World Silver Coin Melt Values

Canada produced silver coinage from 1858 through 1968. The country used three silver standards over that period: sterling silver (.925) from 1858 to 1919, then 80% silver from 1920 to 1967, and briefly 50% silver in 1967–1968 before eliminating silver entirely. Modern Canadian bullion (the Silver Maple Leaf, since 1988) is 99.99% pure silver. The melt values below update every 60 seconds with live silver prices.

Silver Maple Leaf Value (1 oz)

The Canadian Silver Maple Leaf, minted since 1988 by the Royal Canadian Mint, is one of the most popular silver bullion coins worldwide. Each 1 oz Silver Maple Leaf is 99.99% pure silver, with a melt value of $73.52 at today's spot price. Maple Leafs typically trade at major dealers for 8–15% above spot due to their recognized purity, security features (radial lines, micro-engraved laser mark), and Royal Canadian Mint reputation. Some collectors prefer Maple Leafs to American Silver Eagles for the higher purity (.9999 vs .999) and lower per-coin premium at most dealers.

Canadian Silver Dollar Value

Canadian silver dollars were minted from 1935 to 1967 in 80% silver, with each coin containing 0.600 troy ounces of pure silver. At today's spot price, the melt value is approximately $44.11 per coin. The 1967 Confederation Centennial silver dollar featuring a Canada goose is among the most recognized. Common-date Canadian silver dollars from 1935 to 1967 typically sell for melt value plus a small premium ($2–$5 above melt) in average circulated condition. Better grades and key dates command higher prices.

1966 Canadian Silver Dollar Value

The 1966 Canadian silver dollar is a Voyageur design in 80% silver with 0.600 troy ounces of pure silver, worth approximately $44.11 in melt value at today's spot price. Common 1966 silver dollars sell for $15–$20 in average circulated condition. The 1966 small beads variety is scarce and commands a significant premium, often $300+ for uncirculated examples. Check the obverse beads on the rim carefully when sorting 1966 silver dollars.

1967 Canadian Silver Dollar Value

The 1967 Canadian silver dollar (Confederation Centennial) features a Canada goose designed by Alex Colville. It was produced in two varieties: 80% silver (early in the year) and 50% silver (later in the year). The 80% version contains 0.600 troy ounces of pure silver, worth approximately $44.11. The 50% version contains 0.375 troy ounces, worth approximately $27.57. Weight is the easiest way to distinguish them: 80% coins weigh 23.33g, 50% coins weigh slightly less due to the alloy change.

Canadian 80% Silver Coins (1920–1967)

Canadian dimes, quarters, half dollars, and dollars minted from 1920 through 1967 contain 80% silver. These are Canada's equivalent of US "junk silver" and trade actively in the precious metals market. A 1965 Canadian quarter contains 0.150 oz of pure silver, worth approximately $11.03 in melt value. A $100 face value bag of Canadian 80% silver coins contains approximately 60 troy ounces of pure silver. Most US coin shops buy Canadian 80% silver at melt or slightly below due to the lower purity vs US 90% silver.

Mexico has a long history of silver coinage going back centuries, with modern bullion led by the Silver Libertad series. Older Mexican coins used various silver purities: 72% for the popular 1920–1945 pesos and 1951–1954 Cinco Pesos, 10% for the 1957–1967 Morelos peso, and 72% for the 1968 Olympic 25 Pesos commemorative.

Silver Libertad Value

The Silver Libertad, minted by Casa de Moneda de México (the Mexican Mint), is widely considered one of the most beautifully designed silver coins in the world. The 1 oz Libertad contains 99.9% pure silver, worth $73.52 at today's spot price. Libertads are also issued in 2 oz, 5 oz, 1 kg, and fractional sizes (1/20 oz through 1/2 oz). Due to lower mintages than American Silver Eagles or Canadian Silver Maple Leafs, Libertads often carry higher premiums in the secondary market, particularly for proof and select-quality issues. The Winged Victory (Angel of Independence) obverse design has remained consistent since 1982 with periodic refinements.

Mexican Silver Peso Value

Mexican silver pesos from 1920–1945 contain 72% silver with 0.386 troy ounces of pure silver per coin (the "Un Peso" denomination), worth approximately $28.38 in melt value at today's spot price. The 1951–1954 Cinco Pesos contains 0.643 oz, worth approximately $47.27. Mexican silver pesos are popular with collectors and stackers due to their large size and recognizable design featuring the Mexican coat of arms. Pre-1945 pesos in average condition typically trade at or near melt value plus a small numismatic premium for older or key dates.

British silver coinage used sterling silver (.925) from 1816 to 1919, then switched to 50% silver from 1920 to 1946, and eliminated silver from circulating coinage in 1947. Modern British bullion is led by the Silver Britannia, struck in 99.9% pure silver since 1997 (or .999 since 2013, .958 Britannia silver before that).

Silver Britannia Value

The Silver Britannia is the UK's official silver bullion coin, minted by the Royal Mint since 1997. Modern Silver Britannias (2013–present) are 99.9% pure silver with a melt value of $73.52 per troy ounce. Earlier Britannias (1997–2012) were struck in .958 Britannia silver. The Britannia design features Britannia, the female personification of Britain, holding a trident and shield. Britannias from 2013 onward have legal tender face value of £2 and are typically sold by major UK and US dealers at premiums of 8–20% over melt.

Pre-1920 British Sterling Silver Coins

British silver coins minted from 1816 to 1919 are sterling silver (.925), making them more valuable per coin than the 50% silver replacements that followed. A pre-1920 silver crown contains 0.841 troy ounces of pure silver, worth approximately $61.83 in melt value at today's spot price. Half crowns, florins, shillings, sixpences, and threepences from this era are all sterling silver. These coins are popular with both stackers and collectors, with Victorian, Edwardian, and George V issues each having distinct appeal.

