Junk Silver Melt Value
"Junk silver" is US dimes, quarters, and half dollars minted in 1964 or earlier, which are 90% silver. They have no rare-coin value, but each one holds a known amount of silver, so its melt value is that silver weight times the spot price. A dime carries about 0.0723 troy ounces of silver, a quarter about 0.1808, and a half dollar about 0.3617. Multiply by the silver price and you have the melt value; the free silver calculator does it for any pile.
The shortcut collectors use: every $1 in face value of 90% coins holds roughly 0.715 troy ounces of silver. So $100 face is about 71.5 troy ounces, whatever mix of dimes, quarters, and halves makes it up.
Silver content of US 90% coins
These are the standard published silver weights for 90% coins. They are the actual silver weight (the "actual silver weight" or ASW), not the total coin weight, since the other 10% is copper.
| Coin | Silver content (ASW) | Melt value at snapshot |
|---|---|---|
| Dime (1964 or earlier) | 0.0723 troy oz | $4.33 |
| Quarter (1964 or earlier) | 0.1808 troy oz | $10.83 |
| Half dollar (1964 or earlier) | 0.3617 troy oz | $21.67 |
| $1 face value (any mix) | ≈ 0.715 troy oz | $42.84 |
Melt values snapshot, 2026-07-22, at $59.91 per troy ounce of silver. Live prices differ; use the calculator for today's number.
The $1 face value convention
Because dimes, quarters, and halves all share the same 90% alloy at the same ratio of silver to face value, dealers price bags by total face value rather than counting coins. The common trading figure is about 0.715 troy ounces of silver per $1 of face value. Note that freshly struck coins actually contained closer to 0.7234 troy ounces per dollar; the lower 0.715 figure is the convention that allows for metal lost to decades of circulation wear. Both numbers are worth knowing, and both should be verified against a current dealer reference before a large trade.
War nickels: the 35% silver exception
Regular US nickels contain no silver, but Jefferson nickels minted from mid-1942 through 1945 are 35% silver (the rest is copper and manganese), because nickel metal was needed for the war effort. Each holds roughly 0.0563 troy ounces of silver, worth about $3.37 at the snapshot price. Look for a large mint mark (P, D, or S) above the dome of Monticello on the reverse; that oversized mark is how these were flagged.
A worked melt example
Suppose you have $10 in face value of mixed 90% dimes and quarters. Using the $1 face convention and the fixed 2026-07-22 snapshot silver price of $59.91 per troy ounce:
| Step | Calculation | Result |
|---|---|---|
| Silver content | $10 face × 0.715 troy oz | 7.15 troy oz |
| Melt value | 7.15 troy oz × $59.91 | $428.36 |
So $10 face value holds about $428.36 of silver at the snapshot price. Run your own face value against the live price on the calculator before buying or selling.
A caveat on wear
The published silver weights are for coins as they left the mint. Coins that spent decades in circulation lost a little metal to wear, so a well-worn dime holds slightly less silver than 0.0723 troy ounces. This is exactly why the $1 face convention uses 0.715 rather than the as-struck 0.7234. For small amounts the difference is pennies; for a large bag it is a real, if minor, discount, and it is one reason dealers price by face value and pay a small premium or discount to spot rather than to a strict melt figure.
Weigh a whole jar at once: choose "US 90% junk silver" in the free silver value calculator and enter the weight in grams or ounces. Your numbers stay on your device.
More guides
- Silver price today and the gold-to-silver ratio
- Scrap gold value: what your gold is really worth
- Gold price today and the karat purity table
- Precious metal prices FAQ
This guide is general information, not financial advice. Silver prices move constantly and dealers trade at a premium or discount to spot. Confirm a live quote before you buy or sell.
← Value your silver with the calculator