I don't know anything about mintages for silver rounds, but the engelhard prospectors from the early 80s have always sold at a small premium. If the current premium is large, I'd avoid them. If it is small, you may want to pay up since they seem to have some "numismatic" value.
Yea, I realize that the Engelhard itself goes for a higher premium just because it's Engelhard, but i've seen the 1982 and 1983 years sell for much more than the 1984 and 1985 years. They say that these are the "hard to find" years and I was just wondering why they are harder to find than the other years? Could it be that they just minted fewer coins those years?
That would be my guess. But, silver is silver, and with a respected round (like Engelhard), I'd buy the cheaper ones. It's bullion, after all.
But, silver is silver, and with a respected round (like Engelhard), I'd buy the cheaper ones. It's bullion, after all. True... I guess I just like the thrill of having something that is different and unique with a somewhat nostalgic name behind it. The fact that they no longer mint these coins makes it exciting when you come across a whole roll that has been stored away in a safe all these years and each coin looks brand new out of the tube. You don't get that kind of experience with say a roll of Indian Head Buffalo's that you can purchase from every other dealer out there. Although on the other hand, I'm not going to pay a rediculous premium to obtain them either. If the price is reasonable, I will buy it. But getting back to my original question about the 1982 and 1983 Big "E" coins, I just don't see many offered up in rolls out there, but I do see (and have bought a few rolls) of the 1984 and 1985 (with the Eagle) at a reasonable price over spot. I wish that I could find some of the Big "E" tubes of Engelhard for as good a deal. But I guess they are just that rare that they don't show up often. Read more: http://www.cointalk.com/newreply.php?p=1210667&noquote=1#ixzz1QWMEAGbW
I have been doing research on the 1985 prospector silver rounds off and on for a year. My findings are this. There are 3 varieties/types. What I will call type 1 if you look to the left of the pan you will see water marks,and date is narrow. Type 2 again look left of the pan and there will be very faint if any water marks,and the finish of the coin is like the type 1 and the water marks are very defined, now for the type 3 and this one I found most challenging..it looks just like the type 2 left of the pan but the water lines are softer and also the finish on this round is more of a satin/matt finish comparing them to all the other rounds.Also the date is fine. I also found it harder to find the type 3 maybe less mintage? Hope this helps
I think the 1984's got a bad rap with all the counterfeit stuff. Maybe that carried over to the 1985's? What I get a kick out of is the sellers that glue a small gold nugget on them and realize some crazy prices....just proves that people like shiney stuff
So this thread got me looking into my stack. I do own one 1982, looking at ebay I didn't see that large of premium on them. I also have some 84's. I found it interesting that their was two different reverses on these rounds. One with the Large E and the other had a flying eagle on it. Is one more rare than the other?
Probably not any more rarer than the others, UNLESS you have a proof strike. Proof strikes are lower mintage by a bunch.
