Tag: silver

History of High Value Gold & Silver Coins

by Michael Emery

High Value Coins

Was one of your family members a passionate numismatist, but their priceless coin collection is now locked away to gather dust? Well, maybe it’s time to brush the dust off as one of their coins could literally be worth a fortune. Don’t believe us? Here are some of the most valuable coins you might already own and not even know their worth.

1895-S Morgan Silver Dollar

This coin is often referred to as the King of Morgan Dollars and is a very rare find. In fact, you are more likely to come across a forgery than the real deal, as original coins are very rare. There are only 880 mint versions of this coin in circulation from the original 12,000, and if the mint mark is missing, it is likely a forge or a replica.

1896-O Morgan Silver Dollar

This is one of those coins that can puzzle someone not familiar with numismatics. While a worn-out coin is rather easy to find, there are very few mint versions in circulation. Around 4.9 million of these coins were issued back in 1976. But in its original state, the coin is among the rarest finds. A certified mint issue of this coin today can be worth as much as a sports car.

Canadian Maple Leaf, American Liberty Head, and South African Krugerrand gold coins

1895-O Morgan Silver Dollar

The predecessor of the previous entry, the 1895 Morgan silver dollar is much more valuable, even in rough shape. There’s an interesting story behind it as well. Back in 1985, the New Orleans Mint was tasked with producing as many silver dollars as they could within a very short deadline. Therefore, the craftsmanship of this coin is rather terrible. The coins were hence stored and many of them melted until they were finally released into circulation and their value skyrocketed due to high demand.

1892-S Morgan Silver Dollar

Despite the coin being very valuable in certified mint condition or even in worn grades, the 1892-S Morgan Silver Dollar was never particularly popular among numismatists. The coin is very common in worn out condition, but a mint specimen is a rare find.

1886-O Morgan Silver Dollar

This 1886 dollar is particularly difficult to put a price tag on, and even the most expert numismatists have a hard time appraising this rare coin. Similarly to the 1895-O Morgan Silver Dollar, the craftsmanship of this particular coin seems to be rather sloppy. It is also worth mentioning that a forgery derived from the 1886 Philadelphia Dollar has been in circulation, although it is not that common. To recognize the forgery, look closely at the added “O”.

Do you think you might have one of these priceless coins locked up in the attic? Looking for an expert to determine the price of a coin or make sure it’s not a forgery? If so, stop by Leo Hamel Jewelry & Gold Buyers. Our expert buyers in our comfortable and secure jewelry buying office will resolve any doubts you might have and pay you the highest possible price for these rare coins. Find our hours and the buying office closest to you here or call at 619-299-1500.

Tips for Taking Care of Fine Jewelry

by Rylee Kahan

Did you get a fancy new gold necklace of a shiny engagement ring for Christmas? Congratulations! What makes jewelry so eternal is that it can always look as shiny as when you first got it, provided you take good care of it. Properly storing and caring for your jewelry, combined with an occasional visit to a professional will ensure that you will proudly wear your precious possessions for years and years to come. While some pieces of jewelry are fairly easy to maintain, others like pearls require extra attention and special precautions to be taken. In this guide, we will go through the proper ways of cleaning and taking care of different pieces of jewelry so that they truly last forever.

Jewelry Cleaning Advice

A rule of thumb for most pieces of jewelry in your collection is to follow your common sense. That said, one thing that can irreparably damage your jewelry is exposing it to household chemicals like chlorine bleach. These chemicals can discolor or completely ruin precious metal mountings. Likewise, avoid wearing your jewelry while you are doing rough manual chores or while you are playing sports as a hard blow could chip or jar loose the precious gemstones. When storing your jewelry, make sure that the pieces do not tumble against each other, as this can scratch them. Each piece of jewelry should be stored in a separate soft cloth bag or in a separate compartment in your jewelry box.

Silver Jewelry

You can clean sterling silver with a mild soap and warm water applied to a cotton cloth. To bring back its glow, wipe it with a jewelry polishing cloth specially made for polishing silver. Avoid circular movements and rub the silver in one direction instead.

Yellow gold ring centered with a blue gemstone and diamonds.
Yellow gold earrings centered with blue sapphire surrounded by diamond halos.
Yellow gold open heart necklace set with diamonds.

Platinum & Gold Jewelry

Dilute dish detergent in a small bowl filled with warm water and soak your gold or platinum jewelry for three to five minutes. Rinse the jewelry under warm water using a clean cotton cloth to remove any traces of the dish detergent. Use a soft cloth to pat the jewelry dry. Make sure to dry it completely before wearing it again.

Gemstone Jewelry

Amethyst, citrine, blue topaz, and other crystalline gemstones should be cleaned in a bowl filled with water and a drop of mild dish soap. You can scrub the stones’ surroundings with a soft baby toothbrush. Rinse the soap thoroughly and dry with a cloth. Diamonds, sapphires, and rubies in gold or platinum are best cleaned by using water with a drop of ammonia. However, silver and organic gemstones can be damaged by ammonia, so use this solution only for gold and platinum jewelry.

Pearls

Keep pearls away from cosmetics, perfumes, chlorine, vinegar, ammonia, perspiration, and dirt at all costs. After wearing the pearl jewelry, clean it with a slightly damp cloth. You can wash pearls with mild soap using a soft cloth. Rinse any excess soap in clean water and wrap them in a damp cotton towel until dry. Store them in an environment that’s not too dry, as they require some humidity, so they don’t crack.

Professional Jewelry Cleaning

If you want to make sure your jewelry keeps its sparkle for years to come, have it professionally inspected and cleaned at least once a year. If you notice that the stones in your jewelry are chipped, the prongs damaged or clasps malfunctioning, contact Leo Hamel Fine Jewelers immediately. Don’t risk losing your precious gemstones from a broken or bent prong! Our in-house jewelers are available for all your cleaning and jewelry repair needs so visit us on San Diego Avenue today.