What's Your Favorite Non-US Silver Coin and Why?

[Know Common Cents]

I admit it. Most all of my non-US silver coins were bought for bullion purposes. Some are pretty ordinary and others pretty obscure. When it comes time to commit them to the melting pot, I guess I favor ordinary stuff like Canadian 80% dimes and quarters.

The obscure stuff like a Caribbean Games silver coin from the 1970s (with 1.0617 oz silver) is hard to sell without bringing proof of its silver content along with it (Krause book). Oh well. I'm persistent and am usually able to get my point across, but sometimes later rather than sooner.

As for me, I like the Mexican Libertads. I have a couple from 1985 and 3 of the newer ones where the coins are larger in diameter, but not as thick. These always seem to sell at a premium over that of a silver Eagle or Maple, so I've limited my acquisition.

Beyond the US 90% I have, my stackable silver stash most frequent coin is the Canadian silver dollar. At 0.6 troy oz of silver each, they have some heft and some of the coolness factor needed to attract attention on e-Bay or wherever. Most are from 1960-67, but I have just enough of the earlier dates to always think I'm going to start a collection.

What's everyone's favorite non-US silver coin and why? Considerations could be:

Collector value
Profit potential
High silver content
Low premium
Other

How high does silver have to go before you part with your "favorites?" I'm just about there now.

[Treetop]

i dont have many non american coins, but i love the early 80s libertads with writing on the side. id love a roll or two of those.
(someone want to trade some for ASEs? ) ive got only 3. Id probably put them in a sack and dress like a pirate once in awhile...

As for selling my FAVORITE coins? that would only happen if mandatory, and it wouldnt matter if silver was worth 5 bucks or 20,000..... a portion of my stash i will keep until theres no options or I pass it to my kids....

[jtlee321]

Right now I have two favorites. My first is the 1947 and 1948 Mexican 5 Peso coins. They are very nice, and every time I pick one up it is at about $5.00 under melt. I have a source that I routinely check and every time he gets one in I snag it. It does not matter what the spot price of silver is at the time he discounts it by $5.00. I just picked one up today that had some gross green stuff on it, I dipped it in acetone and that crap came right off. I paid $26.00 on it. My other favorite coin which has recently become a favorite, are the British Brittania's. They are in my opinion just stunning. A bit pricey so I won't acquire a lot, but I do love them.

[coppertone]

As a Canadian I may be biased but I love the Canada Voyager (canoe) silver dollar especially the pre1964 ones with the earliest Queen. Second favorite is the Canada 1958 British Columbia Commemorative dollar (death dollar). Third favorite the 1968 Mexico Olympic 25 Peso coin. My favorite US coin is the Franklin half dollar.

[barrytrot]

I just love the 1960's Un Peso from Mexico! It looks very cool, has a ton of "heft" to it, and most importantly it is only 10% silver, so it makes your collection heavier for a lot less money For some reason I care about the mass of my collection. Not sure why, but it sure makes the cents fun

[68Camaro]

Not sure I can be sure I have a favorite, since I have so few, but I do like the libertad design.

That said, I would be willing to trade any/all of the following BU coins for quality ASEs, for you all that really like these. These are each individually packaged coins, still in original plastic holders.

1999 CDN Maple Leaf
2000 CDN Maple Leaf
1993 Mexican Libertad
1994 Mexican Libertad
2000 Mexican Libertad

[97guns]

Right now I have two favorites. My first is the 1947 and 1948 Mexican 5 Peso coins. They are very nice, and every time I pick one up it is at about $5.00 under melt. I have a source that I routinely check and every time he gets one in I snag it. It does not matter what the spot price of silver is at the time he discounts it by $5.00. I just picked one up today that had some gross green stuff on it, I dipped it in acetone and that crap came right off. I paid $26.00 on it. My other favorite coin which has recently become a favorite, are the British Brittania's. They are in my opinion just stunning. A bit pricey so I won't acquire a lot, but I do love them.

those cuahtemocs are my favorate too, i see them going off for $35 on ebay

[argent_pur]

I think my favorite coin based solely on looks would be a Maria Theresa Thaler. I don't own any, though, because their metal purity and content are not widely known.

[Lemon Thrower]

does an Engelhardt prospector count?

[PreservingThePast]

I admit it. Most all of my non-US silver coins were bought for bullion purposes. Some are pretty ordinary and others pretty obscure. When it comes time to commit them to the melting pot, I guess I favor ordinary stuff like Canadian 80% dimes and quarters.

