How to Calculate the Value of Junk Silver Coins: 6 Steps (2024)

  • Categories
  • Hobbies and Crafts
  • Collecting
  • Coins

Download Article

Explore this Article

parts

1Calculating How Much Silver You Have

2Calculating How Much Your Silver is Worth

Other Sections

Things You'll Need

Related Articles

References

Co-authored byMichael R. Lewis

Last Updated: January 17, 2024Approved

Download Article

The vast majority of U.S. silver coins struck before 1965 were 90% silver and 10% copper. Junk silver refers to common coins sold at or very near the price of their actual value in silver. To determine the value of these, all you will need to do is calculate the weight of these coins in silver and then multiply that figure by the current price of silver. However, you should also be careful to confirm that you don’t have any valuable rare coins in your collection.[1]

Part 1

Part 1 of 2:

Calculating How Much Silver You Have

Download Article

  1. 1

    Confirm that your junk silver coins have no numismatic value. The majority of junk silver is valued almost exclusively by its silver content. However, rare coins accumulate additional value. Search online for the value of your coin by referencing the date and image on the coin.

    • In general, coins that pre-date the 1940s have some collectors’ value.
    • Other coins garner a collector’s value because they are a rare mint. The mint refers to where the coin was produced and is denoted by a small letter stamped on the coin.[2] A coin may have been produced in mass quantities at one mint, but in much smaller quantities at another mint; if your coin came from the latter, it will be worth more.[3]
    • You must also pay attention to coin grading, which how you determine the quality of a coin's condition.[4] Grading takes into account how well the coin was struck at the original mint, how well it is preserved, and how much wear and damage the coin has suffered.[5]
    • Examples of rare coins include the Kennedy Silver Half Dollars and the Morgan or Peace Dollars. However, newer coins, like the Kennedy Silver Dollar, need to be in excellent physical condition to retain collectors’ value.[6]
  2. 2

    Calculate the sum of your coins' face values. The silver content of most 1965 U.S. specie is proportional to its denomination. For example, a half-dollar has precisely double the silver content of a quarter. Therefore, the first step in determining the total silver content is to add up the face value of every coin in your collection.

    • Do not include nickels or pennies, which were not made from silver, with rare exceptions like 1942-1945 war nickels. Pricing these, however, can be complicated and so they should also be excluded from your calculation.

    Advertisem*nt

  3. 3

    Multiply the total face value of your collection by 0.715 to calculate the quantity of silver. A dollar's worth of 90-percent-silver coins would originally have contained 0.723 troy ounces of silver. However, because old coins are worn, silver dealers generally calculate on an average weight of 0.715 troy ounces per dollar.

    • A troy ounce is a unit of measurement that is common when weighing precious metals. One troy ounce is equal to 31.103 grams or 1.097 ounces.
    • Because half-dollars circulated less they will generally be a bit less worn. You might be able to expect a slightly higher ratio of dollar value to silver content like 71.8-72.0%. Newer coins might also have a slightly higher silver content.[7]
  4. Advertisem*nt

Part 2

Part 2 of 2:

Calculating How Much Your Silver is Worth

Download Article

  1. 1

    Research the current spot price for silver. The current market value of silver (often called the "spot value") can be found online. Silver prices are nearly always expressed in dollars per troy ounce, which we can ascertained by multiplying the value of our currency by .715.

    • Nasdaq is a reputable source for current silver prices. It also will show how the price of silver has changed over time, giving you some sense as to whether you should sell now, or wait until later for a higher price.[8]
  2. 2

    Multiply your collection's silver weight by the current spot price. Multiplying your collection's weight by the current price of silver will yield the total value of your junk silver.

    • For example, if you have 71.5 troy ounces of silver, and the current spot price is 32 dollars, then your junk silver is worth (71.5 * 32) or $2288.
  3. 3

    Factor in specie value. Although it is rare for junk silver to sell for much more than the price of raw silver, you might be able to get slightly more. In times during which coins are hard to find this amount should be a larger. Because silver dollars were less common than dimes and quarters, these can also go for slightly more.[9]

    • To verify your calculation, search online for a melt value calculator.
  4. Advertisem*nt

Expert Q&A

Ask a Question

200 characters left

Include your email address to get a message when this question is answered.

Submit

      Advertisem*nt

      Tips

      Submit a Tip

      All tip submissions are carefully reviewed before being published

      Submit

      Thanks for submitting a tip for review!

      Things You'll Need

      • Junk silver
      • Calculator
      • Computer
      • Internet access

      You Might Also Like

      How to Value Old CoinsHow toStore Silver Coins
      How toTell if a 1965 Quarter Is SilverHow toRoll CoinsThe Best Ways to Clean Copper or Zinc PenniesHow toClean Pennies with VinegarHow toGet a Coin GradedHow toIdentify Old CoinsHow toFind Silver Half DollarsHow toSell Rare CoinsHow toMake a Ring from a Silver CoinHow toSell Silver Coins

      Advertisem*nt

      About This Article

      How to Calculate the Value of Junk Silver Coins: 6 Steps (24)

      Co-authored by:

      Michael R. Lewis

      Business Advisor

      This article was co-authored by Michael R. Lewis. Michael R. Lewis is a retired corporate executive, entrepreneur, and investment advisor in Texas. He has over 40 years of experience in business and finance, including as a Vice President for Blue Cross Blue Shield of Texas. He has a BBA in Industrial Management from the University of Texas at Austin. This article has been viewed 179,451 times.

