I saw in a recent Coin World a Canadian half-ounce silver coin with a 5 dollar denomination. Wouldn't it be cool if the US Mint issued a half-ounce silver coin? I think that many more people buy silver eagles than buy gold or platinum. Its affordability makes it truly a coin of the common man, so why not have different denominations in silver as well? What do you think?
you should stat looking at foreign coins mike i believe you liek the thai coin i posted earlier today
but I was speaking specifically to the fact that the US Mint makes fractional coins for the other metals. Having just seen a fractional silver, I thought... why not???
I think the only reason they bother with fractional gold coins is simply due to the allure of gold itself. Many gold coins are bought by people who don't even collect coins or invest in them, but simply want to own a piece of gold. These people won't fork over $1200 for a full ounce coin, but they will spend $100 on a quarter ounce coin. It's all about what sells, not whats numismatically pleasing. Guy~
Ive always liked the Austrailian Kookaburras. The spelling is prob off but you get my point. Anyhow they mint 1oz, 2oz, 5oz, and 10oz. Now I think if the mint were to make even more coins than they do now, I think more silver content would be a better idea than fractional. I like the idea of 2oz Silver Eagles and even 5oz. But the 10oz would be alittle pricey for me to want to collect modern.
They probably (think they) couldn't make as much profit on half ounce silver coins as on gold and platinum. But maybe if the price of silver keeps climbing, who knows.
I liked the canadian wolf coins, but they apparently weren't popular enough to be more than a one year type coin. I don't think the mint would be interested
You're probably right. If the Canadian coin had done well, then maybe an American experiment would have been in order, but now the mint would look at the Canadian coin and think loser. I still like the idea. I was thinking another classic design, you know... maybe the standing liberty design. I guess I may have to buy a wolf or two.
As a silver guy I think it's a great idea but the mint would probably make it as a weird collectible or if made as a bullion coin would charge way too much over spot.
I liked them too, and got one... guess they weren't big sellers though and Canada didn't continue them past 2006. I don't think a 1/2 ounce silver coin would be popular enough to justify unless silver rose significantly... unless silver goes past $20 an ounce and stays there and don't see that there will be much of a market for one. Nothing against the idea in general but I don't think the Mint will ever consider one unless a reasonable market comes into existance for it.
