Expert: PAPAJACK - 6/29/2008

Question
I was given a coin that I know nothing about. It is silver in color, about the size of a 1/2 dollar, Jesus on one side and a woman on the other, what is this coin?

Answer
Hello Tammy,                       

This is not a coin at all. All coins must have a denomination on them, either written or in symbols, a date and a country of origin. Anything else is not a coin but perhaps a medal, token or fantasy piece.

If this piece does not have the regulation motto's (LIBERTY, IN GOD WE TRUST, UNITED STATES etc.) it is not a US coin. I may be just a medal without seeing it I cannot say.

This sounds like one of the countless silver rounds being produced. It may have the weight in troy ounces on it instead of a motto.
Its value is the current price of one ounce of silver. They are made in rounds and rectangles (bars) then sold to the public at a premium over the spot market.

Some are made using coin designs and I have seen tractors presidents, religious motifs, company logos etc. They are categorized as Silver Art Bars (or rounds) and as I said trades at the current price of silver this is about $17 per ounce today.

Some rare metallic art sell at a higher value but most are produced in the millions. Here are a couple of web sites dealing silver rounds.

http://www.apmex.com/Category/503/Silver.aspx
www.villagecoin.com/page/coin/CTGY/ART
http://www.rivercitycoins.com/silversets/silversets.html

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