Silver Coin Bezels

Silver coin bezels are a great way to show off a silver coin you may have.

A bezel is actually a device for securing one thing to another and the term applies in many areas including electronics. It is commonly used to describe a metal or plastic frame to hold a watch face or coin and in this case could be used as a pendant.

It is also that part of a ring that can hold a gemstone in place.

A silver coin bezel of course is a circular ring specially constructed to hold a silver coin. There are many different sizes to accommodate the various silver coins available from small coins such as the British sixpence to the American silver eagles, Canadian or Chinese silver coins and even the British 2 pound Britannia.

As well as ensuring that you get the right size bezel for your silver coin one you would also look at the style or design. Is there a style or design suitable to hold the coin of your choice? Not too think and not too think. It should be durable also, especially if you are going to use it everyday. I would suggest that you get a sterling silver bezel as that is not pure 100% silver but is alloyed with a stronger metal such as copper, for example, to increase it’s hardness and durability.

Also the coin you intend to use would of course be attractive enough to want to mount it in a bezel but I would recommend you don’t use a coin if great value as the value of the coin will drop markedly once you have it mounted in a bezel and worn on a regular basis. Using a proof or even brilliant uncirculated coin would not be wise as the value of that coin by virtue of being a proof or BU coin will vanish.

There are many silver coins one can use that have minimal value, even if purse 99.9 percent silver. Due to wear and tear of the coin. These would only have the silver content value which would be, at the time of writing, around ten US dollars per troy ounce.

Getting the right silver coin bezels you’re your silver coins can result in a delightful presentation of your silver coin and an excellent fashion accessory also.

US Silver Dollar

The US Silver dollar is one of the most popular silver coins to be collected by coin enthusiasts around the world.

The US has been minting coins since around the 1790s and these have been mostly gold, silver and copper among other less valuable metals. But the silver dollar is by far the most that has been minted and is the most collected.

The American Silver dollar is usually 90% silver and 10% copper. This give the coin extra durability and strength. The silver content by weight is .7736 troy ounces but the last circulating silver dollar coins which were struck in the 1970s were only 40% silver to 60% nickel and copper. In the 1980s however, the US Mint started striking the Silver Eagle dollar coin and this was 100% silver giving a full troy ounce in each coin. This coin was not designed for circulation however as the silver content is around 5 times more valuable than the face value of the coin.

There are a number of different silver coins which have been minted in various locations around the US. The most popular has been the Morgan 1878-1921, Peace 1921-1935, and Silver Eagles 1986 to present day. They are relatively inexpensive and affordable by most people and easy to locate. About 1 billion have been minted so there are plenty available from reputable dealers.

It is a good idea to browse around as there are many types of silver dollars from the 1790s on up to the present day. Some are quite valuable and some are not very valuable at all. It can be a fascinating hobby studying the various silver dollar issues.

Always ensure you deal with a reputable dealer and get all the information and fact before you buy.

Do that and you will enjoy many happy hours of enjoyment collecting the US Silver Dollar!

What Silver Coins to Buy

If you want to know what silver coins to buy, then you have come to the right place.

There is a plethora of silver coins available from old to new to circulated, uncirculated to proof from all the major coin producing countries in the world.

What silver coins to buy will depend on the following factors:

How much you wish to budget for. The larger the amount of silver you can purchase the less mark up you have to pay the dealer. However it should be something that is within your budget. You can start small and build up over time. If you purchase silver on a regular basis any fluctuations in the value will tend to even out. Silver is tending to rise and will always retain its value. Also you can build up collections that improve well with age and the fact that it is a complete collection adds additional value too.

Do a study of the coins available. If you are inexperienced sticking to the traditional American Silver Eagles, Australian Kookaburra, Phoenix Dollar Silver coins and Canadian Silver Maple Leaf, all with established amounts of silver, would be a good start. An experienced numismatist can extend his choice further of course and, as you become more experienced you will be able to expand your select of coins also.

Select a reputable dealer to buy from. Especially if you are buying online. Ask such questions as: 

Is there a fixed address and contact phone numbers? 

How long have they been in business? 

Have they an authorization from a Mint? Apart from the US Mint, who do not sell direct to the public, many mints around the word can sell you the coins they strike and the advantage here is that you know the coins are genuine and not fake. Once you have found one it is a good idea to stick to that dealer and build up a history or track record with them.

The best silver coins to buy are those that are authenticated and contain a guaranteed amount of silver. You can get coins ranging from 1 ounce up to 10 ounces of silver or more.

Some of the best silver coins to buy, especially when you are starting out are:

American Silver Eagles
Australian Silver Kookaburra
Canadian Silver Maple Leaf
Phoenix Silver Dollar 

Once you have started off in this fascinating hobby and know what silver coins to buy, I am sure you will have many interesting, and at times, exciting hours in front of you.

Gold

Gold is one of the chemical elements. Gold's chemical symbol is Au and its atomic number is 79. Its chief characteristics are that it is inert and malleable. Inert means gold does not interact with other chemicals or compounds. Gold doesn't tarnish and even the strongest acids have no effect. Thus, gold lasts forever - and stays shiny the whole time!

Gold has many industrial uses, but its main historical uses have been for jewellery and money - both are a store of value. Gold has been used as a store of value for at least 5000 years. Gold is measured and prices are quoted in Troy Ounces and Grams. As an example of gold's ability to store value, 2000 years ago one ounce of gold would buy a fine man's outfit. Today one ounce of gold will still buy a good quality man's wool suit with enough left over to buy a few shirts, a tie, some underwear, socks, a pair of shoes and a belt!

Gold has been called a "barometer of fear." When people are anxious about the economy - they turn to gold and bid the price up. The two main things that make people anxious are deflation and inflation. Most think that deflation is "falling prices" and inflation is "rising prices." Actually, rising and falling prices are symptoms. The root causes are decreases (deflating) or increasing (inflating) of the money supply. Gold has the remarkable ability to store value in both deflationary and inflationary times.

The correct way to think about owning gold is as insurance. Gold is a store of value virtually independent of economic conditions. Unlike shares of a company or government bonds - gold will always retain value. Gold's most important use is insurance against the paper (fiat) currency of the country you live in. Almost every country has had at least one major "currency crisis" over the last one hundred years. Those that had some of their wealth in gold survived. Unfortunately many people saw their saving become worthless - sometimes in a matter of days.

So, think of gold as insurance. Do not think of gold as a way to "make money." Do not try and "time the market." It is better to buy gold in small amounts regularly, every month for example, over a period of time.The percentage of your total wealth devoted to gold is a personal decision and depends on your particular situation. A conservative goal would be ten percent. In times of uncertainty the percentage should be much higher.

Do not worry about selling gold when that time comes. Gold is recognized and valued everywhere in the world. It is easier to sell gold than to buy gold! Of course gold can be used in barter or trade as it has for thousands of years.

To summarize, gold is an insurance policy against economic uncertainty. Gold can protect against both deflation and inflation. Everyone should store some of their wealth in gold if at all possible.

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