1964 Kennedy Half Dollar Is Skyrocketing In Value Again

Above, 1964 Kennedy Half Dollars. Photo by Armand Vaquer.

Some specimens of Kennedy half dollars are skyrocketing in value.

This is especially true with the 1964 Kennedy Half Dollar which was minted in 90% silver. Later coins had the silver content lowered to 40% silver. 

In 1971, the mint removed silver from minting which continues to this day, making the coins in clad copper-nickel composition. 

According to La Gradia:

In the world of collecting, numismatics often carries an extra level of excitement, especially when it comes to coins. This is evident in the interest shown in each and every unique coin that has ever been in circulation in the United States. Such is the case with the Kennedy half dollar, which commemorates his assassination in 1963. A year after his death, it was put into circulation, and those coins minted between 1964 and 1970 have become collectible items with a value of $15,000. It is still in circulation today, but between 1975 and 1976 there was a design variation celebrating the bicentennial of the Declaration of Independence.

No, not all examples of this coin have the same value, as the earlier ones have a composition of 90% silver, which was later reduced to 40%. In 1971, the Mint removed the silver and replaced it with clad copper-nickel, reason why the first ones can cost up to $15,000 and the ones produced after may only cost around $5.

To read more, go here. 

Silver Price Soars To Record Level

Silver has soared to record levels at week's end. How much higher it may go is anyone's guess.

Right now, it is around $57/toz at Comex.

According to Mining.com:

Silver soared to an all-time high on Friday following an outage on the Comex due to what the exchange operator CME calls a “cooling system failure”.

Spot prices rose 4% to a new record of $55.66 per oz., surpassing its peak set last month during a historic squeeze in the London market. Three-month futures also jumped 5%, trading within a similar range. 

 To read more, go here.

Penny Production Ends

 

Above, a collection of "wheat" Lincoln cents. Photo by Armand Vaquer.

Goodbye, penny.

The last pennies (Lincoln cents) had been producted on November 12 and no more will be made. 

Pennies actually cost more to produce than their face value. It will be interesting to see how this will affect purchases.

According to The Tennessean:

The last penny has been struck and change is coming to how we make change. But what happens next?

After 232 years of production, the U.S. Treasury Department ended production of the penny Nov. 12 with the final five pennies stamped with a special omega mark. They will not go into circulation and instead will be auctioned off in the future. The only pennies left will be those already in circulation, and some stores are already running short.

As pennies are phased out, prices will start to change, with items being rounded up to a nickel.

The currency that is only worth 1 cent costs about 3.7 cents to produce in fiscal year 2024, according to the U.S. Mint's annual report. A nickel costs about 13.8 cents to make. The price to make both coins has been on the rise for almost the last decade.

To read more, go here. 

Silver Sets New Record At $53/toz.

Above, a 1923 Peace Silver Dollar. Photo by Armand Vaquer.

Silver and gold hit new highs in trading on Wednesday.

According to BullionVault:

GOLD JUMPED and silver prices leapt on Wednesday, slashing the 'safe haven' precious metal's value relative to its more industrially-useful cousin to the lowest in a month as the Federal Reserve signalled it's about to re-start buying bonds to ensure "ample" liquidity while global stock markets rose ahead of US politicians voting to end the record-long shutdown of US government services.

US stock markets opened higher and European bourses hit new all-time records as gold priced in Dollars rallied from $4100 per Troy ounce to hit a new 3-week high at $4180 − a fresh record gold high only a month ago − after New York Fed chief John Williams said it will soon be time "to begin the process of gradual purchases of assets [to] maintain an ample level of reserves" to meet commercial bank demand for liquidity.

With Trump appointee (and White House economist) Stephen Miran also due to speak Wednesday, 'neutral' Fed member Raphael Bostic meantime announced that he will stand down from the Atlanta Federal Reserve at the end of his current term in February, opening another monetary policy spot to nominations from the Trump White House.

Silver had already shot higher, rising above $52 per Troy ounce − also a new all-time high when first reached this time last month − before breaking $53 to trade 9.8% above last weekend's level.

To read more, go here. 

7 Ways To Test If A Silver Coin Is Real

Above, an ad advertising Canadian Maple Leaf coins that turned out to be fake.

A few years ago, two friends and I bought some purported silver coins through an ad in Facebook. The price of each coin was hard to believe. The old saying, "if it sounds too good to be true, it probably is" rang true.

When I received the coins, I noticed that they looked different from the silver coins I already had. Then, I tried the "magnet test" on them. Silver does not react to magnets, but the coins I bought did. That's how I knew that they were counterfeit. These originated from China.

Above, my magnet test of a fake Morgan dollar. Photo by Armand Vaquer.

MSN has posted an article on how to test if a silver coin is real.

