin instead of JFK; all the Franklins are silver too.

 

[Mitchell]

I've not seen a Franklin half dollar. You mentioned nickels from WW 2. I've had some buffalo head nickels, but I'm not sure what happened to them.

 

[milagros317]

Here is a site that gives the up-to-date melt value of U.S. coins that had at least some silver content:

http://www.coinflation.com/silver_coin_values.html

The cut-off year for dimes and quarters is 1964.

 

[paracarl44]

Silver coins are hard to find in circulation nowadays.

 

[Mitchell]

Thanks, mils.

Yes, carl, they are.

 

[Mitchell]

Wanted to bump this thread. I found a 1956 Jefferson Nickel today, in rather poor shape, that my friend the jeweler says is worth 55 cents, but they dont buy it. They suggested a coin dealer in the city.

A site called cointrackers.com claims the value of said nickel could be over a dollar, depending on condition. I plan to hopefully accumulate a few silver coins, and then try to sell them.

 

[tarr2k]

Condition's a pretty big deal in coin collecting, because it generally refers to how well you can make out the details. From you comment I bet you'd be lucky to get a quarter for it, if they even bought it at all (again, I haven't done this in decades, but the shops wouldn't even buy coins like that unless you had enough to buy them off you in bulk). Coin collecting from circulation is more about the chase than the actual value, being the first to notice something special in an object thousands of people have likely handled.

 

[Mitchell]

Okay, tarr. I'll keep that in mind.

My grandfather had given me some 1922 peace dollars. Earlier this year I sold them at a jeweler/coin shop for $10 each. Then again, they were 90 years old, of course. Their condition was classified as "fair" by the people who looked at them.

 

[Mitchell]

And, of course I just found out I got hosed on the peace dollars, lol. The coin tracker site estimated them as having a worth of $22 each. They said one in perfect condiition is worth $808 each. They certainly werent perfect, but I'm sure I could have gotten more than $10 each.

 

[milagros317]

And, of course I just found out I got hosed on the peace dollars, lol. The coin tracker site estimated them as having a worth of $22 each. They said one in perfect condiition is worth $808 each. They certainly werent perfect, but I'm sure I could have gotten more than $10 each.

Yes, if the coins you sold look like the one below, then the actual melt value of the silver in each one is $23.19 as of yesterday and $22 would have been a fair price from a coin dealer.

 

[Mitchell]

It did, mils, except the dollars I had were in far worse shape.

I ended up getting taken for $60 then. Sold five peace dollars for $50, when they are worth $110. Eh, it isnt the first time I've been taken in business, and I'm sure it wont be the last.