Smelting

[Herb Jones]

Does anyone Smelt down their finds or is everyone just hoarding coins? If you are hoarding coins, are you tumbling them or polishing them or leaving them in their found condition. Most of mine seem to be very degraded (Not collectable at any increased value) with the exception of a few nice keepers... I have been contemplating smelting and refining my finds into ingots. The process is inexpensive and kinda cool thought I'd give it a try.

 

[GeorgeinSC]

I would not melt down Silver coins as they are identifiable as being real and have a known percentage of silver content. . A block of silver that you might try to sell is not readily or easily identifiable as to the silver content in the block. It would require an assay to determine silver content.

Modern clad that we dig can be converted to silver or gold at some price over the market value

Clad coins that I find are cleaned and run thru the coin counter at my credit union (no charge) and then used to purchase more items for detecting or purchasing silver.

 

[Herb Jones]

Essentially the value of a, rough ( gouged with a digger) heavily worn Roosevelt dime's value is determined by ? It's weight? , but with it being in its unsmelted form, almost anyone can determine its specific silver content.... You're saying ...If I smelt it, "Who knows whats inside"... I was actually thinking of striking my own 5gr pure silver coins and giving them as gifts, The Ingots was just something I came across when looking for a crucible. I Still working on the designs for the coin face, Perhaps Something to commemorate some special occasion, or just for family members... A mold and press or Die could be easily made.... I am sure there is a law against striking coinage somewhere in the bureaucracy. But I want to tinker with that process.

 

[Bro.Bob]

Essentially the value of a, rough ( gouged with a digger) heavily worn Roosevelt dime's value is determined by ? It's weight? , but with it being in its unsmelted form, almost anyone can determine its specific silver content.... You're saying ...If I smelt it, "Who knows whats inside"... I was actually thinking of striking my own 5gr pure silver coins and giving them as gifts, The Ingots was just something I came across when looking for a crucible. I Still working on the designs for the coin face, Perhaps Something to commemorate some special occasion, or just for family members... A mold and press or Die could be easily made.... I am sure there is a law against striking coinage somewhere in the bureaucracy. But I want to tinker with that process.

So, Herb, if I'm understanding you correctly, you're saying that "I smelt it AND I dealt it!" Hmm. Lol!!