US Silver Coin Melt Values

Silver has been part of American coinage since the Coinage Act of 1792, which established the US Mint and defined the dollar as 371.25 grains (24.06 grams) of pure silver. For over 170 years, US dimes, quarters, half dollars, and dollars were struck in 90% silver — an alloy of 90 parts silver to 10 parts copper that provided durability while maintaining intrinsic value.

In 1965, rising silver prices forced Congress to remove silver from dimes and quarters entirely and reduce the silver content in half dollars from 90% to 40%. By 1971, silver was eliminated from circulating coinage altogether. Today, the only US coins containing silver are bullion issues like the American Silver Eagle (1986–present) and certain proof and commemorative coins.

90% Silver Coins vs. 40% Silver Coins

The distinction between 90% and 40% silver coins matters significantly for melt value. A 90% silver quarter (1932–1964) contains 0.1808 troy ounces of pure silver, while the same-sized coin in a copper-nickel clad version (1965–present) contains zero silver. Kennedy half dollars are the most commonly confused: the 1964 issue is 90% silver, the 1965–1970 issues are 40% silver, and everything from 1971 onward is copper-nickel clad with no silver content.

War nickels (1942–1945) are a special case. During World War II, nickel was needed for the war effort, so the US Mint replaced it with a 35% silver alloy. These nickels are identifiable by the large mint mark (P, D, or S) above Monticello on the reverse. They contain 0.0563 troy ounces of silver — not much individually, but they add up in quantity.

What Is "Junk Silver"?

"Junk silver" is a term used by coin dealers and precious metals investors to describe pre-1965 US silver coins that have no significant numismatic (collector) value beyond their silver content. These are common-date coins in circulated condition — the kind you might find in an old coin jar, a sock drawer, or inherited from a grandparent. Despite the name, junk silver is far from worthless. A $1 face value of 90% silver coins (10 dimes, 4 quarters, or 2 half dollars) contains approximately 0.715 troy ounces of pure silver.

Junk silver is often sold by "face value" — meaning dealers quote prices per $1 face. For instance, if a dealer says "$22 per face," that means $22 for every $1 face value of 90% silver coins. To check if that's a fair price, compare it to the melt value: $1 face × 0.715 oz t × the spot price.

How to Calculate the Silver Value of a Bag of Coins

The fastest method: count your coins by denomination, enter the quantities into the table above, and read the total. If you have a large unsorted bag, weigh it in grams (subtract the weight of the bag), divide by the individual coin weight, and estimate the count. Or simply calculate: total weight in grams × 0.90 (purity) ÷ 31.1035 (grams per troy ounce) × spot price = approximate melt value. For mixed bags of 90% coins, you can use the shortcut that $1 face value of 90% silver coins contains about 0.715 troy ounces of silver.

Common Mistakes When Selling Silver Coins

Never clean your coins. Cleaning removes natural toning and creates hairline scratches that destroy numismatic value. A coin that might have been worth $50 to a collector can be reduced to melt value by cleaning. Don't sell rare dates at melt. Some coins that look ordinary are actually scarce — a 1916-D Mercury dime, for example, is worth hundreds of dollars regardless of condition. Before selling any pre-1933 coins at melt, check a price guide or consult a dealer. Get multiple quotes. Prices vary significantly between buyers. Use the melt values on this page as your baseline and never accept less than 75% of melt from a reputable dealer.

For silver coins from other countries, see our world silver coin melt values page. For non-coin silver items like jewelry and flatware, use our scrap silver calculator. Check today's silver price per gram for a breakdown by purity. Or return to the melt value calculator homepage.