Good point, I picked a 1892-S half out of a junk bag that I only payed $58 for, it was'nt in good condition but payed for three more bags....
Hmmm! Well how about terming them as, previously possessed numismatic items with a severe depreciated value now only worth the amount of once mined material from the earth, refined into a solid, with recycle qualities yet to be determined?
I think the term comes from people who buy/ sell common 90% silver, but are not collectors themselves. They just do not have the respect for coins that collectors like us seem to have. I would love to see this term implemented into the auto sales business. The new cars, and sports cars can be called by their names, but used common cars like the Impalas, Tauruses, Camrys, and Jettas are just "junk cars", and are therefore parked acrossed the street.
It is in the car business. They have Junk Yards. Worn, beat up, cars that are worth close to their scrap values can be found there.