Selling silver coins

I was wondering if anyone knows if I can get more from a person rather than going to a coin shop cause I have 13 dollars in 90% silver Franklin's,a Kennedy,and some walking liberty half and some other coins not silver what about craigslist or any alternatives that are maybe safer?

Most coin shops, in my personal experience, will only pay scrap value for common silver coins.
According to Ebay, Franklin half dollars in circulated condition sell for $3 - $4 each LINK

Originally Posted by RLS0812

Most coin shops, in my personal experience, will only pay scrap value for common silver coins.
According to Ebay, Franklin half dollars in circulated condition sell for $3 - $4 each LINK

lol i agree

Some research that might help
This first one pays 10X (plus a little) face value for 1964 and earlier coins >> https://www.coinsonline.com/product-...-half-dollars/

1964 Kennedy Half Dollar Value | CoinTrackers >> Also be sure to look to the right on that page as a LOT of helpful links

U.S. Silver Half Dollar Melt Value Calculator

Where to Sell Silver Coins for Cash (8 Options)

Originally Posted by auminer

Bummer you're not close to me. I'd give you spot price cash for them.

Unless you just REALLY REALLY NEED the 150 bucks or so RIGHT NOW, I'd say just keep them. Silver's undervalued right now, although, it stubbornly has STAYED undervalued ever since that silly spike to 50something in 2011.

Lol yeah that figures wow that would b better.

By the way, silver never officially hit $50 in late April, 2011- it got up to about $49.86ish late on a Sunday night, but never punched through $50. It did punch through the $50 level in January, 1980.

RE: selling silver there are several things to consider. If a dealer (or person for that matter) senses that you don't know what you are doing, it is human nature that they might try to take advantage of you. They might call the coins "slicks" (heavily worn coins like the Walking Liberties might be). They might say they have been cleaned improperly and would be hard to sell, etc. One thing you might try to do is to go to a coin show in your area that has at least three dealers willing to pay cash for silver. That shouldn't be hard to do in most parts of the U.S. Then go to each dealer. Tell them you are shopping for the best deal and don't tell them the other person's prices. You should get a better deal this way. Also, a website with up-to-date silver pricing information is coininfo.com. You might want to also check to make sure that you don't have any rare or scarce dates such as all halves from 1921.

Originally Posted by RLS0812

Silver use to be priced under $5 for many MANY years.
Since deregulation in the mid 60's, the price has only spiked twice - once because of the Hunt Brothers scandal, and the other during the 2008 real estate / financial bubble popping.


Edit: in the last 5 years, there has been no real volatility in silver. In my opinion, there is no point holding on to something that appreciates in value less than the inflation rate.

Everyone seems to mention the Hunt Bros. when talking about the big silver spike in the late 70's and early 1980. But how does that account for gold going from $35 to $875 an ounce at the same time silver made it's big move? Also, the Hunt Brothers made a big mistake IMHO by borrowing to finance their silver purchases. Some would say this was collusion, but when the banks refused to lend anymore to them and when the exchanges said they would accept sellers only, but not buyers (an exception was made for certain parties buying to close out a short position) the metal was in a position where it should have been obvious that it was in for a big fall.

I do frequently wonder if there are some wealthy parties trying to figure out how to corner the silver market without using margin, so they don't have to worry about loans being cut off or called in. And it wouldn't have to be silver. It could perhaps be something like nickel or an exotic rare earth element.

The silver market is EXTREMELY difficult to gauge and a lot of that has to do with paper shorting of silver. The paper markets are said to be 100 times as big or larger than the market for physical silver. If you want a more in-depth analysis, look up what Ted (Theodore) Butler of Florida has to say about this. It has been used to manipulate the price of silver for many years.

I remember back in late 2010 there was talk about those owning silver futures doing the unthinkable and demanding that the physical silver be made available for delivery rather than taking cash. I also remember some people saying they were offered cash premiums of 20-30% to take cash as a substitute for the physical silver. It was a very interesting time. Complicated subject for sure.

Originally Posted by RLS0812

Most coin shops, in my personal experience, will only pay scrap value for common silver coins.
According to Ebay, Franklin half dollars in circulated condition sell for $3 - $4 each LINK

$3 to $4 for 90% silver halves is a total ripoff unless there is something seriously wrong with the coins (i.e., they are mutilated or super ugly for some reason). You should be able to get more than that for average condition silver halves.

Originally Posted by recyclersteve

$3 to $4 for 90% silver halves is a total ripoff unless there is something seriously wrong with the coins (i.e., they are mutilated or super ugly for some reason). You should be able to get more than that for average condition silver halves.

In that case, I will sell all the silver coins I receive to you
Common silver coins are not worth much on the resale end, but if you claim they are worth more, I'll gladly buy them from Ebay, and sell them to you !

But how does that account for gold going from $35 to $875

Deregulation . The price was fixed by the US government at $35 /oz until 1972.

Honestly, you don't have that much. Price around at coin shops to see who buys junk for the highest price. You are not someone who is going to accumulate or flip silver and gold, so just get what you can and move on. There is something that you do the cash will make a meaningful contribution to.

I buy lots of coins - both US and World coins, silver and non-silver. That said -- another option is to check your local auction companies. I've seen some coins go for 2x - 4x book value, even for common dates & grades. Even after a normal 20% commission you can normally make more money that way than selling to a coin dealer. Make sure to check your dates and mint marks. If you have a semi-key or key date that is worth good money, even if in only good condition.

Originally Posted by Ticonderoga

I buy lots of coins - both US and World coins, silver and non-silver. That said -- another option is to check your local auction companies. I've seen some coins go for 2x - 4x book value, even for common dates & grades. Even after a normal 20% commission you can normally make more money that way than selling to a coin dealer. Make sure to check your dates and mint marks. If you have a semi-key or key date that is worth good money, even if in only good condition.

Good call. Check for any key date coins... https://www.pcgs.com/prices/

People have been robbed and killed by crackheads answering craigslist ads for gold and silver.

When I ditched a bunch of silver bullion when the prices were $35/oz I just hit a gold/silver buyer/seller. Sure I could have got more money from individuals but I could also have gotten mugged or given fake money.

Misc circulated silver I just keep around because I like large silver coins, not worth the effort to sell.