Hi everyone. New to board.. been lurking for a while catching up on coin/bullion knowledge. Just started stacking silver, mostly ASE so far but I would like to dabble in some older silver coins in at least AU condition. Are Franklin's a good way to stack older 90% silver for a very small premium over spot? I've been thinking about pulling the trigger on a few rolls for around $240 each but wanted to get some opinions first. Thanks! -Joe
A lot of Franklins can be had for right at, and sometimes below melt, depending on condition. I'd think they would be good buys. Most investors overlook half dollars so prices stay down for collectors. Guy
Franklin's would be great way to fraction up Silver bullion! Damn shame the mint doesn't make Silver Eagle Fractions if you ask me. The current melt value: Morgan, Peace Dollar: $22.28 Franklin Half: $10.40 Eisenhower 40%: $9.11 32-64 Washington Quarter: $5.21 Mercury dimes: $2.08 42-45 War Nickel: $1.62 I used to buy SAE, but have switched to Morgan's cause of the added Numismatic value not to mention they are one of the most beautiful coins ever minted! If you want just Silver - get bars, and maybe score a few so they can be fractioned into tenths or what ever... Quality Silver Bullion makes some pretty nice fraction coins in there catalog. http://www.qualitysilverbullion.com/index.php?route=product/product&product_id=69
Thanks for the list! Maybe as the price of silver rises, a 1/2 dollar sized ASE would come under consideration. Also, how much of a premium should I expect to see over melt for common date Franklin Proofs as opposed to circulated?
You can get a lot of proofs cheap too. It's easy to build a set of AU Franklins, and you still have money for groceries.
Franklin proofs ended in 1963. If that 1964 proof set contains a JFK "accented hair" variety, it will cost more then melt. TC
I agree... I've gotten a lot of Franklin and 64 Kennedy halves at or under melt and some are in very nice shape. I said in another thread last year that I was able to get a lot of 64 Kennedy's early in 2010 for great prices. Great compared to what those melt values are now. Franklins I try and get the best possible examples I can find, but if you are just wanting to get some for silver bullion even the one's in heavy circulated condition are very affordable. I'm still surprised at how many people know so little about coins. My co worker just handed me an old, old buffalo nickel today at work. It's a coin worth over $100 in the condition its in. I am getting her a gift card for groceries or to go out to eat or something, as she did not have to do that.
I bought a roll of Franklin Halves for $173.00 on ebay back in the fall. I don't think the guy realized what he had! Got them for less than the melt value! There are good deals out there if your willing to take the time and search!
I'm still kicking myself about an eBay auction of Franklins that I let get away. There were 9 in PCGS MS-64 holders for $160 ($18 apiece): http://cgi.ebay.com/ws/eBayISAPI.dll?ViewItem&item=120684304166 There were no bids with an hour to go, so I put in low bid and forgot about the auction. Then I got sniped at the last minute. I think high-grade Franklins are another underappreciated coin right now. 40 years from now (when I will likely be selling off most of my collection), they will likely have much more respect.
