Junk Silver Calculator
Enter the face value of your 90% silver coins to find out how many troy ounces of silver you have and what it's worth at today's live spot price. Uses the industry-standard 0.715 troy oz per $1 face value for worn 90% silver coins.
Live silver spot price: $31.50 / troy oz
What Is Junk Silver?
"Junk silver" refers to US coins minted before 1965 that contain 90% silver — dimes, quarters, half dollars, and dollar coins. They're called "junk" because they have no numismatic premium, only their silver melt value.
- 90% coins — Dimes, quarters, halves, and dollars minted before 1965. $1 face = 0.715 troy oz silver.
- 40% halves — Kennedy half dollars from 1965–1970. $1 face = 0.295 troy oz silver.
- 35% War Nickels — Jefferson nickels from 1942–1945. $1 face = 1.125 troy oz silver.
Which US Coins Are 90% Silver?
The US Mint produced 90% silver coins for circulation until 1964. The Coinage Act of 1965 eliminated silver from dimes and quarters and reduced half dollars to 40%. Any dime, quarter, half dollar, or dollar coin dated 1964 or earlier is 90% silver.
90% Silver Coins (Pre-1965)
- • Mercury Dimes (1916–1945)
- • Roosevelt Dimes (1946–1964)
- • Washington Quarters (1932–1964)
- • Standing Liberty Quarters (1916–1930)
- • Franklin Half Dollars (1948–1963)
- • Walking Liberty Halves (1916–1947)
- • Kennedy Half Dollars (1964 only)
- • Morgan Dollars (1878–1921)
- • Peace Dollars (1921–1935)
Other Silver Coins
- • Kennedy Halves 1965–1970 (40% silver)
- • War Nickels 1942–1945 (35% silver)
- • Eisenhower Dollars 1971–1976 (40% silver, collector sets only)
- • American Silver Eagles (99.9% silver, not junk)
Modern clad quarters and dimes (1965+) contain zero silver regardless of appearance.
Why 0.715 oz Instead of 0.7234 oz?
A theoretically perfect 90% silver coin contains 0.7234 troy oz per dollar of face value. However, coins in circulation wear down over decades of handling. The industry-standard figure of 0.715 troy oz per dollar face accounts for this wear and is the number dealers, coin shops, and investors universally use when buying and selling junk silver.
If your coins are uncirculated or in exceptional condition the actual silver content will be closer to 0.7234 oz/$1. For typical circulated coins found at coin shops or estate sales, 0.715 is the accurate working figure.
Where to Buy and Sell Junk Silver
Junk silver is one of the most accessible forms of physical silver because it trades everywhere coins change hands.
- Local coin dealers — Most coin shops buy and sell junk silver bags and rolls. Prices are quoted as a multiple of face value (e.g. "15x face" means $15 per $1 of face value).
- Estate sales and auctions — One of the best places to find underpriced junk silver. Executors often don't know the melt value of old coins.
- Online bullion dealers — APMEX, JM Bullion, Provident Metals, and SD Bullion sell junk silver bags in face value increments ($1, $100, $500, $1000 face).
- Flea markets and antique stores — Prices vary wildly. Use this calculator before you buy to make sure you're not overpaying.
Frequently Asked Questions
Is junk silver a good investment?
Junk silver is popular among stackers because it offers recognizable US legal tender coins at low premiums over spot. The coins are easily divisible, widely recognized, and have built-in numismatic history. The main downside is that individual coins are smaller and harder to store in bulk compared to silver bars or rounds.
How much does a $1000 face value bag of junk silver weigh?
A $1000 face value bag of 90% silver coins contains approximately 715 troy oz of silver and weighs roughly 54–55 pounds. At $30/oz spot price that bag would have a melt value of approximately $21,450.
What premium should I expect to pay over melt value?
Junk silver typically trades at 2–8% over melt value in normal market conditions. During silver supply squeezes like 2020–2021, premiums spiked to 20–30% above spot. Buying from local dealers or at estate sales is the best way to minimize premiums.
How do I identify silver coins by date?
The safest rule: any US dime, quarter, half dollar, or dollar coin dated 1964 or earlier is 90% silver. War Nickels (1942–1945) have a large mint mark above Monticello on the reverse. Kennedy halves from 1965–1970 have a faint silver color compared to the copper-core clad versions from 1971 onward.