stonewallrabbitry wrote:Is there anything special I need to know about buying silver jewlery? How do I know it is not just silver plated? Should I expect to pay less for silver jewlery than junk silver coins?
Thanks to everyone here for getting me into hoarding silver and answering all my dumb questions. I think I am going to start giving silver coins as birthday gifts to my younger sisters (15,19). Even if they do not enfoy them now they will in 20 years
There are lots of posts covering this both here and in the Scrap Metal Section.... Here's the cliffnotes. Get a good magnet. If it sticks, don't buy. Buy it if it is marked .925, ster, sterling, STG. Don't buy it if it doesn't indicate that it's sterling. Carry a decent digital scale, a magnet, and a jeweler's loupe with you everywhere you go. Have cash in your pocket. You should expect to pay WAY less for sterling jewelry or flatware than coins. I pay 64% of spot. If you look at the top of the Silver, Gold and other precious metals section, you will see a sticky with a calculator for sterling.
As far as silver coins for your sisters (forgive my harshness here), if you really want to love them, set them aside for them for when they need them, and see if you can get them interested. If you cannot, they will never be interested and will sell what you have worked to save for them.
It's fun. Give it a go.
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"Thanks to God that he gave me stubborness when I know I am right." - John Adams