Which US Coins Are Silver? A Year-by-Year Cheat Sheet
1964 and earlier dimes, quarters and halves are 90% silver. Here's every US silver coin by year, plus the look-alikes that fool people.
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Melt value of one $2.50 Liberty Head Quarter Eagle
$500.79
A $2.50 Liberty Head Quarter Eagle (1840–1907) weighs 4.18 grams and is made of 90% gold, 10% copper. That works out to 0.12095 troy ounces of pure gold, so at today’s spot price the metal in one coin is worth about $500.79.
| Years | 1840–1907 |
|---|---|
| Face value | $2.50 |
| Weight | 4.18 g (0.1344 troy oz) |
| Composition | 90% gold, 10% copper |
| Diameter | 18 mm |
| Gold content | 3.762 g (0.12095 troy oz) · worth $500.79 |
| Copper content | 0.418 g · worth $0.0059 |
| Quantity | Face value | Melt value |
|---|---|---|
| 1 | $2.50 | $500.79 |
| 5 | $12.50 | $2,503.96 |
| 10 | $25.00 | $5,007.92 |
| 20 | $50.00 | $10,015.84 |
| 100 | $250.00 | $50,079.19 |
| 1,000 | $2,500.00 | $500,791.87 |
| Date | Melt value then | Change to today |
|---|---|---|
| 1 month ago (Oct 9, 2026) | $509.97 | ▼ -1.80% |
| 1 year ago (Nov 9, 2025) | $484.99 | ▲ +3.26% |
| 5 years ago (Nov 9, 2021) | $221.44 | ▲ +126.15% |
| 10 years ago (Nov 9, 2016) | $132.80 | ▲ +277.11% |
Based on stored daily closing prices.
Melt value is the floor: the value of the metal alone. Dealers who buy coins for their metal usually pay a little below melt. Coins with a rare date, mint mark or error, or in uncirculated condition, can sell for far more than melt to collectors – check a current price guide or have the coin graded before selling anything that looks scarce.
Have several coins? Use the coin melt value calculator.
| Coin | Years | Metal content | Melt value | × face |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1850–1907 | 0.9675 oz gold | $4,005.86 | 200.3× | |
| 1907–1933 | 0.9675 oz gold | $4,005.86 | 200.3× | |
| 1838–1907 | 0.4837 oz gold | $2,002.93 | 200.3× | |
| 1907–1933 | 0.4837 oz gold | $2,002.93 | 200.3× | |
| 1839–1908 | 0.2419 oz gold | $1,001.46 | 200.3× | |
| 1908–1929 | 0.2419 oz gold | $1,001.46 | 200.3× | |
| 1854–1889 | 0.1451 oz gold | $600.83 | 200.3× | |
| 1908–1929 | 0.1210 oz gold | $500.79 | 200.3× | |
| 1849–1889 | 0.0484 oz gold | $200.32 | 200.3× |
Melt value = metal content × today’s spot price. It is not what a dealer pays (usually less) or a collector’s price (often more).
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Melt values are estimates based on spot prices and official coin specifications. Dealers usually pay less than melt; rare coins can be worth far more to collectors.