| People selling silver coins is a familiar site to coin | | | | into a jar so many years ago. It is not impossible |
| dealers worldwide. Activity of this kind really picks | | | | that one or more of your coins is rare, and worth |
| up as silver and gold markets move to new highs. | | | | much more than melt value. |
| Even when prices seesaw up and down during a | | | | For example, did you know that: |
| major market, a steady flow common silver coins | | | | |
| saved from years in the past moves from attics, | | | | 1. During WWII the mint made silver nickels from |
| basements, and old dresser drawers into the | | | | 1942 through 1945. These have a large letter S, |
| common bin at the neighborhood coin store. | | | | D, or P above the dome of Monticello on the back |
| Dealers buy these coins at some number times | | | | of each coin. These letters are mint marks that |
| face value, and sell them at some higher number | | | | stand for San Francisco, Denver, and Philadelphia. |
| times face. | | | | 2. The scarce dates among Mercury Dimes, the |
| What is wrong with this picture? Nothing really. | | | | dimes where Lady Liberty appears to have wings |
| You get to unload a myriad quantity of coins you | | | | in her hair, are the 1916-D, 1921, and 1921-D. |
| know are worth more to sell than to spend, with | | | | 3. Even Washington Quarters can command a |
| little more effort than the haul down to the local | | | | premium, especially the 1932-D. |
| coin shop. As I write this, in the Fall of 2008, you | | | | 4. Any Liberty Standing Quarter with a clear, four |
| should be able to get, say, seven times face | | | | digit date would be better sold on eBay than |
| value for your coins. | | | | turned in as junk silver. |
| The coin dealer, depending on how he runs his | | | | 5. The scarce dates among Liberty Walking Half |
| business, may or may not search your coins for | | | | Dollars are 1916, 1916-S, 1921, 1921-D, and |
| rare and scarce dates that he can sell at a | | | | 1938-S. |
| premium. Even if he fails to do this he can still | | | | Who knows, by taking the trouble to look over |
| easily sell the coins into the junk silver market, or | | | | your coins before you hustle them out the door, |
| over the counter to those who feel that having a | | | | you may find them interesting. They are, after all, |
| few of the old 90% silver coins may come in | | | | artifacts from your family history. What do you |
| handy should the economy totally collapse. | | | | suppose was purchased when each of these coins |
| But, if you have a bit more time to spend on the | | | | was received in change? |
| project, consider looking through your coins for | | | | Do be careful. You may become interested. You |
| the ones that may be worth more than mere | | | | may become interested enough to save some of |
| bullion value. There are things you need to know | | | | these coins, putting them into collector albums. |
| about the silver coins your grandfather tossed | | | | Before you know it, you're a coin collector. |