Coin Melt Value Calculator

Melt value is the value of the precious metal content in a coin, calculated by multiplying the coin's metal content (in troy ounces) by the current spot price. For example, a 90% silver quarter contains 0.1808 oz of pure silver — multiply that by the current silver spot price to get its melt value.

All U.S. dimes, quarters, half dollars, and dollars minted in 1964 or earlier contain 90% silver. Kennedy half dollars from 1965-1970 contain 40% silver. War nickels (1942-1945) contain 35% silver. Coins minted after these dates for general circulation contain no silver.

Junk silver refers to pre-1965 U.S. coins (dimes, quarters, half dollars) that are valued primarily for their silver content rather than their numismatic value. They're called 'junk' because they have no collectible premium — you're buying them purely for the silver at or near melt value.

It is legal to melt U.S. silver and gold coins. However, it is currently illegal to melt pennies and nickels (since 2006) due to their base metal content being worth more than face value. There is no restriction on melting pre-1965 silver coins or any gold coins.

One dollar face value of 90% silver coins (any mix of dimes, quarters, and half dollars) contains approximately 0.715 troy ounces of pure silver. This is a handy rule of thumb: multiply USD 1 face by 0.715, then multiply by the silver spot price.

Most pre-1933 U.S. gold coins carry a numismatic premium above melt value, ranging from 5-10% for common dates to thousands of percent for key dates and rare varieties. The premium depends on the coin's rarity, condition, and collector demand. Common-date Double Eagles typically trade closest to melt.