Dan769 Posted January 16, 2008 Report Share Posted January 16, 2008 On average, anybody know or have any idea what percentage of silver coins produced are still around? I know there are some quirks, like many Morgan Dollars found in bank vaults which would inflate the number. I'm guessing about 10% of all silver coins made, on average are still around. Sound fair? Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
thedeadpoint Posted January 16, 2008 Report Share Posted January 16, 2008 Sounds fair to me. I don't know how we'd quantify that. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Dan769 Posted January 16, 2008 Author Report Share Posted January 16, 2008 Sounds fair to me. I don't know how we'd quantify that. Me either, thought maybe someone saw some data on this somewhere. Giving this more thought, excluding Morgans, I think 10% is too high, maybe 5%. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Art Posted January 16, 2008 Report Share Posted January 16, 2008 I think that it's an unanswerable question. Between loses, melts, war, natural disasters, collectors, folks burying money, other countries melting coins, I'd say whatever guess you're comfortable with. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
thedeadpoint Posted January 16, 2008 Report Share Posted January 16, 2008 Me either, thought maybe someone saw some data on this somewhere.Giving this more thought, excluding Morgans, I think 10% is too high, maybe 5%. Man, this makes me wish I had studied applied math or economics. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Dan769 Posted January 16, 2008 Author Report Share Posted January 16, 2008 I just realized that Rusty Goe's book "The Mint on Carson Street" has some guesstimates. For example his estimate of 1,573,700 1875-CC Half Dollars to still be in existane is 3,500-5,000, or .33% of total minted. Then again Rusty estimates the 1885-CC Morgan rate is about 73%, 165,000 of 228,000. I just wondered what an average for all coins would be. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Scottishmoney Posted January 16, 2008 Report Share Posted January 16, 2008 Tabbs and T_3 would remind you that they blessingly live in countries still circulating high denomination silver commemoratives, which can be had at face value at the bank or post office. All my Dutch 5 and 10 €uro and German 10 €uro coins are testament to that fact. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Art Posted January 16, 2008 Report Share Posted January 16, 2008 Tabbs and T_3 would remind you that they blessingly live in countries still circulating high denomination silver commemoratives, which can be had at face value at the bank or post office. All my Dutch 5 and 10 €uro and German 10 €uro coins are testament to that fact. Are they really circulation coins that can be had at face at the Post Office. I thought they all carried a premium. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Kristofer Posted January 16, 2008 Report Share Posted January 16, 2008 Are they really circulation coins that can be had at face at the Post Office. I thought they all carried a premium. If they can be had at face value I'm going to germany, w00t. Field trip everyone. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
jtryka Posted January 16, 2008 Report Share Posted January 16, 2008 From my understanding, they can be had at face, but are only legal tender in the country of issue, so you can't spend silver 5-euro Dutch commems in Germany or France and vice versa. Also, it's not like these are a cheap way to buy silver. The Dutch 5-euros I think have the most silver for the money, but even there you are paying about $7.50 for about 1/3 of an ounce, or $22.50 per ounce vs. $16 spot price. In Germany, they are 10-euro coins with about 1/2 ounce of silver which translates to roughly $30 per ounce! The problem as well is that since the euro has always been a fiat currency, every country has different standards. For example, the 10-euro coins, here are the different standards I've found: 25.5g 0.925 fine (Finland), 28.28g 0.925 (Ireland), 27g 0.925 fine (Spain), 18g 0.925 fine (Germany), 16g 0.925 fine (Austria), 18.75g 0.925 fine (Belgium), 17.8g 0.925 fine (the Netherlands) and 22g 0.925 fine (San Marino). Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
tabbs Posted January 16, 2008 Report Share Posted January 16, 2008 Are they really circulation coins that can be had at face at the Post Office. I thought they all carried a premium. Yes, you can get them at post offices (NL) or certain banks (DE) at face value. Most Austrian and some Spanish silver pieces can also be had at face. However, contrary to the "real" coins, these collector pieces are legal tender in the issuing member state only, thus "regional money". And none of these actually circulate. As far as I know, the British £5 and the Swiss 20 fr coins - silver pieces as well - can also be had at face. Don't expect them to actually circulate either. Christian Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
