COINS: Alert to Press readers

As a coin collector, I feel compelled to write to you regarding another very misleading advertisement in The Press involving coins: the full page ad March 12, page A8. This one asks people to pay $19 each for coins that are not worth anywhere near that much.

By stating that these “U.S. Gov’t issued silver JFK half dollars” are “rarely seen” and “scarce,” with “some worth up to 60 times their face value,” it takes advantage of naive people who will send them $380 for a roll of 20 Kennedy half dollars dated between 1965 and 1970.

These are silver clad coins containing 40% silver and 60% copper-nickel alloy that are today worth about $4 to $6 each. They are not that rare with more than 848 million minted in those dates. I can go online right now and purchase a roll of 20 in uncirculated condition for less than $94 (less than $5 each).

The ad never mentions their condition, except for the word “pristine” which is meaningless to a collector. I am sure these are just average circulated coins. For a coin like this to be worth 60 times its face value, it would have to be graded highly and certified by a national grading service and sealed in a special holder.

Please don’t just take my word for it. Call any local coin shop and ask them what these coins are really worth.

This ad is demonstrably deceptive and nothing more than a scam.

STEVEN BYBEE

Rathdrum