Commonwealth Junk Silver: England Canada Australia

[Quagmire]

What do you guys think about junk silver from these countries? I recently have become interested in the English and Canadian junk silver coinage, which is as fine as .925. Would you buy it? What kind of premium/discount would apply in your opinion.

[Hawkeye]

I don't know about English, but I've always been a fan of Canadian junk silver. I have some of the .925, but most of mine is .800. I've been able to pretty consistently get it on ebay a under spot.

[Devil Soundwave]

Uk junk is worth buying, but it's a pain to find as it's been out of circulation for years.

[Country]

I've been buying some foreign Sterling when I can get it at a nice discount to spot. Australia will be your best bet of these countries - WWII and before is ALL sterling. If you search, you can get SOME at a good price. The key is to buy under-spot because when you sell someday you will have to sell under-spot due to the less demand for these coins in the USA. I think the higher the SILVER fineness on the foreign coins, the better; 72% SILVER fineness is about as low as I will go.

Canadian pre-1968 as you know is 80% fineness. GB SILVER before 1920 is sterling. After WWI, the Brits debased their SILVER coinage to 50% fine. Australian SILVER was ALL sterling through 1945, but the coinage was debased to 50% in 1946. I like the later Aussie sterling because you can get the WWII coins with little wear (more SILVER for your face value).

[AdamsSamoa]

I like canadian..... when under spot.

[theo]

I like 80% Canadian (1966 and before). I believe they moved the content down to 50% silver in mid 1967, so you never know what you are getting with that year. I'm fine with the British and Aussie coins, but its difficult to get them at reasonable prices here in the U.S. when you include shipping.

I was able to get $11 face of 80% Canadian for less than $140 earlier today on Ebay. I have no idea how I won that one, but I'll take it.

[coppertone]

Stay away from the 80% Canadian on E-Bay............ because I want it! Most of my junk is Canadian (I'm from Canada). The early Queen Voyager dollars are my favorite coin but the dollars do carry a bit of a premium over the smaller stuff. Would like to buy more US 90% but I feel I get better deals on the home stuff.