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Calculate the silver melt value of pre-1965 U.S. coins by quantity or face value.
Live Silver Spot Price
$88.28
per troy ounce
Quick Presets
Melt Value
$6.38
Silver Content
0.0723 oz
Face Value
$0.10
Per $1 Face
$63.83
Multiplier
63.8x face
Based on silver spot price of $88.28/oz
| Coin | Silver % | Oz/Coin | Melt Value | Per $1 Face |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Dime (Roosevelt/Mercury) | 90% | 0.0723 | $6.38 | $63.83 |
| Quarter (Washington) | 90% | 0.1808 | $15.96 | $63.85 |
| Half Dollar (Walking Liberty/Franklin/Kennedy pre-65) | 90% | 0.3617 | $31.93 | $63.87 |
| Dollar (Morgan/Peace) | 90% | 0.7734 | $68.28 | $68.28 |
| Kennedy Half (1965-1970) | 40% | 0.1479 | $13.06 | $26.11 |
| War Nickel (1942-1945) | 35% | 0.0563 | $4.97 | $99.41 |
“Junk silver” is a colloquial term for pre-1965 U.S. coins that contain silver but have no significant collector premium. Despite the name, these coins are far from junk — they contain real silver and are a popular way to own physical precious metals in small, recognizable denominations.
Before 1965, U.S. dimes, quarters, half dollars, and silver dollars were minted with 90% silver content. When silver prices rose in the 1960s, the U.S. Mint switched to copper-nickel clad coins. Kennedy half dollars from 1965-1970 retained 40% silver content before going fully clad in 1971.
Junk silver is often sold by face value — for example, a “$10 bag of quarters” contains 40 quarters with a combined silver content of about 7.23 troy ounces. This makes it easy to calculate values and trade in standard lot sizes. The premium over melt value is typically lower than for modern bullion products.
Junk silver refers to pre-1965 U.S. coins that contain silver but have no significant numismatic (collector) value above their silver content. These coins were minted for regular circulation and are valued primarily for their silver melt value.
Pre-1965 dimes, quarters, half dollars, and dollars contain 90% silver. Kennedy half dollars from 1965-1970 contain 40% silver. War nickels (1942-1945) contain 35% silver. The exact troy ounces per coin vary by denomination.
Face value is the denomination printed on the coin. Junk silver is often traded in lots by face value — for example, '$10 face value in quarters' means 40 quarters. The silver content per $1 face value of 90% coins is approximately 0.7234 troy ounces.
Junk silver offers affordable entry into physical silver ownership. Coins are recognizable, divisible, and have a known silver content. They typically sell close to melt value with low premiums compared to modern silver bullion. However, all investments carry risk.
Junk silver can be purchased from coin dealers, bullion dealers, online precious metals retailers, coin shows, and sometimes estate sales. Prices are typically quoted as a percentage over melt value or as a dollar amount per $1 face value.
For 90% silver coins, multiply the face value by 0.7234 to get total troy ounces, then multiply by the current silver spot price. For example, $10 face value x 0.7234 = 7.234 oz x spot price = melt value.
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