Junk Silver Calculator
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“Junk silver” is the trade name for circulated US silver coins bought for their metal, not their collector value. Each $1 of face value in 90% silver coins holds about 0.715 ounces of silver – worth $37.23 today.
Junk silver calculator
Enter the total face value of each group of coins (e.g. 10 silver dimes = $1.00).
Silver spot: $52.07/oz. Dealers pay a percentage of melt that changes with demand – call two or three for quotes.
Junk silver: melt value per $1 face value
| Coins | Silver per $1 face | Melt per $1 face | × face |
|---|---|---|---|
| 90% silver dimes, quarters, halves (pre-1965) | 0.7150 oz | $37.23 | 37.2× |
| 40% silver Kennedy halves (1965–1970) | 0.2958 oz | $15.40 | 15.4× |
| Silver dollars (Morgan, Peace) | 0.7734 oz | $40.27 | 40.3× |
| 35% silver war nickels (per $1 = 20 coins) | 1.1252 oz | $58.59 | 58.6× |
$1 face value of 90% coins contains 0.7234 oz of silver when new; dealers use 0.715 oz to allow for wear.
Which coins count as junk silver?
- 90% silver: dimes, quarters and half dollars dated 1964 or earlier, plus Morgan and Peace dollars.
- 40% silver: Kennedy half dollars dated 1965–1970.
- 35% silver: Jefferson “war nickels” dated 1942–1945 with a large mint mark above Monticello.
Coins dated 1965 or later (except the 40% halves and special silver proof issues) are copper-nickel clad and have no silver.
Silver content and melt value by coin
| Coin | Years | Metal content | Melt value | × face |
|---|---|---|---|---|
 Jefferson War Nickel (35% silver) | 1942–1945 | 0.0563 oz silver | $2.97 | 59.4× |
 Barber Dime | 1892–1916 | 0.0723 oz silver | $3.77 | 37.7× |
 Mercury Dime | 1916–1945 | 0.0723 oz silver | $3.77 | 37.7× |
 Roosevelt Dime (silver) | 1946–1964 | 0.0723 oz silver | $3.77 | 37.7× |
 Barber Quarter | 1892–1916 | 0.1808 oz silver | $9.43 | 37.7× |
 Standing Liberty Quarter | 1916–1930 | 0.1808 oz silver | $9.43 | 37.7× |
 Washington Quarter (silver) | 1932–1964 | 0.1808 oz silver | $9.43 | 37.7× |
 1976-S Bicentennial Quarter (40% silver) | 1976 | 0.0739 oz silver | $3.90 | 15.6× |
 Barber Half Dollar | 1892–1915 | 0.3617 oz silver | $18.85 | 37.7× |
 Walking Liberty Half Dollar | 1916–1947 | 0.3617 oz silver | $18.85 | 37.7× |
 Franklin Half Dollar | 1948–1963 | 0.3617 oz silver | $18.85 | 37.7× |
 1964 Kennedy Half Dollar (90% silver) | 1964 | 0.3617 oz silver | $18.85 | 37.7× |
 Kennedy Half Dollar (40% silver) | 1965–1970 | 0.1479 oz silver | $7.80 | 15.6× |
 Trade Dollar | 1873–1885 | 0.7876 oz silver | $41.05 | 41.1× |
 Morgan Silver Dollar | 1878–1904, 1921 | 0.7735 oz silver | $40.31 | 40.3× |
 Peace Silver Dollar | 1921–1935 | 0.7735 oz silver | $40.31 | 40.3× |
 Eisenhower Dollar (40% silver) | 1971–1976 | 0.3162 oz silver | $16.67 | 16.7× |
Melt value = metal content × today’s spot price. It is not what a dealer pays (usually less) or a collector’s price (often more).
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.