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Junk Silver
Calculator

Live melt values for pre-1965 silver dimes, quarters, half dollars, and Morgan & Peace dollars. Enter a face value amount or count coin by coin.

Silver spot: $76.43 / ozt

Quick calculation

Enter a total face value in 90% junk silver

$
face value

Uses the 0.715 oz/$ industry standard for 90% silver — accounts for average coin wear

Or count coin by coin

Coin typeMelt / coinQty

Silver Dime

Roosevelt or Mercury · pre-1965 · 90%

$5.53

Silver Quarter

Washington · pre-1965 · 90%

$13.82

Half Dollar (90%)

Walking Liberty, Franklin, or 1964 Kennedy · 90%

$27.64

Half Dollar (40%)

Kennedy · 1965–1970 · 40%

$11.31

Silver Dollar (90%)

Morgan or Peace · 90%

$59.11

Melt value = troy oz silver content × live spot price · Numbers reflect raw silver weight, not numismatic value

Today's junk silver melt values

Coin / amountOz silverMelt value
Silver dime (pre-1965)0.0723$5.53
Silver quarter (pre-1965)0.1808$13.82
Half dollar — 90% (pre-1965)0.3617$27.64
Half dollar — 40% (1965–70)0.1479$11.31
Morgan / Peace dollar0.7734$59.11
$1 face value in 90% coins0.7150$54.65
$10 face value in 90% coins7.1500$546.47
$100 face value in 90% coins71.5000$5,464.75

$1 face value uses 0.715 oz (industry standard for circulated 90% silver). Individual coin figures use actual specified weight.

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Common questions

What is junk silver?

Junk silver refers to pre-1965 US dimes, quarters, and half dollars that are 90% silver. The term 'junk' doesn't mean low quality — it means no numismatic (collectible) premium. These coins are valued purely for their silver content. Dealers trade them by face value, typically quoting a price per dollar of face value.

How many troy ounces of silver are in $1 of junk silver?

$1 face value in 90% silver coins contains approximately 0.715 troy ounces of silver. This figure accounts for average coin wear over time. A new, uncirculated coin would contain 0.7234 oz per dollar face value, but 0.715 is the industry-standard figure used by dealers and calculators for circulated junk silver.

How much silver is in a pre-1965 dime?

A pre-1965 Roosevelt or Mercury dime contains 0.07234 troy ounces of silver. Ten dimes ($1 face value) contains 0.7234 troy oz of silver before wear adjustment.

How much silver is in a pre-1965 quarter?

A pre-1965 Washington quarter contains 0.18084 troy ounces of silver. Four quarters ($1 face value) contains 0.7234 troy oz before wear adjustment.

Are 1965–1970 Kennedy half dollars junk silver?

Yes, but they're 40% silver, not 90%. Kennedy half dollars minted from 1965 to 1970 contain 0.1479 troy ounces of silver each. Kennedy halves from 1964 are 90% silver (0.3617 oz). Halves from 1971 onward contain no silver.

What is the melt value of a Morgan silver dollar?

A Morgan or Peace silver dollar contains 0.77344 troy ounces of silver (90% silver, 26.73g total weight). To find the current melt value, multiply 0.77344 by the live silver spot price.

Do dealers pay melt value for junk silver?

Most dealers pay 90–97% of melt value for common 90% silver coins, depending on the dealer, quantity, and current market. Rare dates or coins in exceptional condition may command premiums above melt. When selling large quantities, spot minus a small percentage is typical.

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