It begins with:

Whether you’ve inherited an old collection, found coins at a flea market, or are starting to invest in precious metals, knowing how to identify genuine silver is essential. Counterfeit silver coins are increasingly sophisticated, but there are reliable ways to spot fakes without damaging your coins. Here’s a detailed guide on how to tell if your silver coin is real.

To read more, go here. 

Will Silver Go To $100?

Silver is now over $52/toz at COMEX. 

Here's the current price:

 

Will it go to $100?

Why Silver Has Been Surging More Than Gold

Silver is now over $51 per troy ounce at COMEX.

This may be a new spot price record for the precious metal.

Why is this happening? MSN posted an article on the reasons why silver has become a hot item.

Then begin with:

(Bloomberg) -- Gold has staged a dramatic rally this year as Russia’s war in Ukraine and the US Trump administration’s unorthodox economic policies sent investors and central banks reaching for safe-haven assets. Right now, however, it’s silver that’s stealing the spotlight. 

A squeeze in supply of the precious metal has catapulted it to a 70% gain on the London market this year, compared with a 55% increase for gold as of mid-October. Both have been experiencing a surge in demand from investors, who value their price stability through periods of political turbulence, inflation and currency weakness.  

Unlike gold, silver isn’t just scarce and beautiful: It also has useful real-world properties that make it a valuable component in a range of products. With inventories at their lowest in years and investors still scrambling for more, there’s a risk of supply shortages that could impact multiple industries. 

To read more, go here.

Silver Over $50/toz.

Silver is now over $50/toz. in COMEX spot price. Where it goes from here is anyone's guess.

It did briefly go over $51 yesterday.

According to Kitco:

(Kitco News) - Gold and silver prices are sharply higher in early U.S. trading Monday, with gold hitting another record high and silver very near its record high set in 1980. Safe-haven demand as the U.S. government remains shut down and a short squeeze in silver are keeping bulls confident and bears unwilling to step in front of a steaming locomotive. The recent bigger daily price moves in gold and silver markets suggest volatility will remain high in the near term. December gold was last up $95.20 at $4,095.80. December silver prices were up $2.398 at $49.63.

Spot silver prices overnight hit the highest level in decades as a historic short squeeze in London intensified, “with a fresh surge in prices adding urgency to a worldwide hunt for bullion that could alleviate the mismatch between demand and supply,” reported Bloomberg. Spot silver climbed as much as 3.1% to near $52.00 an ounce, exceeding last week’s peak, while spot gold surpassed $4,070.00 an ounce to a record high. 

To read more, go here. 

Silver Over $48/toz.

Gold's spot price is now over $4,000/toz. But that's not the big news.

Silver is closing in on $50/toz. spot price. 

Here's the current spot price for silver at COMEX:

Gold, Silver Coins Found In 1715 Shipwreck

Above, silver coins and artifacts on display at the Key West Shipwreck Treasures Museum. Photo by Armand Vaquer.

Some divers became millionaires when they discovered a treasure trove of silver and gold coins from a 1715 Spanish shipwreck off the coast of Florida.

The Palm Beach Post reported:

SEBASTIAN, FL — More than 1,000 silver coins and five gold coins worth about $1 million were recovered from a 1715 Spanish shipwreck off the coast of Florida, a shipwreck salvage company said.

On Sept. 30, 1715 Fleet-Queens Jewels LLC announced that over 1,000 silver coins known as "reales" were recovered by Captain Levin Shavers and the crew of M/V (motor vessel) "Just Right" off the southeast region of Florida, widely known as Treasure Coast. Five gold coins called "escudos" were also recovered in a separate find.

The company's discovery is part of a "vast fortune carried by the fleet, which was transporting New World riches back to Spain" when a hurricane struck on July 31, 1715, according to a news release. The company said historians estimate that about $400 million worth of gold, silver, and jewels were lost in the storm. 

To read more, go here. 

Silver: XAG/USD Trades Firmly Above $47

Above, an 1883-O Morgan dollar. Photo by Armand Vaquer.

Silver is going gangbusters this week. It is nearing the fifty-dollar mark in spot price. 

It is currently at $47.505/toz at COMEX.

According to FXStreet:

Silver price (XAG/USD) holds onto gains near the all-time high around $47.80 during the Asian trading session on Thursday. The white metal posted a fresh all-time high on Wednesday as funding to the United States (US) government stopped after the short-term funding bill failed to achieve a majority in the House of Senate on Tuesday.

The US government shutdown has increased the appeal of safe-haven assets, such as Silver.

US Vice President (VP) JD Vance has warned that the White House would need to resort to lay-offs if the shutdown remains for more than a few days, Reuters reported.

To read more, go here. 

Silver Hovering At $47/toz

It looks like silver's spot price is nearing the $50/toz mark.

Right now, it is hovering around $46-47.00. 

Even With The Recent Price Surge, Silver Still Appears Cheap

Currently, silver's COMEX spot price is just over $41.00/toz. This is great for those of us who invested in the metal during recent years when it was in the $20s.