Pre-1947 British 50% Silver Coins

From 1920 to 1946, British silver coinage was reduced to 50% silver to conserve silver during and after World War I. A 50% silver crown contains 0.455 troy ounces of pure silver. Half crowns, florins, shillings, and sixpences from this era are also 50% silver. Most US dealers and refiners accept these coins for melt, though they pay slightly lower percentages than sterling due to the lower purity. After 1947, British coins contain no silver.

Australia's silver coinage history parallels Britain's: sterling silver from 1910 to 1945, then 50% silver from 1946 to 1963, then no silver in circulating coinage. The Perth Mint produces several popular modern silver bullion series including the Silver Kookaburra (1990–present), Silver Koala (2007–present), and Silver Kangaroo (2016–present).

Silver Kookaburra Value

The Silver Kookaburra has been produced annually by the Perth Mint since 1990, with a different reverse design each year featuring the Australian Kookaburra bird. Each 1 oz Silver Kookaburra is 99.9% pure silver, worth $73.52 at today's spot price. Kookaburras have lower mintages than American Silver Eagles or Canadian Maple Leafs, which combined with annual design changes makes them popular with collectors. Older Kookaburras (especially low-mintage years) often trade well above melt value.

Silver Kangaroo Coin Value

The Silver Kangaroo is the Perth Mint's primary bullion silver coin, introduced in 2016. Each 1 oz Silver Kangaroo is 99.99% pure silver (the same .9999 purity as the Canadian Silver Maple Leaf), worth $73.52 at today's spot price. The reverse design featuring a red kangaroo changes annually. Silver Kangaroos typically trade at lower premiums than Kookaburras due to higher mintages, making them attractive for stackers focused on accumulating troy ounces.

Silver Koala Value

The Silver Koala is another Perth Mint bullion series, produced since 2007 with annual design changes featuring the Australian Koala. Each 1 oz coin is 99.9% pure silver, worth $73.52 at today's spot price. Like the Kookaburra, Koalas have collector appeal due to changing annual designs and limited mintages.

Austria has produced silver coinage for centuries, with the modern Silver Philharmonic and historic Maria Theresa Thaler as the two most recognized issues.

Silver Philharmonic Value

The Silver Philharmonic, minted by the Austrian Mint since 2008, is a 1 oz 99.9% pure silver coin featuring the Vienna Philharmonic orchestra design used on the popular Gold Philharmonic. The melt value is $73.52 at today's spot price. Silver Philharmonics typically trade at 8–15% over melt at major dealers and are particularly popular with European buyers. The Philharmonic is the only major bullion coin denominated in euros (face value €1.50).

Maria Theresa Thaler Value

The Maria Theresa Thaler is one of the most historically significant silver coins ever struck, originally minted from 1741 with the famous 1780 date kept on all subsequent restrikes. Each Thaler contains 0.752 troy ounces of pure silver (83.3% fine, 28.07g total weight), worth approximately $55.29 at today's spot price. Maria Theresa Thalers have been continuously restruck for trade purposes since 1780, with most surviving examples being restrikes rather than originals. Original 1741–1780 Thalers carry significant numismatic premiums. Modern restrikes typically trade at melt value plus a modest premium ($5–$15 above melt) as recognizable trade silver.

French silver coinage used 83.5% to 90% silver from the late 1800s through the 1970s. The Hercules 50 Francs (1974–1980) and 10 Francs (1965–1973) are the most popular among silver stackers due to their high silver content and large size.

French 50 Francs (Hercules) Silver Value

The French 50 Francs Hercules, minted from 1974 to 1980, contains 0.868 troy ounces of 90% pure silver (30g total weight), worth approximately $63.82 in melt value at today's spot price. The Hercules design features Hercules between Liberty and Equality, originally used on French silver in the 19th century and revived for the 50 Francs series. These coins are popular with European stackers and US collectors of large silver crowns.

German silver coinage spans Imperial (1873–1918), Weimar Republic, Third Reich (1934–1939), and West German (1951–1974) periods. Imperial German 5 Mark, 3 Mark, 2 Mark, and 1 Mark coins are 90% silver and command both numismatic and bullion interest.

5 Mark Silver Coin Value (Imperial Germany)

The Imperial German 5 Mark coin (1874–1919) is 90% silver with 0.804 troy ounces of pure silver (27.78g total weight), worth approximately $59.11 in melt value at today's spot price. Each German state had its own portrait on the obverse: Prussia (Wilhelm II), Bavaria (Otto and Ludwig III), Saxony, Württemberg, and others. The 5 Mark is the largest standard Imperial German silver coin and is popular with both collectors and stackers due to its size and high silver content.

Russian Imperial silver coinage from 1886 to 1917 and early Soviet silver from 1921 to 1931 use a consistent silver standard rarely covered by other melt value calculators. Higher denominations (rubles and 50 kopeks) are 90% silver; smaller kopeks are 50% silver. The Imperial 1 ruble and Soviet 1 ruble (1921, 1922, 1924) share the same 20-gram weight and 0.579 troy ounces of pure silver content.

Switzerland and the Netherlands both produced 83.5% silver coins in the early-to-mid 20th century. Swiss 5 Francs (1931–1969), 2 Francs, 1 Franc, and 1/2 Franc all share the 83.5% silver standard. Dutch 2.5 Guilder and 1 Guilder coins were 72% silver in the 1950s–1960s and 72% silver pre-1941.