Tools
Junk silver calculator
Count your pre-1965 US silver coins and see their face value, how much pure silver they hold and what that silver is worth at today’s spot price.
Calculator
Your junk silver
Pre-1965 dimes, quarters and halves, added on top of the counts above.
Pre-filled with the latest price. Edit it to try another price.
Face value
$0.00
Pure silver
0 troy oz
Melt value
—
Melt value is the silver content at spot. Dealers sell junk silver above it and usually buy below it, and key dates or high-grade coins can be worth more than melt. This is an estimate, not a quote.
The basics
What is junk silver?
“Junk silver” is the trade name for ordinary, circulated US coins that are made partly of silver. Until 1965 the dimes, quarters and half dollars in everyday change were 90% silver and 10% copper. Rising silver prices led the US to switch to copper-nickel clad coins, and people began setting the old silver ones aside.
These coins aren’t rare, so collectors call them junk, but they are a popular way to own silver in small, recognisable pieces. They are usually priced on their silver content, not their face value or their condition.
Reference
How much silver is in each coin
| Coin | Which ones | Face | Silver | Pure silver each |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Dimes (90%) | Mercury and Roosevelt dimes, 1964 and earlier | 10¢ | 90% | 0.07234 troy oz |
| Quarters (90%) | Washington quarters, 1964 and earlier | 25¢ | 90% | 0.18084 troy oz |
| Half dollars (90%) | Walking Liberty, Franklin and 1964 Kennedy halves | 50¢ | 90% | 0.36169 troy oz |
| Kennedy halves (40%) | Kennedy half dollars dated 1965 to 1970 | 50¢ | 40% | 0.14792 troy oz |
| Silver dollars (90%) | Morgan and Peace dollars, 1935 and earlier | $1 | 90% | 0.77344 troy oz |
Because the US Mint made 90% coins in proportion to face value, $1 face of dimes, quarters or halves holds the same silver: about 0.7234 troy ounces. That’s why junk silver is often sold by face value.
Coins that spent decades in circulation have worn down a little and hold slightly less. Many dealers use about 0.715 troy ounces per $1 face for circulated 90% coins. Tick “allow for wear” in the calculator to use that figure.
Spot the silver
How to identify junk silver
Check the date
US dimes, quarters and half dollars dated 1964 or earlier are 90% silver. Kennedy halves dated 1965 to 1970 are 40% silver. From 1965 (1971 for halves) circulating coins are copper-nickel clad with no silver.
Look at the edge
A 90% coin has a solid, silvery-white edge. Clad coins show a clear copper stripe down the middle of the edge. 40% Kennedy halves look silvery but can show a faint coppery tint, because their silver outer layers are bonded to a lower-silver core.
Weigh it
Silver coins are a little heavier than clad ones: a 90% dime is 2.50 g (clad 2.27 g), a quarter 6.25 g (clad 5.67 g) and a half 12.50 g (clad 11.34 g). A small kitchen or jewellery scale is enough to tell them apart.
Know the series
Mercury and Roosevelt dimes, Washington quarters, Walking Liberty, Franklin and 1964 Kennedy halves, and Morgan and Peace dollars are the usual junk silver coins. The 1964 Kennedy is 90%; every later Kennedy for circulation is 40% or clad.
Good to know
Buying and selling junk silver
Buying
Junk silver is sold by face value, from a few dollars up to $1,000 bags. Premiums over melt rise and fall with demand, so check the price per ounce of silver you are actually getting, not just the price per dollar of face.
Selling
Expect most dealers to pay a little under melt, and coin shops to pay less for small amounts. Selling a larger, sorted lot (dimes with dimes, quarters with quarters) usually gets a better offer.
Silver dollars
Morgan and Peace dollars usually sell above melt even when worn, because collectors want them. Price them as coins, not just as silver.
Small change, small units
Dimes and quarters are easy to split into small amounts, which is one reason people like junk silver. The trade-off is that counting, storing and selling lots of small coins takes more effort than a single bar.
Step 1
Sort and count
Pull out silver coins by date and edge, then count each type or add up the face value.
Step 2
Work out melt
Use the calculator above with today's silver price. Tick "allow for wear" for well-circulated coins.
Step 3
Compare quotes
Dealers often quote junk silver as a premium over spot per ounce, or as a multiple of face value. Turn every quote into the same terms before comparing.
Step 4
Ask about buyback
When buying, ask what the dealer would pay to buy the same coins back. When selling, get two or three quotes and check fees and shipping.
Watch out for
Mistakes to avoid
- Don't sell key dates as junk. Some dates and mint marks (for example the 1916-D Mercury dime or 1932-D and S quarters) are worth far more than melt. Check before you sell.
- Don't clean coins. Polishing or dipping silver coins can wipe out any collector value and won't raise the melt value.
- Fake silver dollars exist. Morgan and Peace dollars are widely counterfeited. Buy from established dealers and check weight and size.
- Melt isn't what you'll be paid. Dealers buy below melt and sell above it. The spread is a real cost if you buy and later sell.
- Taxes and reporting vary. Sales tax, capital-gains tax and dealer reporting rules depend on where you live. Check the rules for your situation.
Good to know
Frequently asked questions
What is junk silver?
Junk silver is the nickname for circulated US coins that contain silver but have no special collector value, mainly 90% silver dimes, quarters and half dollars dated 1964 or earlier. They are bought and sold mostly for their silver content. The name isn't an insult: the coins are only 'junk' to collectors.
How much silver is in $1 face value of 90% coins?
Ten dimes, four quarters or two half dollars each contain about 0.7234 troy ounces of pure silver when new. Circulated coins have lost a little to wear, so many dealers use about 0.715 troy ounces per $1 face instead.
Are 1965 quarters and dimes silver?
No. From 1965 US dimes and quarters were made of copper-nickel clad, with no silver. You can spot them by the copper stripe on the edge. Kennedy half dollars kept some silver: 1965 to 1970 halves are 40% silver, and halves from 1971 on are clad.
Are war nickels junk silver?
Some people include them. Jefferson nickels from late 1942 to 1945 with a large mint mark above Monticello on the back are 35% silver, about 0.0563 troy ounces each. They are not in this calculator, but you can work out their melt value with that figure.
Why do dealers pay less than melt value?
A dealer has to cover their costs and margin, and may need to resell the coins or send them to a refiner. Buying below melt and selling above it is how they make money. The gap varies by dealer and over time, so it pays to compare quotes.
Is junk silver a good investment?
We can't say whether it suits you, and this page isn't financial advice. Junk silver is one way to own physical silver in small, recognisable pieces, but its value moves with the silver price and you pay a spread to buy and sell. Read our silver guide and think about your own goals, or talk to a licensed adviser.
This calculator gives an estimate of metal content only and is for general education. It isn’t financial, tax or legal advice, and it isn’t a dealer quote. Prices may be delayed, so get a live quote and, if you’re unsure, talk to a licensed adviser before making decisions.