Melt Values for Silver Coins Jump through Q3 2012

Fiery gains for silver in July and August have boosted the melt values of silver coins in the third quarter 2012 and for the year.

After boisterous gains during the January-March period, silver prices plunged in the second quarter to such an extent that silver was in the red through the first half of 2012. A modest turnaround in July and then sharp increases in August and September brought silver well back into the black for the third quarter and for the year — up in London with respective increases of 28% and 23%.

Melt values for silver coins, naturally, shot higher with silver’s gains. Holders of bullion and junk silver coins, such as 90% silver coin bags or older US silver coins, watched their values rise sharply. For example, a 1964 Kennedy half dollar went from a melt value of $9.79 at the end of June to $12.53 just three months later — a change of $2.74.

In the same vein, melt values for modern silver coins jumped to make their prices much more attractive. Looking at several silver products from the United States Mint highlights the changes. In the table below are U.S. Mint products with columns that show how melt values have changed from their release date to the end of September when the London Fix price for silver was $34.65 an ounce.

U.S. Mint Product	Date of Release	Product Price	Silver Price on Release	Melt Values on Release	Current Melt Values	Premium on Release	Current Premium
2012 America the Beautiful Quarters Silver Proof Set	January 10, 2012	41.95	29.69	26.85	31.32	15.10	10.63
2011-P Vicksburg ATB 5 Ounce Silver Uncirculated Coin	January 12, 2012	204.95	30.58	152.90	173.25	52.05	31.70
2011-P Chickasaw ATB 5 Ounce Silver Uncirculated Coin	February 9, 2012	204.95	33.80	169.00	173.25	35.95	31.70
2012-W Proof American Silver Eagle	April 12, 2012	54.95	31.47	31.47	34.65	28.48	20.30
2012-P El Yunque ATB 5 Ounce Silver Uncirculated Coin	May 29, 2012	204.95	28.25	141.25	173.25	63.70	31.70
2012 Silver Proof Set	June 4, 2012	67.95	27.38	36.64	46.36	31.31	21.59
2012 American Silver Eagle Two Coin Proof Set	July 2, 2012	149.95	27.36	54.72	69.30	95.23	80.65
2012-P Chaco Culture ATB 5 Ounce Silver Uncirculated Coin	July 9, 2012	204.95	27.24	136.20	173.25	68.75	31.70
2012-W Uncirculated American Silver Eagle	August 2, 2012	45.95	27.42	27.42	34.65	18.53	11.30
Making American History Coin & Currency Set	August 7, 2012	72.95	28.00	28.00	34.65	44.95	38.30
2012-P Acadia ATB 5 Ounce Silver Uncirculated Coin	August 13, 2012	204.95	28.05	140.25	173.25	64.70	31.70
2012 United States Mint Annual Uncirculated Dollar Coin Set	September 6, 2012	54.95	32.87	32.87	34.65	22.08	20.30

 

SilverCoinsToday.com’s page about modern US Mint silver coin prices provides updated melt values for many of the products above.