This does not surprise me. I did a similar thing about a year ago. The brass rings are worth about $1.75 per pound as scrap.

Speaking of scrap ... when silver strikes as a collectible, do not fetch silver melt value, I don't fault folks for selling them to a silver scrap dealer. Would you sell your house for less than what is being offered from another buyer?

How many of us remember when you couldn't even get face value for silver strikes? It wasn't that long ago.