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I have a general question about halves, Franklin halves in particular. Do they hold much numismatic value? Or is it best to just get the cheapest ones you can for the silver content? I was at the coin shop over the weekend and traded a few 40% kennedy's for two 90% franklin's that were dull looking. After I made the trade I started wondering whether I should have traded for just one franklin in better condition.

How many 40% JFK's did you trade for the 2 Franklins?

I gave him six 40%s plus $4.00 cash for the two ben's.

Well, as I look right now at coinflation.com

40% Kennedy half melt value = $4.3525

90% Franklin Half melt value = $10.6447

4.3525*6= 26.115 + 4.00 = $30.115/2 = $15.0575

So you paid $15.06 per Franklin Half.

6 40% Kennedy Halves = 0.8874 Troy ounces of silver. Melt value of $26.27 [Melt value calculator on Coinflation.com]

2 90% Franklin Halves = 0.7234 Troy ounces of silver. Melt Value of $21.42

So, I hate to be the bearer of bad news but you traded down in silver content. Maybe those coins do have some sort of numismatic value, but it terms of silver content, you should have just held on to the 40% Kennedy's.

Silver prices [right now] is $29.52. 29.52/.7234 = 40.807/ounce

You paid ~$41/ounce buying those Ben's at $15 a piece.

Well 40% is harder to sell than 90% and most people on here seem to have to discount their 40% by 10% or more.

I probably wouldn't have included the $4 cash in the trade.

Personally, I would always go for just Franklin's for their silver content not going for the more nuismatic ones.

Yeah I figured as far as silver content I probably took a slight hit, but I wanted some ben's so...you know. Thanks for those calculations, I'll do that myself next time before I make my next trade. I've aquired 26 40% jfk's from roll searching in the last month and I just wanted to diversify. I was wondering if coin shops typically come down on prices if you haggle a bit with them, but I wasn't sure so I just took his offer.

True they are harder to sell. Sometimes, you can find a dealer that isn't a complete jerk, and will buy them for a reasonable price. I only know of one here in Washington State.

scrapper2010 wrote:Yeah I figured as far as silver content I probably took a slight hit, but I wanted some ben's so...you know. Thanks for those calculations, I'll do that myself next time before I make my next trade. I've aquired 26 40% jfk's from roll searching in the last month and I just wanted to diversify. I was wondering if coin shops typically come down on prices if you haggle a bit with them, but I wasn't sure so I just took his offer.

Don't feel bad. You're true cost for the two Ben's was only $7. Remember, you only paid $3 to "find" the other halves you swapped. Continued good luck to you with your roll hunting

Hi there-

Just my opinion, you might have been better off selling the 40% for cash, then using that money to buy 90%. 40%-90% trades typically don't end well for the 40% guy, but you can easily sell the 40% for cash and then try to find a good 90% deal, which isn't too hard. Obviously with six coins that's not really practical, but if you want to change like 200 40's to 90%, that's probably the best way.

wags

beauanderos wrote:

scrapper2010 wrote:Yeah I figured as far as silver content I probably took a slight hit, but I wanted some ben's so...you know. Thanks for those calculations, I'll do that myself next time before I make my next trade. I've aquired 26 40% jfk's from roll searching in the last month and I just wanted to diversify. I was wondering if coin shops typically come down on prices if you haggle a bit with them, but I wasn't sure so I just took his offer.

Don't feel bad. You're true cost for the two Ben's was only $7. Remember, you only paid $3 to "find" the other halves you swapped. Continued good luck to you with your roll hunting

Yeah, that's how I justified it too.