Junk Silver Calculator
90% SILVER COINS PRICED BY FACE VALUE
Melt value
Based on silver spot.
Dealers typically pay $350 - $416
Editorial estimate, not a quote.
- Pure silver
- 7.2339 troy oz
- Coins
- 100
- Melt as a multiple of face
- 43.8x
How it works
- $10.00 face / $0.10 per coin = 100 coins.
- 100 coins x 2.250 g pure silver = 225 g.
- 7.2339 troy oz x $60.52 = $437.80. That is 0.7234 troy oz of silver per $1 of face.
Melt value 437 dollars 80 cents
Pure silver per coin and per dollar of face value
| Coin | Silver per coin | Silver per $1 face |
|---|---|---|
| Dime, 90% | 0.0723 oz | 0.7234 oz |
| Quarter, 90% | 0.1808 oz | 0.7234 oz |
| Half dollar, 90% | 0.3617 oz | 0.7234 oz |
| Silver dollar, 90% | 0.7734 oz | 0.7734 oz |
| Kennedy half, 40% | 0.1479 oz | 0.2958 oz |
| War nickel, 35% | 0.0563 oz | 1.1253 oz |
Method. Coin weight x silver fraction, divided by 31.1035 = troy ounces of silver per coin (the 10% copper in 90% coins is ignored). Face value divided by the coin's face gives the coin count. Melt value = ounces x live silver price. The dealer range of 80% to 95% of melt is a Lustre editorial estimate, not a quote. Coins in better than worn condition can sell for more than melt: check the coin pages.
Junk silver explained Coin-by-coin melt calculator Look up a date and mint
How this calculator works
How much silver is in a dollar of junk silver?
A dollar of face value in 90% dimes, quarters or half dollars holds 0.7234 troy ounces of pure silver. A silver dollar (Morgan or Peace) holds 0.7734 troy ounces.
What is junk silver?
Common-date US coins made of 90% silver (1964 and earlier), plus 40% Kennedy halves, valued for their silver rather than their date. The term does not mean the coins are bad.
How do I price a bag of junk silver?
A standard bag is $1,000 face value. Multiply the face value by 0.7234 for troy ounces of silver (for dimes, quarters and halves), then by the silver price. This calculator does that.
Do dealers pay spot for junk silver?
Usually a little under melt when buying (about 80% to 95% in Lustre's editorial range) and a little over when selling. This is not a quote.
Are 1965 to 1970 Kennedy halves silver?
They are 40% silver, 0.1479 troy ounces each. Kennedy halves from 1971 on, apart from special sets, contain no silver.
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