Here's the current COMEX spot price:

For those who are curious about silver investing, an article by Mike Maharrey in Seeking Alpha is an interesting read.

It begins with:

Silver is up an impressive 39.7 percent so far this year, hitting the highest level since 2011. It has broken through the significant $40 per ounce resistance and appears to be on track for a new record high over $50.

Yet, even with this bullish action, silver is still underpriced compared to gold.

As of the morning of September 9, the gold-silver ratio was still over 88-1. This indicates that silver remains a bargain compared to gold.

To read more, go here. 

Silver Is A Better Investment Than Gold (Video)

 A video from TheStreet:

Silver Over $41

The current spot price for silver is over $41.00/toz.

That's good news for those of us who have invested in silver over the past few years when it was still in the $20 range.

Where it goes from here is anyone's guess. It could go higher and it could go lower. Only time will tell.

 

Silver Over $39

Silver has risen to over $39/toz.

As it now stands, silver's spot price is at $39.270/toz at Comex.

 Can we expect it to go over $40.00? 

Silver Surges To 14-Year High

Above, a 2023 American Silver Eagle coin. Photo by Armand Vaquer.

The spot price of silver has reached a 14-year high in trading yesterday.

The rise in price is driven by industrial demand and other factors.

According to PRWeb:

LOS ANGELES, Aug. 18, 2025 /PRNewswire-PRWeb/ -- Silver prices have surged to their highest levels since 2012, nearly approaching the $40 per ounce mark. This remarkable rally highlights silver's growing importance as both an industrial resource and a store of value amid ongoing global economic uncertainties.

Experts say the key drivers of silver's momentum include:

Robust Industrial Demand: Nearly 60% of global silver demand now comes from industrial applications. Beyond traditional uses in electronics and manufacturing, silver is vital to rapidly growing industries, including renewable energy—especially photovoltaic (PV) solar panels—artificial intelligence (AI) components, and defense technologies.

Tight Supply: The boom in these industries has outpaced global silver production, creating a supply crunch that is driving prices higher. According to The Silver Institute, annual demand for silver rose from 993.3 million ounces in 2016 to 1.16 billion in 2024, while supply decreased from 1.06 billion ounces to 1.02 billion over the same period.

Market Headwinds: Heightened geopolitical tensions, trade uncertainties, and ongoing inflation concerns have added a safe-haven premium to precious metals, boosting silver prices alongside gold.

To read more, go here. 

Silver Over $38/toz.

The spot price for silver at COMEX is around $38.00/toz. The spot price for gold is currently at $3,449.70.

For the average person, investing in silver vs. gold is a lot more affordable even at today's silver spot price.

Recently, I took a vacation trip to South Dakota and explored around the Black Hills. I had been there before, in 1990. With that in mind, I was looking forward to seeing if there were any bargains on Black Hills gold. Well, as it happened, in the shops in Deadwood, I only found one that was selling Black Hills gold jewelry. I didn't see any bargains there, needless to say.

Above, Deadwood, South Dakota. I only found one shop selling Black Hills gold there. Photo by Armand Vaquer.

Back in 1990, quite a number of shops in Deadwood were selling Black Hills gold jewelry. They could afford to do so since gold in 1990 was around $386.20/toz. (Source: OnlyGold.com). At today's prices, gold is too expensive for the average mom & pop shop owner to afford. 

Where both gold and silver goes from here is anyone's guess.

Silver Reaches 13-Year High

Above, a 1928 Peace dollar. Photo by Armand Vaquer.

According to Gainesville Coins, gold and silver spot prices have surged.

Silver has reached a 13-year high.

Gainesville Coins reported:

Gold is trading at $3,370.50 (bid) / $3,372.50 (ask) as of July 14, showing a daily gain of $15.62 (+0.47%). The metal has established a trading range of $3,352-$3,375 for the day, maintaining support well above the psychological $3,300 level. Silver demonstrates even stronger momentum at $38.99 (bid) / $39.11 (ask), surging $0.67 (+1.74%) to reach levels not seen since 2012.

To read more, go here. 

Why Silver’s Strong June Could Lead To A Great July

Above, a 64 pound bar of silver at the Key West Shipwreck Museum. Photo by Armand Vaquer.

Silver had a great month of June.

The question is, Will it do the same (or better) in July?

It is hard to say, but Barron's takes a look at silver's June performance and what it may mean for this month.

They begin with:

Silver shined in June, returning almost 10% and beating out the returns delivered by the stock and bond markets in Japan, Europe, and the U.S. The momentum could continue as July tends to brings favorable returns for the precious metal.

What’s behind silver’s gain isn’t all that easy to pinpoint. Gold’s monstrous 43% climb over the past year could mean that it has incorporated all the good news, prompting traders to look at other stores of value and safer assets, like silver. Silver could also be benefiting from new applications in solar panels and its essential role in the semiconductor industry as artificial intelligence booms.

To read more, go here.