Wait! Don't Scrap Your Silver Just Yet!

Silver has escalated to its highest price since 1980, and it's time to make crucial decisions. To scrap or not to scrap? First and foremost, are you absolutely certain that the object you want melted isn't a rare or important piece crafted by an important silversmith? If it was made by a silver company, are you positive it isn't one of only a few produced? These are questions that you should take into careful consideration before scrapping. Keep in mind that during the last rush to the refiners in 1980, tons of important silver that will never be reproduced was recklessly disposed of. Some of it was saved from the flames by the hands of knowledgeable silver dealers, but the majority will never be seen again in this throw-away society.

I suggest giving these objects as gifts, especially if they are handwrought or contain beautifully hand-engraved monograms or chasing. These pieces are works of art and should never be melted. Why not wait for birthdays, anniversaries, or holidays, and surprise your friends or loved ones? If your silver is damaged or heavily tarnished, it might be easily restored by a specialist in silver restoration, making it useful again. If you still intend on selling your silver, consider a reputable antique dealer who has silver appraisal experience, or contact an auction house.

I've spoken to many individuals who didn't do their research before scrapping, finding out soon afterwards that their silver was far more valuable than its silver content alone. Please give serious consideration to what you're looking at before shipping it to a refiner.

Jeffrey Herman, Founder & Executive Director Society of American Silversmiths PO Box 72839 Providence, RI 02907

401/461-6840, Fax: 401/461-6841 E-mail: snipped-for-privacy@silversmithing.com Home Page:
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Reply to
silverhammer
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Sadly, many classic, or soon to be classic, cars are seeing the same end. We are melting our history.

Wes

Reply to
Wes

But they're only classics after most of them have been melted down -- before that they're junk.

Reply to
Tim Wescott

I'm sorry, I meant Jeffrey, not Peter.

I had just tuned in from getting caught up Rec.crafts.jewelry and had Peter Rowe on the brain, not Jeffrey Herman.

Paul K. Dickman

Reply to
Paul K. Dickman

It does indeed sort of break my heart to see Model A s and other cars from the 30s and 40s "butchered" up and monster engines with chrome piping atached. :-) ...lew...

Reply to
Lew Hartswick

While I agree in principle, that cars are being destroyed, to classify them as "classics" is an injustice to true classics. What a '69 Ford has in common with a 1929 SJ Duesenberg (a true classic) is nothing aside from having four wheels and a windshield.

I'm not arguing that they are desirable or collectable, just that they are poorly classified as classics. They have no classic features. Surely you realize that even some LaSalle's are not classified as classics, nor are many of the Packards that were produced.

Harold

Reply to
Harold and Susan Vordos

You do have a point there.

Wes

-- "Additionally as a security officer, I carry a gun to protect government officials but my life isn't worth protecting at home in their eyes." Dick Anthony Heller

Reply to
Wes

Those are scrappable

unless there is a specific law but even then. In one of my highschool chemistry classes (Early 90's during the russian metal dumping debacle) we tool pre-1968 coins and dissolved and titrated the silver out of them

we were then asked to weigh the amount of silver we got and using the spot price calculate the value.

the number was in the ballpark of 40 cents even back then. likely now its over a dollar of silver for the dime. And even more obviously for nickels and quarters

Reply to
Brent

That's nothing. Hollywood has destroyed thousands of classic, irreplaceable cars. Even Mythbusters. They cut up a classic cherry '68 Toyota Corona for the ejection seat episode. What a waste. JR Dweller in the cellar

Wes wrote:

Reply to
JR North

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