Alchemist Brews

[GoldRunner]

Looks like Mercury dipped. Seen some before. Someone trying to pass them off as silver.

 

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[Alchemist]

Uhm, mercury? Isn't that, like, dangerous then?

 

[SilverFace]

Some good finds. I found a war nickel ender earlier this year that was very dark like yours so I didn't even notice the date till I opened it. If that '76 has a bright silver edge it has probably been platted or marked with a silver marker.

H$H!

 

[Alchemist]

Some good finds. I found a war nickel ender earlier this year that was very dark like yours so I didn't even notice the date till I opened it. If that '76 has a bright silver edge it has probably been platted or marked with a silver marker.

H$H!

Yeah, that 1976 has me intrigued. I know it can't have any significant silver like a 40%'er; it has a clad sound to it. It has all marks similar to a regular 1976 no-mint...the finish is all the same, all around. Edges are not 2 toned. Very bright, very little wear on it.
if platted (or other possibilities), tell me more.

Good Luck!

 

[GoldRunner]

Uhm, mercury? Isn't that, like, dangerous then?

Yep pretty nasty stuff. My understanding is that in the seventies it was done with the silver price spike.

 

[Alchemist]

Box halves: skunked; 1981S, nifc 2004D, 2006P


2014 Silver Totals:
Half Dollars: Kennedy, (1) 90%, (23) 40%
Nickels: (13)
Troy Ounces Silver/Value to date:
4.4946 / $89.58

 

[Alchemist]

Box halves: skunked; nifc 2010P, 2011P. The silver Gods are not happy with me.


2014 Silver Totals:
Half Dollars: Kennedy, (1) 90%, (23) 40%
Nickels: (13)
Troy Ounces Silver/Value to date:
4.4946 / $89.58

 

[Alchemist]

So, I did a little traveling today to hit up some of the other branches associated with my pick-up bank. Besides, the last 2 boxes I retrieved from my nearby branch were skunk, so I figure it was time to mix it up. I was becoming a bit frustrated as I noticed that (naturally) all the branches stocked the same source of halves (String & Son), the same source that skunked me here in town. I'd pick up $100 in mwr here, another $100 there...all with the same results: zilch.
The one exception: a branch some 30 miles out, with mwr's of a different color (black as opposed to yellow...why, IDK). No markings other than the dashed lines in the edges and $10 HALVES on both sides, so I can't trace their origin. All the teller had was $70, so I scarfed them up. The results? Eight 40% out of the $70! When I asked the teller if anyone else had rolls, she said she was the only one in charge of them, so no. I didn't ask if they had more in the vault, but I will absolutely be returning to that branch soon to find out! So, out of several stops, only one bank rewarded me with silver. Ties my best single day haul.

$440 loose mwr halves: 1966, 1967, (4)1968D, (2)1969D and nifc 2002P, 2002D, 2004D, 2008D, 2010D.




2014 Silver Totals:
Half Dollars: Kennedy, (1) 90%, (31) 40%
Nickels: (13)
Troy Ounces Silver/Value to date:
5.6778 / $111.23

 

[barneyb71]

I just saw that '76, I have one that looks like that to. Mine however has the 1960 / 1980 dates stamped on it. Guessing it was one of those gold plated ones and someone stripped the plating off it. Guess they thought the gold would be worth something. Maybe it's something like that because it is very shinny and I thought it was silver too.

 

[Alchemist]

Today I went back to the branch of my pick-up bank that yielded me 8 silvers out of only $70 in mwr's. I was ready to buy out the bank of all it's halves if they let me. Oddly, the teller is only willing to part with $100 at a pop. I told her I was a customer, but she said she didn't want to dwindle her stock of halves (contrary to all the stories I hear of banks wanting to just get rid of half dollars). I said, "in another week, then?" She agreed. And I am glad, because this branch has a silver streak in it.
Today out of the $100, I managed (6) silver pieces: 1966, (4)1967, and my first Benjamin Franklin (1952)! I am so stoked to finally get one.



Note: the mystery behind the coin wrapping seems to be the difference with this bank. Like before, any branch that have the yellow String & Son wraps come out skunk. However, this branch doles out black striped wraps (no brand), as if the coins where shipped some time back and the bank hasn't been re-stocked in awhile. Curious. But I will return there again!


2014 Silver Totals:
Half Dollars: (2) 90% {B.Franklin (1952), Kennedy}, (36) 40%
Nickels: (13)
Troy Ounces Silver/Value to date:
6.7789 / $131.12

 

[SilverFace]

Seems like that bank is a real honey hole. Im guessing that teller is only willing to sell a little at a time because maybe there are other people asking for halves from her also so she tries to slowly spread out what she has to try and keep everyone happy. 14 keepers from just $170 is great. And congrats on your first Ben too!

Good luck with your visit to that bank next week and H$H!

 

[Alchemist]

Box halves: skunked; 1979S, nifc 2003P.

2014 Silver Totals:
Half Dollars: (2) 90% {B.Franklin (1952), Kennedy}, (36) 40%
Nickels: (13)
Troy Ounces Silver/Value to date:
6.7789 / $131.12

 

[Alchemist]

Visited my favorite branch of my pick-up bank. Seems the silver vein has dried up for the moment. No more black wrappers -- yellow coin wraps, String & Son. Now they're at all the branches Nonetheless, I asked for $400 in loose rolls while there. The results were all too predictable:

$400 loose halves: skunked; 1982S, nifc 2003D.

2014 Silver Totals:
Half Dollars: (2) 90% {B.Franklin (1952), Kennedy}, (36) 40%
Nickels: (13)
Troy Ounces Silver/Value to date:
6.7789 / $131.12

 

[Alchemist]

Box halves: skunked; 1979S. This was the last of 4 boxes that I know the branch nearest to me had (String...totally striking out on them lately). All where empty of silver. I hope the next batch they order will be better, otherwise I may have to establish another pick-up bank.

2014 Silver Totals:
Half Dollars: (2) 90% {B.Franklin (1952), Kennedy}, (36) 40%
Nickels: (13)
Troy Ounces Silver/Value to date:
6.7789 / $131.12

 

[Alchemist]

$200 loose halves: skunk, with nifc 2004D
Box nickels: skunk (26 keepers, .68% avg), with 2009D, and
(2)1939, 1940D, (2)1941, 1941D, 1946, (2)1946S, 1948, (2)1951, 1951D, 1952, 1952D, 1953, 1953S, (2)1954D, (4)1958D, (2)1959D
and 3 Canadians '(82, '89, '93)

2014 Silver Totals:
Half Dollars: (2) 90% {B.Franklin (1952), Kennedy}, (36) 40%
Nickels: (13)
Troy Ounces Silver/Value to date:
6.7789 / $131.12

 

[Alchemist]

$100 loose halves: 1967, nifc 2003D

 

[Alchemist]

$200 loose halves: skunk. Nifc 2005D, 2006D.
Just paddling away until my next wave....

 

[Alchemist]

$400 loose halves: 1969D, 1986S proof

 

[Alchemist]

$300 loose halves: skunked; nifc 2003P, 2009D

 

[Alchemist]

$200 loose halves: skunked; nifc 2009D