The obscure stuff like a Caribbean Games silver coin from the 1970s (with 1.0617 oz silver) is hard to sell without bringing proof of its silver content along with it (Krause book). Oh well. I'm persistent and am usually able to get my point across, but sometimes later rather than sooner.

As for me, I like the Mexican Libertads. I have a couple from 1985 and 3 of the newer ones where the coins are larger in diameter, but not as thick. These always seem to sell at a premium over that of a silver Eagle or Maple, so I've limited my acquisition.

Beyond the US 90% I have, my stackable silver stash most frequent coin is the Canadian silver dollar. At 0.6 troy oz of silver each, they have some heft and some of the coolness factor needed to attract attention on e-Bay or wherever. Most are from 1960-67, but I have just enough of the earlier dates to always think I'm going to start a collection.

What's everyone's favorite non-US silver coin and why? Considerations could be:

Collector value
Profit potential
High silver content
Low premium
Other

How high does silver have to go before you part with your "favorites?" I'm just about there now.

You don't have to venture beyond my avatar to know my personal favorite for a silver coin. I think the reverse of this coin is one of the most beautiful, if not THE most beautiful ever minted, IMHO.

Of course the Canadian Maple Leaf isn't far behind for favorite/beautiful. Autumn and fall leaves, with the maple leading the way, are other personal favorites that influence my decision making, when I have any money to make a decision with!!!

How high to part with my favorites? Good question.......I think it would depend on mitigating circumstances beyond my control. Hopefully, I will never have to make that decision but if it ever comes to that then those coins would leave my hands with tears in my eyes.

My mother carried an old silver dollar always in her coin purse. I don't know the significance of it but awhile after she died I put it "up" with a note about it always being in my mom's purse for our son to someday treasure as he never knew his grandmother/my mom. She died while I was pregnant with our son. In talking with my brother the other day I learned that he has carried a silver dollar in his pocket for a very long time too. I didn't think to ask him why either.

[Treetop]

I don't know the significance of it

Does your mom know a lot of carnies or bikers? In certain circles people keep a silver dollar around so they cannot be labeled vagrant and jailed. My understanding is they use a silver one so not to be tempted to spend it on something silly. I doubt this is the case here, but just thought Id ask.

[misteroman]

any wheat penny. Was such a big find when I was a kid and now it's even more fun. 11-s specifically since it was the first coin I ever bought. Wish I could remember what I did with it. probably sold on ebay a while back

[Sheikh_yer_Bu'Tay]

The Spanish Pillar Dollar, aka "pieces of eight" are my favorites. They were the fore-runner of the American Dollar. The two scrolled pillars on the back are the origins of our "$" dollar sign.

Basically, any coin that circulated on the North American continent during the 1700's are my favorites for their historical values.

Someday I hope to own a Fugio cent just because some of them were made from the copper bands on gun powder barrels used by our colonial soldiers during the Revolution.

[Thogey]

Sovereigns

I love the sir george and the dragon reverse

[PreservingThePast]

I don't know the significance of it

Does your mom know a lot of carnies or bikers? In certain circles people keep a silver dollar around so they cannot be labeled vagrant and jailed. My understanding is they use a silver one so not to be tempted to spend it on something silly. I doubt this is the case here, but just thought Id ask.

My mom was born in 1913 (my dad, in 1909) and no she didn't know any carnies or bikers. She passed away 24 years ago today (and NO, it never gets any easier!) and had lived through some really rough times financially so maybe that is the clue. That way she always felt she had some money with her but would not spend it.

I know when I won $50.00 in quarters at a slot machine, on a one day cruise to nowhere, a few years before our son was born that I carried those quarters with me hidden safely in my vehicle so that I would always have some money with me. They were still in there in those cups long after our son was born in 1987. Alas, they finally had to be spent and I can no longer drive the vehicle that sits in my driveway now with my name on the title. None of the quarters won were silver either.

Now, what's your favorite non-US silver coin and why? Inquiring minds would like to know.

[Know Common Cents]

I've thought a little more about this and should probably give honorable mention to the Newfoundland 20 cent and 50 cent silver coins that circulated around the turn of the 20th Century. Just something interesting about those. Have no intention to part with the dozen or so I have regardless of silver's price. (Well, I guess.)