Is this coin considered a Junk Silver Piece?

Picked this coin up the other day and I know its a late date Franklin with a toning line at the bottom of the face, would this be considered a junk piece? I tried to get the best pictures possible with my phone.

 

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It would depend on where you bought it from. Some sellers would sell it as junk silver. Some buyers would pay a premium for it. I've sold similar items on eBay for $10-15 each. Just depends on the situation.

That being said, and knowing what people will pay for items, I wouldn't ever sell a BU Franklin Half (regardless of date) for silver melt price. If your coin is circulated, then maybe...but if it's uncirculated, IMO it's not junk silver.

 

The "toning line" at the bottom of the coin looks almost like a die crack however I'm not an expert on errors. Either way that Franklin Half is not junk silver I would grade to be an MS62, possibly a MS63.

 

My opinion of junk silver would be coins that have no collector or numismatic value. For me, this coin does not meet that criteria.

Chris

 

Looks like a MS coin to me, however B&M's often have this type of stuff in their junk bins........

 

I like it, interesting coin.

 

I agree with coinzip that you can sometimes find stuff like this for the junk silver rate at some B&Ms. However personally I wouldn't consider this coin junk silver.

 

I would consider it a melt value coin. Looks AU to me and the toning or stain is distracting

 

According to U.S Silver Coin Melt Value Calculator. the melt value for a Franklin Half Dollar is $5.72. I'm guessing you most likely got your Franklin for between $7-9. That Franklin is worth between $10-20.

 

The toning/stain may take away a little eye appeal. Having said that, that Franklin is a MS coin. I would be happy to get it a the price of scrap.

 

Many dealers will put stuff like this in the junk bin just because they don't have room for it in the showcase. I don't see it as junk.

 

Paid $6.75 for it. Was in the junk silver bin at LCS. I was pretty happy with the find!

 

I am not sure exactly what it is. Nor would I know how to identify a die crack, but the magnifier I have isn't good enough to get a good look either way. Maybe time to finally get that loupe I have always wanted to get.

 

Many use the term "junk silver" with coins that carry limited numismatic premium over the intrinsic bullion value. In that sense, yes, I would agree that it is worth only a small amount over bullion value. I tend to use "junk silver" for culls and very low grade coinage, however.

 

If you don't mind me asking, what are you basing your pricing/valuation on?

 

A coin is only worth what someone will pay for it, right? Well, people regularly pay between $10-15 each for MS Franklin halves that I sell (I don't usually list them for more than that if they're later dates, unless they are unusually nice) but $20 isn't crazy times. I could easily see someone buying that coin for $20 on eBay, FWIW. Of course you will have your fair share of people asking you to sell it to them at melt...but there are plenty of people who will pay a premium for better condition Franklins.

 

I haven't seen a lot of interest in the Franklin series, and don't see it carrying much of a premium. Maybe in 50 years.

If I had that in my collection, I wouldn't be interested in selling it at melt value. On the flip side, if I had an opportunity to buy it at melt value, I'd probably take it. This type of coin has a wide buy/sell spread in my opinion.

 

Scratches in fields slight wear...cleaned au coin with unknown die break or something else...

 

Current price of silver times silver content of half dollar..........

$15.68 x .36169 = $5.67

Chris

 

I don't see much collector's value in that coin, not much eye appeal and the toning line is quite distracting. But I don't think that coin should be called junk either. You could keep it in a manilla envelope and wait for the pastel colors...