Silver Coin Melt Value Calculator
Find out what your silver coins or bars are worth based on their actual silver content and the live spot price. Select a coin type or enter a custom weight and purity.
Silver Melt Value
$67.28
Price as of Mar 26, 12:00 PM UTC
US Silver Coin Melt Values at Current Spot Price
Pre-1965 US dimes, quarters, and half dollars contain 90% silver and are commonly called "junk silver" because they trade close to melt with minimal premium.
| Coin | Silver (ozt) | Purity | Melt Value @ $67.28/ozt |
|---|---|---|---|
| American Silver Eagle (1 oz .999) | 1.0000 | 99.9% | $67.28 |
| Morgan Dollar (1878-1921) | 0.7734 | 90.0% | $52.03 |
| Peace Dollar (1921-1935) | 0.7734 | 90.0% | $52.03 |
| Walking Liberty Half Dollar (1916-1947) | 0.3617 | 90.0% | $24.34 |
| Franklin Half Dollar (1948-1963) | 0.3617 | 90.0% | $24.34 |
| Kennedy Half Dollar (1964 only) | 0.3617 | 90.0% | $24.34 |
| 40% Kennedy Half Dollar (1965-1970) | 0.1479 | 40.0% | $9.95 |
| Washington Quarter (pre-1965) | 0.1808 | 90.0% | $12.16 |
| Roosevelt Dime (pre-1965) | 0.0723 | 90.0% | $4.87 |
| Mercury Dime (1916-1945) | 0.0723 | 90.0% | $4.87 |
| Barber Dime (1892-1916) | 0.0723 | 90.0% | $4.87 |
| Barber Quarter (1892-1916) | 0.1808 | 90.0% | $12.16 |
| Barber Half Dollar (1892-1915) | 0.3617 | 90.0% | $24.34 |
| War Nickel (1942-1945, 35% silver) | 0.0563 | 35.0% | $3.79 |
| 40% Eisenhower Dollar (1971-1976 S) | 0.3161 | 40.0% | $21.27 |
| Canadian Silver Maple Leaf (1 oz .9999) | 1.0000 | 100.0% | $67.28 |
| Austrian Silver Philharmonic (1 oz .999) | 1.0000 | 99.9% | $67.28 |
What Is Junk Silver?
"Junk silver" refers to pre-1965 US coins that contain 90% silver. The term does not mean they are worthless. It simply means they carry no numismatic premium above their silver content. Junk silver is popular because:
- Low premiums: Trades close to spot with minimal markup.
- Divisibility: Dimes and quarters let you sell small amounts without liquidating an entire bar.
- Recognizable: US government-issued coins are universally recognized and easy to buy and sell.
A full bag of junk silver ($1,000 face value) contains approximately 715 troy ounces of pure silver.
Morgan Silver Dollar Melt Value
The Morgan Dollar (minted 1878–1921) is one of the most collected US silver coins. Each coin contains 0.7734 troy ounces of actual silver at 90% purity.
Current Morgan Dollar melt value: $52.03
Note: Actual sale prices for Morgan Dollars can be significantly higher depending on mint year, mint mark, and condition.
How Silver Coin Melt Value Is Calculated
The Formula
Example: 10 Roosevelt Dimes (pre-1965)
- Each dime contains 0.07234 troy oz of silver.
- 10 dimes × 0.07234 = 0.7234 troy oz total silver.
- At $70/ozt silver: 0.7234 × $70 = $50.64 melt value. Use the calculator above for the exact figure at today's live price.
Silver purity reference
- 0.999 fine silver (99.9%): Silver Eagles, Maple Leafs, most bars
- 0.9999 fine silver (99.99%): Canadian Maple Leafs
- 92.5% silver (0.9250): Sterling silver jewelry and flatware
- 90% silver (0.9000): Pre-1965 US coins
- 40% silver (0.4000): 1965–1970 Kennedy Half Dollars
- 35% silver (0.3500): War Nickels (1942–1945)
Popular Silver Bullion Weights
Silver bars and coins come in standard sizes. These are the most common weights investors buy and sell:
- 1 oz silver bar or coin (0.9114 troy oz at .999 fine)
- 10 oz silver bar (10.0 troy oz, popular entry-level bar)
- 100 oz silver bar (100.0 troy oz, low premium per ounce)
- 1 kilogram silver bar (32.1507 troy oz, common internationally)
Compare live prices for silver bars and silver coins to find the lowest dealer premium.
Buy Silver at the Lowest Premium
Now that you know the melt value, you can see exactly how much of a premium dealers charge over spot. Use our bullion price comparison tool to track real-time premiums from the top dealers.
- Compare silver coin prices with live prices from top dealers
- Compare silver bar prices (bars often carry lower premiums than coins)
FAQ
What is junk silver?
Junk silver refers to pre-1965 US dimes, quarters, and half dollars that contain 90% silver. The term 'junk' simply means they have no collector premium above their silver content. They are one of the most cost-effective ways to buy physical silver because they trade close to spot with minimal markup.
How do I know if my coins are silver?
US dimes, quarters, and half dollars minted before 1965 are 90% silver. Kennedy Half Dollars from 1965–1970 are 40% silver. After 1970, circulating US coins contain no silver. You can also check for a copper edge stripe — silver coins have a uniform silver edge with no copper showing.
How much silver is in a Morgan Dollar?
A Morgan Dollar contains 0.7734 troy ounces of actual silver at 90% purity. The coin weighs 26.73 grams total. At $70/ozt silver, a Morgan Dollar has a melt value of approximately $54.14. The actual sale price is usually higher due to collector demand.
Are pre-1965 quarters worth more than face value?
Yes, significantly more. A Washington Quarter minted before 1965 contains 0.1808 troy ounces of silver. At any silver price above $1.38/ozt the silver content alone exceeds the 25¢ face value. At today's silver prices, each silver quarter is worth several dollars in metal alone.
What is the difference between .999 and .9999 silver?
.999 silver (three nines) is 99.9% pure and is the standard for most silver bullion including American Silver Eagles and silver bars. .9999 silver (four nines) is 99.99% pure and is the standard for Canadian Maple Leafs. For melt value purposes the difference is less than 0.1%.
Is melt value the same as what a dealer will pay for silver?
No. Dealers buying silver typically pay 5–15% below melt value. The melt value is the ceiling. When buying silver, dealers charge a premium above melt. Use our compare bullion prices tool to find the dealer with the lowest buying premium.
What is a fair price for junk silver?
Junk silver is priced by face value multiples (x face). The melt value of $1 face value in 90% silver coins equals approximately 0.715 troy oz of silver. Multiply by the current spot price to get the melt value per dollar of face value.
How is the silver content of a war nickel calculated?
War Nickels (1942–1945) contain 35% silver. Each coin weighs 5 grams, so it contains 1.75 grams of silver, or about 0.0563 troy ounces. They are identified by a large mint mark above Monticello on the reverse.
