A few years back, after buying some silver bullion coins as a numismatic hobby, I got interested in the so-called 'junk' silver coins and stacking.
The pro/positives of such silver, as frequently quoted in many sources online, are
- there are usually low premiums over silver spot price
- they are easily recognizable (and no need to show source of the mint)
- they remain legal tender in the country of issue
- they are obtainable in divisible quantities (ie. smaller denominations)
Residing in the US, it is very easy to get access to US junk silver coins, but over time, I came to prefer the pre-1967 Canadian silver coins.
Why? Because of consistency and easy calculations (yes, I am lazy in that respect).
Silver Canadian loonie dollars (years 1935-1967 mintage) are 80% silver, and each silver dollar is 0.6 oz of silver. That is, for every 10 Canadian loonie dollars, I know I have 6 oz of silver.
Yes, 1967-1968 Canadian dimes and quarters are some 50% silver only, and others without silver, so I just avoid them to save myself the hassle! So, if I avoid those mintage years, I know that:
10 Canadian half-dollars = 3 oz of silver
10 Canadian quarters = 1.5 oz of silver
10 Canadian dimes = 0.6 oz of silver
Easy-peasy, calculation-wise. Give me any face value of Canadian silver coins, I probably can calculate it in my head, how much silver there is. For example:
4 x $1 loonie dollars = 2.4 oz
5 x half-dollars = 1.5 oz
6 x quarters = 0.9 oz
7 x dimes = 0.42 oz (yes, this is a little trickier)
Meanwhile, US 'junk' silver coins are more diverse and harder to calculate. They range from 35%-90%, such as 35% Jefferson war-time nickels. Then, there are 40% Kennedy (1965-1970) half-dollars but don't confuse them with 90% 1964 Kennedy half-dollars!! But the majority of US junk-silver coins are actually 90% silver.
(Source: https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Junk_silver)
The 90% percentage number is fine.....until you figure out what that means per coin. A $1,000 face value of silver dollars is 715 oz of silver, i.e. 1 single silver-dollar is 0.715 oz.... so, now, go ahead. Try figuring it in your head how much it is if you are looking at a handful of US silver coins.... say,
4 x $1 morgan dollars, or
5 x 1964 Kennedy half-dollars,
6 x Washington quarter, or
7 x mercury dimes.
Well, I just cannot do it in my head.... sorry, I just cannot do the math.
Don't troll me! I do have some as well! Just stating my preference and why....
I have both, but just prefer one over the other. Which do you prefer and why?
p/s: By the way, I am not officially a member of 
