minimum grades desired to buy specific 90% silver coins

Here are my guidelines:

Roosevelt Dimes: Wouldn't buy unless they were well under spot
"Mercury" Dimes: VF unless key date
Washington Quarters: BU unless a key date
Standing Liberty Quarters: VF (I haven't found yet)
Walking Liberty Halves: EF unless a better date
Franklin Halves: AU unless a better date, then VF
'64 Kennedy Halves: BU
Any Barber Coinage: VG

Mercuries, SLQ's and Walking Halves all lose their attractiveness under VF in my opinion :rollling:
BU Kennedys and Washington Quarters are gorgeous even though they are very common :thumb:

What are your guidelines?

 

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if I'm buying forthe junk silver pile then anything but slicks if the price is right. for my collection, Walkers, Mercs, Morgans, Franklin it's BU coins.

 

I have no guidline I would have to see them first. I once bought a seated half for spot. It was worn almost planchet smooth.

 

I don't understand what this is about? You mention 90%, which leads me to believe you are talking about junk silver but then put requirements for it? If it's junk it's junk to me. And I'd love to buy any junk at under spot let alone "well under spot".

 

Don't care as long as not slicks, I'm buying it as silver bullion so it really don't matter. I'd even buy slicks but they would have to be under spot.

 

Personally I wouldn't buy a standing liberty quarter under EF. They do NOT wear well at all.

 

Duke Kavanaugh: I am talking about buying junk silver at a LCS where you can pick what you want. I know to many it makes little or no difference, but I like to choose what I like the best. For example, I love the BU Quarters. And many people love mercury dimes, but I only buy them if they are VF+. It's a fun subject to think about.

 

When I am buying junk, it really doesn't matter the condition.

BU for the Roosie set, Franklin set and the War Mercs that I completed.

 

I see what your talking about.
My LCS charges more for BU quarters (even 64's). Now I have gone through the junk and picked out some stuff I think is better vs. plain but if it's junk silver I don't expect to get much at that level.

 

If I am collecting probably these guidelines. If I want to make a buck or two, than anything I can make a buck or two on!

 

This may get heated, but what is the difference if one is bullion collecting, as an investment? Why not buy raw silver bars? Let the young and beginning collectors get the remaining Silver that is out there for reasonable prices. Since a bullion collector is getting generic metal, what difference is there in what form is it in?

 

I think Mercs wear well and look decent in lower grades. TC

 

I would go AU on everything except the Barbers.

 

A lot of it is just personal taste. Even for bars, some brands are preferred by certain investors. I really enjoy having certain 90% coins more, and can get them for the same price as the others in the LCS's bin. So it makes sense to me. Whether or not I can someday sell them for a bit more to a collector or dealer, I WILL enjoy them more than generic 90%. I like to hear about what other people like too, is why I started the thread :yes:

 

I try to get halves and quarters. Dimes are always worn to almost nothing it seems.
IMO a stack of old beat to hel halves are always going to be neater then a stack of new 1 oz bars.
I have cut back on bullion grade ASEs for 90%.

 

There is not a single coin dealer or shop in my area that would sell any of the OP's coin grades listed at junk silver prices. JFK's and 1960s silver quarters carry a minimal premium since the minted about a billion of them, but that's about it.

 

That is OK. The idea is to just think about what you like best and why. The 60's quarters and halves are attractive and not too hard to find. The other coins I don't find as often. I think it is OK to pay a little more for what you like, but not too much. It is fun to look for online dealers too, especially if your LCS's are charging more than you think is fair.