Ted,

My understanding from what I read is that Wayne had a discussion with a seller that was claiming the older strikes with the .999 stamp on the rim were a completely silver coin, center piece and rim combined. Just from reading postings on this board, that is not the case. My understanding is that the rim is brass, or in some cases copper, and that only the center insert is silver. That's why in the late '90 the NGC made it mandatory that only the center be stamped with the .999, because a stamp on the rim was a misleading representation of the precious metal content of the coin. I'm sure if you scratch the rim it will show a shinny metal under the brass plating, but its not silver, but rather another form of a hard metal. I'm sure Wayne can elaborate more on his conversation with the seller, this is just my interpretation of the posting.

If there is someone out there that knows what the ring is made out of, under the brass or copper coating, please post it.

Kevin