well, while listening to PHC today, (thanks),,, and cleaning the house some, which I only seem to do during the commercial breaks, I found, other than the source of the smell (forgot to clean the crockpot,,, opppppps),, I found a little cache of dimes, about 3 dollars worth,, all pre 1970. Anyone know the value,? are these all sivler kind? I havnt a clue. They were up in the drop ceiling in the living room,, not the first thing I have found,, but maybe the most valuable,,, seamstress shears,,, wood carvings,, and now Money,, maybe I better start tearing the walls apart??

-- Stan (sopal@net-port.com), February 04, 2001

Answers

U.S. coins changed from silver to silver-clad in various years. Dimes and quarters in 1965. Half-dollars and dollars in 1972. Unless they have an S mint mark, I doubt they are worth much over 5-6 times face value, and maybe not that.

-- Ken S. in WC TN (scharabo@aol.com), February 04, 2001.

ok,, after going thru themm 5.10 (face value) all dimes,, all 1964. Does this mean all silver?

-- Stan (sopal@net-port.com), February 04, 2001.

All you have to do is examine the edge of each coin. Use a magnifying glass if neccessary (dimes can be hard). If they are all silver, you won't see any difference, if they're sandwiched metal, you will see a line of copper running through the middle, just like with an oreo cookie. (not to say that oreos have metal in them! Just that there is similar appearance)

-- Julie Froelich (firefly1@nnex.net), February 04, 2001.

Hey Stan! Can I have'm? LOL!!!! old hoot the tightwad! Matt.24:44

-- hoot (hoot@pcinetwork.com), February 04, 2001.

1964 was the last year of the all silver (90% coinage silver) dime. In brand new condition they may have a slight collector value, otherwise worth about $0.30 to .40 each for their silver content.

-- Lynn Goltz (lynngoltz@aol.com), February 04, 2001.

Stan:

Fer as I know, yes they are silver. Sound like someone wanted to stash some away when the U.S. converted to silver. Mom did the same thing and about ten years later gave each of us kids a three-pound coffee tin full of silver coins.

-- Ken S. in WC TN (scharabo@aol.com), February 04, 2001.

Pre 1965 dimes, quarters, and half dollars are all silver and are currently worth about four times their faces value. Several things I have read predict that the price of silver is going to skyrocket within the next several years. (Has to do with artificially depressed market prices, high demand, and inadequate production: silver is used in thousands of commercial applications. There are dozens of things you use every day that have pure silver in them.) Silver and gold remains the best hedge against financial catastrophe. When all other investments go through the cellar and paper money becomes worthless, precious metals will be the only true representation of wealth and will go through the ceiling in value. Keep those dimes and look for more!

-- Skip Walton (sundaycreek@gnrac.net), February 04, 2001.

well,, its better than nothing, but,, wish it was more. Guess Ill hang onto them,, till "the crash", ,or I retire,, maybe I can buy a beer with em by then. Thanks for all the help

-- Stan (sopal@net-port.com), February 05, 2001.

Skip, I remember gold selling for over $850 per oz (now $270) and silver almost $50.00 per oz (now $4.70). Didn't hold it value to well for those that bought at those prices. The problem is people think gold and silver represents money - it does not - it is only another commodity like wheat, copper or oil.

-- Lynn Goltz (lynngoltz@aol.com), February 05, 2001.

Throughout recorded human history precious metals have been the most stable and universally accepted representation of wealth. Gold and silver are not spoiled by age or environment and tend to retain their relative worth over time, (with obvious fluctuations due to the economy). Other commodities are short lived, having a limited "shelf life." The value ascribed to precious metals is inversely proportional to the value ascribed to paper (currency, stocks, bonds). I believe that it's wise to have a certain amount of physical precious metals as a hedge against financial downturns. Gold has typically risen in value during strong recessions.

Until recently, the US dollar was backed by gold, but not any more. We are in a unique position in American history in that there is only a small fraction of real money to cover all of the government, corporate and personal debt in this country. Old debt is constantly being traded in for new debt. We are paying for the past with the future.

-- Skip Walton (sundaycreek@gnrac.net), February 10, 2001.