40% Coins?

[DM1975]

Are these worth keeping? Who will buy them? We are kinda short of coin shops in my area and was wondering if I should keep em, save em, ignore them?

[Someone_else]

I would not be interested in buying or holding 40% halves.

Unless the coins are pretty or "collectible" in their own right, I think the primary value is that they could be readily refined into useful industrial or jewelry metal. Silver rounds and bars are already there, and 90% coins can be refined to .999 or upgraded to sterling by adding some .999 But refiners don't seem to like 40% coins at all.

Most people have no idea that 1965-1969 halves have any silver in them, and it would probably be a real hassle to educate them in a barter situation, where 90% coins are obviously different once you compare the edges with a later coin. Even those people who do know the silver content will probably rather not check the dates of each coin (or take a chance with spot checking a sample).

The value of a thing is what you can trade it for later. (Unless you have some personal use for them.) So the question is, "Who wants these coins now, or who will want them in the future?"

In the past, the 40% halves had an interesting angle, that you could always just spend them for face value, and therefore your bag of halves could never be worth less than a thousand dollars. But that was a while ago and I doubt anyone thinks silver will drop to $4.65 bucks an ounce again. (Is that number right? I got it by dividing a thousand dollars by 215 troy ounces per bag.)

[keepitlow]

i'd get rid of em ebay or dealer. Stick with 90%, .999 etc

[obilly]

$1,000 Face Value 40% Silver Bags $5,752.50 apmex buy price

[andial]

I would trade them in for finer Silver. Leave the scraps for the late comers.

[minimus]

Keep them, great trading coins for the late comers.






I like Ikes ...

[JayDubya]

Thats one thing I never got into and Im glad I didnt. I agree with some of the earlier posters, try to trade out of them if you can.

[MKS]

Hmmm, I've got close to $500.00 in 40%, ($70.00 of it in BU) bought it when I first got into silver and didn't know better. I'd like to trade it for finer silver but man I would lose a lot just on the premiums selling it and buying pure. I do like the fact that it does have a face value and is a recognizable form of silver.

[DM1975]

I will start keeping some then I guess. Can't hurt since they are only costing me $0.50 a piece and I can always get that back. If silver keeps climbing then I guess I will be doin ok then too.

[newmisty]

If they only cost $.50 take as many as you can get!

There is a guy on Craigslist near me who advertises that he pays 12x face for 90% and 4x face for 40%.

[DM1975]

I get these only from prospecting. I am not really a coin collector, more of a silver collector, but I am all over this junk silver thing.

[newmisty]

I'm with you...take whatever you can get. :)

[angryhippy]

I think they are a great coin. I only have them from hunting boxes. I've sold some to my local dealer in the past for close to spot.

Shoot I'd buy all I can get for 4x face.... seems like a great price for the buyer. I do like the 40% kennedys a lot.

[DM1975]

What about war nickels?

[Rusty Shackelford]

My opinion is to avoid buying 40% and war nickles at their melt value. It is just a hassle. However in prospecting at banks I love finding the 40% at fifty cents a piece. Itt should be noted that I have no trouble unloading any 40% at a moments notice for a tick over 5X face.

[DM1975]

Thanks everyone for the advise.