If anyone else wants to do this, coin silver is nominally cheaper and is significantly more durable, and about as easy to melt.

I view things like a furnace or nice blowtorch as an investment into future projects that may otherwise not even be viable (in my mind) without the knowledge that I have said tool, so a small furnace for melting, while being more expensive, might expedite the process or increase quality, while also opening doors to future potential endeavors.