Proof U.S. Silver Eagles : Graded or Ungraded
 

I was at the U.S. Mint in Philly on Friday. The proof U.S. Silver Eagles on display looked awesome. Would you recommend collecting them in their original blue U.S. Mint case (with cert/auth) or graded in PCGS PR69DCAM?

Thanks in advance for your input!

Re: Proof U.S. Silver Eagles : Graded or Ungraded
 

how come none are PR70
?

Re: Proof U.S. Silver Eagles : Graded or Ungraded
 

Just my opinion, but cheaper in the box and virtually as good with the certificate of authenticity and original packaging. They sure are pretty, but so is a tube of 20 regular ones....

Re: Proof U.S. Silver Eagles : Graded or Ungraded
 

I can't justify spending big bucks on Proof 70's. I am a serious collector of 50's and 60's non-sports trading cards and I only buy PSA 8's (comparable to 69's). I am not ready to commit to another serious collection when the ultimate goal is accumulation of oz's.

Re: Proof U.S. Silver Eagles : Graded or Ungraded
 

I certainly wouldn't bother having an ounce of silver graded. $20 to grade for $20 worth of silver?

Re: Proof U.S. Silver Eagles : Graded or Ungraded
 

Stop being so dang thrifty......Bob!! :sarcasm:

Re: Proof U.S. Silver Eagles : Graded or Ungraded
 

It does pay, if you have a key date such as 1996 or 2006W. PCGS list on MS69 is $150.

Re: Proof U.S. Silver Eagles : Graded or Ungraded
 

You can only buy them from the U.S. Mint in their original proof case w/ COA.

If you want to have it graded, you have to send it through a PCGS or NGC approved dealer.

This will cost you another $30 at least and then you are not guaranteed a PR70.

At this stage of the game, I would just concentrate on getting more ounces.

Maranatha,

:smile:

Re: Proof U.S. Silver Eagles : Graded or Ungraded
 

How do you know what are key dates?

Re: Proof U.S. Silver Eagles : Graded or Ungraded
 

A bullion coin that that exists in only 3 million nearly perfect copies instead of the normal 5 million nearly perfect copies can be a key date. It is a term that the numismatic bullion crowd has borrowed from real numismatists.

If your bullion is slabbed and MS70 instead of the normal MS68/69 it is perceived as rare and thus more valuable. Only government issued rounds are graded and slabbed so far, but I bet that 1 oz bars and Baby's first Christmas rounds can't be far behind.

Re: Proof U.S. Silver Eagles : Graded or Ungraded
 

I agree. Now is not the ideal time to buy numis during a PM bull market. Maybe after the bull is over and silver and gold are 1/3 their current price, numis will be priced more attractively. But patience is a virtue. :D

Re: Proof U.S. Silver Eagles : Graded or Ungraded
 

PCGS price guide is a good start. http://www.pcgs.com/prices/

Re: Proof U.S. Silver Eagles : Graded or Ungraded
 

Thank you all for your input. I have decided to collect Modern Silver Dollar Commemoratives (1982 to Date) in PCGS Proof 69 DCAM. If I really get the numismatic collector's bug, I'll start to collect proof Silver Eagles and Modern Silver Half-Dollar Commemoratives.

Oh goodness, what demon have I released...

Re: Proof U.S. Silver Eagles : Graded or Ungraded
 

I watched my dad put tens of thousands of dollars into rare stamps over a 50 year period, and come to find out its almost worthless because they are only worth what someone will pay for them.

That's why I only bought proof coins that were priced near spot. Maybe someone will be willing to pay a bunch extra for them someday, maybe not, but either way, they'll still be worth at least spot.

Re: Proof U.S. Silver Eagles : Graded or Ungraded
 

SGC's holders are nicer.

Re: Proof U.S. Silver Eagles : Graded or Ungraded
 

This is unfortunately what most collectors of items that aren't truly rare will experience.

Re: Proof U.S. Silver Eagles : Graded or Ungraded
 

I'm all too familiar with this phenomenon as a collecter of baseball/football/basketball cards as a kid during the late eighties. I finally sold probably 20-25000 commons last fall for thirty freakin' bucks. I kept the choice/sentimental stuff of course.

Re: Proof U.S. Silver Eagles : Graded or Ungraded
 

No question that the SGC holders, with their black background, are prettier. But, like Betamax, Eight-track stereo and HD-DVD, it is on the road to extinction!

Re: Proof U.S. Silver Eagles : Graded or Ungraded
 

I grew up in NYC in the 1960's. I spent most of my paper-boy money on coins. The same uncirculated silver dollars that I paid $4.00 for, I sold in 1981 (when silver was $13.00/oz) for $35.00 each. I was able to buy a new car: a 1981 Toyota Starlet (49mpg/41mpg).

Raccoon, notwithstanding the above, I happen to totally agree with you.