Expert: Dmitry Livshits - 1/3/2010

Question
QUESTION: Hello. I want to ask a question about a coin that i have recently bought. It is an US coin, on one side it has a trade scale, along with wheat leafs on left and right, on the upper part it says "ONE TROY OUNCE", and on the lower part, "999 FINE SILVER", and "SILVER TRADE UNIT".
On the back side, there are 21 stars positioned all around the coin, and in the middle, there is a woman's head. On the upper part of the head it is written "LIBERTY". All I want to know is what year was made, because I have searched and I haven't found anything like that. If you want I will send you a picture of the coin. Thank you, and I await your answer.

ANSWER: Hi Marius,
I am quite familiar with these types of items. Rather than a coin, you have a privately made silver bullion round. These are often made by banks or investment firms as a way to promote investing in silver. Some people have begun to collect the wide range of designs. The silver value of the piece is currently around $17. However, as an investment grade piece with an attractive design a collector may pay up to $25 for it.
Thanks for the question! =)

---------- FOLLOW-UP ----------

QUESTION: Thank you for your response. By the way, can you tell me what year was it made? Because it doesn't say on the coin, and I am more interested in keeping it than selling. Thank you again and I await your answer

Answer
Marius,
It's not possible to know exactly what year this piece was made, since most companies did not keep records for specific years. Silver rounds like this with collectable designs started being made in the late 1970's and continue to me made today. The exact type you described is based on the design of the US Morgan silver dollars of 1878 to 1921 (I have attached a picture of another silver round like you have).
Many of these have a date of 1985. Even though your piece is not dated, it likey is also from right around 1985.
Please don't forget to rate my answers, thanks again for the questions! =)