tabbs Posted January 16, 2008 Report Share Posted January 16, 2008 For example, the 10-euro coins, here are the different standards I've found And some more: AT 17.297g (16 is the fine weight), GR 34.0g or 9.75g, IE 28.28g, IT 22.0g, MC 25.0g, PT 27.0g, VA 22.0g. But these can (apart from the Austrian ones) not be had at face. They are made for collectors and, just like the US silver commemorative pieces, carry a surcharge. Christian Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Scottishmoney Posted January 16, 2008 Report Share Posted January 16, 2008 The problem as well is that since the euro has always been a fiat currency, every country has different standards Name just one currency that is still in use that is NOT fiat currency now. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
jtryka Posted January 16, 2008 Report Share Posted January 16, 2008 Name just one currency that is still in use that is NOT fiat currency now. They are all fiat currencies now, but specifically, the euro started as one. The dollar was defined as 26.73g 0.900 fine silver, other countries had their definistions too, whether in silver or gold, but the euro has never had one. Therefore, on occasion you may still find circulating silver (mainly in the US and Canada), but also the commemorative coins are usually done to the former specifications (i.e. silver dollars are 26.73g 0.900 fine silver and gold coins are based on a pegged price of $20.67 per ounce). Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
tabbs Posted January 16, 2008 Report Share Posted January 16, 2008 They are all fiat currencies now, but specifically, the euro started as one. As it started as a currency in 1999, with the coins becoming legal tender three years later, that is not exactly a surprise. Then again, none of the currencies that the euro replaced had silver or gold coins as circulation pieces at that time, and it would have been strange to re-introduce, in the late 90s, a concept that has not been in use for several decades. Christian Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
jtryka Posted January 17, 2008 Report Share Posted January 17, 2008 As it started as a currency in 1999, with the coins becoming legal tender three years later, that is not exactly a surprise. Then again, none of the currencies that the euro replaced had silver or gold coins as circulation pieces at that time, and it would have been strange to re-introduce, in the late 90s, a concept that has not been in use for several decades. Christian It's not strange for us Americans! In 1984 the first commemorative gold coins were issued for the Olympics based on the exact same standard that was last in use in 1933! Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Scottishmoney Posted January 17, 2008 Report Share Posted January 17, 2008 It's not strange for us Americans! In 1984 the first commemorative gold coins were issued for the Olympics based on the exact same standard that was last in use in 1933! There are not many Americans around anymore that remember spending gold coins. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Kristofer Posted January 17, 2008 Report Share Posted January 17, 2008 There are not many Americans around anymore that remember spending gold coins. I'm glad that I don't have to deal with the memory of spending gold coins, I'd be beating myself to a bloody pulp right now. [beating head against counter] GOLD $875.00 AN OUNCE !?!?! OHHHH, I CAN'T BELIEVE I MADE HOUSE PAYMENTS WITH THEM.[begins crying] Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Scottishmoney Posted January 17, 2008 Report Share Posted January 17, 2008 The people I know that are old enough to have lived during the time before 1933 don't ever remember seeing gold coins. One relative remembers seeing a $20 bill once though- a huge amount of money. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
just carl Posted January 17, 2008 Report Share Posted January 17, 2008 I don't think there is anyone anywhere that knows how many Silver coins are still in existance. And now with the price of Silver so high, even coin collectors are starting to sell Silver coins for melting purposes. And they are getting melted down every day now. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Nightwing Posted January 18, 2008 Report Share Posted January 18, 2008 I'm glad that I don't have to deal with the memory of spending gold coins, I'd be beating myself to a bloody pulp right now. [beating head against counter] GOLD $875.00 AN OUNCE !?!?! OHHHH, I CAN'T BELIEVE I MADE HOUSE PAYMENTS WITH THEM.[begins crying] They actually accepted them as payment? Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
flbandit Posted January 19, 2008 Report Share Posted January 19, 2008 Every now and then I find one still in circulation, but it's rare. The last was a 1964 Kennedy at the bank about 6 months ago. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Scottishmoney Posted January 19, 2008 Report Share Posted January 19, 2008 I got a 1967 40% at a bank last month. In the halves and nickels they turn up from time to time. I also got a 1945-P nickel last month. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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