Guides Pre-1964 Silver Coins: The "Junk Silver" Value Guide
Guide · 5 min read
Pre-1964 Silver Coins: The "Junk Silver" Value Guide
The term "junk silver" sounds dismissive, but there is nothing junky about it. It simply means common-date U.S. silver coins that are valued for their silver content rather than as collectibles. For anyone holding a jar of old change, it can add up quickly.
This guide explains which coins qualify and how their value is calculated.
Which coins are 90% silver
Most U.S. dimes, quarters, and half dollars minted in 1964 or earlier are 90% silver. In 1965 the mint switched dimes and quarters to copper-nickel, so the year is an easy first filter.
- Roosevelt and Mercury dimes, 1964 and earlier
- Washington quarters, 1964 and earlier
- Walking Liberty, Franklin, and 1964 Kennedy half dollars
- Barber dimes, quarters, and halves
- Kennedy halves 1965 to 1970 are 40% silver, a special case
How junk silver is priced
Junk silver is valued as a percentage of its melt value. The starting point is the coin’s actual silver weight times the live silver spot price. Dealers often quote it in terms of "face value," since a known amount of 90% silver contains a predictable amount of silver.
Larger, sorted quantities generally earn a tighter spread to spot than a handful of loose coins, but there is no minimum to sell.
When a "junk" coin is actually better
Occasionally a coin sitting in a junk silver pile turns out to be a better date or a higher grade worth more than melt. This is exactly why a buyer should look through the coins rather than simply weighing them, and why you should never sort or clean them yourself.
Key takeaways
- Junk silver is common-date pre-1965 U.S. 90% silver coinage.
- Value is the coin’s silver weight times the live spot price.
- 1965 to 1970 Kennedy halves are 40% silver, a separate category.
- Have the coins looked through in case a better date is hiding.
FAQ
Common questions
What years are silver coins?
U.S. dimes and quarters dated 1964 and earlier are 90% silver. Half dollars are 90% silver through 1964 and 40% silver from 1965 to 1970. From 1965 on, dimes and quarters are copper-nickel.
How much is a bag of junk silver worth?
It is based on the total silver content times the live spot price, adjusted by quantity. Bring it in and we weigh it and quote against the current market, and we look through it for any better dates.
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