This category of coins are for numismatic gold and silver coins that are very common and priced with a dominant emphasis on the metal value of the coin rather than the collector value. These coins are either very common or in very poor condition or both. For example, using the 1913 $20 St. Gaudens in a poor condition of "Fine -12", this coin sells for only $1640. This is slightly more than the price for the American Eagle. Common examples of these coins are low quality $20 U.S. gold pieces, common foreign gold (Russian 5 Rubles, German 20 Marks) and common silver coins usually traded in poor condition. 

"Junk silver" bags contain a face value of $1000 of silver coins than contain either 90% silver or 40% silver in their composition. The 90% silver sells for $14800 and the 40% bag sells for $2104 (based on silver spot at $18.41 per oz.) 

The semi-numismatic coins are popular for several reasons. When numismatic coin values increase rapidly, these coins historically tend to increase more than pure bullion coins. In 1933, when gold bullion ownership was restricted by the U.S. government, “coins of special interest to collectors” were exempted. In such a similar scenario, buyers of U.S. numismatic coins could profit from the potentially dramatic price increase due to the demand placed on these coins. The premium paid for this added security is a small percentage over the price of a standard bullion coin. Semi-numismatic coins are only sold via wholesale outlets since there is no collector demand to make an auction liquidation profitable.