      141 votes - 81%

      Co-authors: 22

      Updated: January 17, 2024

      Views:179,451

      Categories: Featured Articles | Coins

      In other languages

      Spanish

      • Print
      • Send fan mail to authors

      Thanks to all authors for creating a page that has been read 179,451 times.

      Reader Success Stories

      • How to Calculate the Value of Junk Silver Coins: 6 Steps (25)

        James Moore

        Mar 8, 2016

        "Gave me a basis for determining the value of old silver coins. Prior to reading this article I had no clue. Thanks."

      More reader storiesHide reader stories

      Did this article help you?

      Advertisem*nt

      How to Calculate the Value of Junk Silver Coins: 6 Steps (2024)

      FAQs

      How to Calculate the Value of Junk Silver Coins: 6 Steps? ›

      Multiplying your collection's weight by the current price of silver will yield the total value of your junk silver. For example, if you have 71.5 troy ounces of silver, and the current spot price is 32 dollars, then your junk silver is worth (71.5 * 32) or $2288.

      How to calculate junk silver coin value? ›

      How Do I Calculate the Value of Junk Silver Coins?
      1. 2.5 grams ÷ 31.1 grams = 0.08. The dime is about 8% of a troy ounce.
      2. 0.08 x $20 = $1.60. If the dime were 100% silver, it would be worth about $1.60.
      3. 0.9 x $1.60 = $1.44. ...
      4. 0.20 x $20 = $4.00.

      How to figure the value of silver coins? ›

      The most straightforward way to calculate the value of a silver coin is by multiplying its silver content by the current spot price of silver. For instance, if a coin contains one troy ounce of silver, and the current spot price of silver is $25, the coin's melt value (the value of its metal content) is $25.

      How to calculate the value of silver? ›

      The formula is: rate of silver per gram x weight of silver x purity of silver.

      How to calculate coin value? ›

      The value of a coin is based on its date, mintmark, mintage, and condition. Run an online search to identify what kind of coin you have, then contact a local coin dealer to assess your coin's value. Check recently sold eBay listings to see what people are paying for your coin type.

      What is a fair price for junk silver? ›

      US 90% "Junk" Silver Bags
      Bag SizePrice per $1 FaceTotal
      $100 Face$22.40$2,239.70
      Qty
      $250 Face$22.40$5,599.25
      Qty
      4 more rows

      How much junk silver equals 1 oz? ›

      A 90% silver quarter contains 0.1808479 of an ounce of silver, so 5.5 of them adds up to one troy ounce. Since you can't have half of a coin, rounding up means it takes six silver quarters to make more than a troy ounce. To add up to an ounce of silver, it takes three pre-1965 half dollars, six quarters, or 14 dimes.

      How can I find out how much my silver is worth? ›

      How Much is Silver Worth? If you've identified your silver as sterling silver or have found its level of purity, determining its value is relatively simple. If your piece has a lower purity than sterling silver, multiply the percentage by the weight, and multiply that product by the current price of silver.

      What is the value of scrap silver coins? ›

      Melt Values of U.S. Silver Coins
      CoinCompositionMelt Value Updated 6/22/2024
      Morgan Dollar (1878-1921)90% Silver$22.91
      Peace Dollar (1921-1935)90% Silver$22.91
      Eisenhower, Silver (1971-1976)60% Copper, 40% Silver$9.36
      American Silver Eagle $1 (1986-Date)99.93% Silver$29.62
      13 more rows

      How much is a 1 oz silver coin worth today? ›

      $26.59 USD

      How do pawn shops calculate silver value? ›

      Do pawn shops pay based on the silver content or the face value of the coin? Pawn shops typically pay based on the silver content of the coin rather than the face value. The value of the silver content is determined by factors such as the purity of the silver and the weight of the coin.

      What is the formula for silver? ›

      Silver does not bind into diatomic molecules like nitrogen and hydrogen do. So its symbol is just Ag, or if you want to be more detailed in standard circ*mstances, you'd say Ag (s) to indicate it is solid at room temperature and normal pressure.

      How much is a silver quarter worth in scrap? ›

      Statistics: » There are 0.1808 troy ounces of silver in 1 silver Washington quarter(s). » Each Washington quarter contains 0.1808 troy ounces of silver and is valued at $5.35 when silver is at $29.57 / ounce. » A roll of Washington quarters has 40 coins and is valued at $213.91 when silver is at $29.57 / ounce.

      How do I find the value of my silver coins? ›

      Weight. The weight of your coins is probably one of the most accurate ways to tell if your silver coins are valuable. Since the silver market is measured by weight, you can look at the current price of silver and use that to determine your coin's value based on how much your coins weigh.

      How can I find out how much my coins are worth? ›

      Reputable coin dealers, Coin Auctions, eBay, and Price Guides are great places to start. If your coins are graded by one of the Top Tier grading services like PCGS or NGC, you can usually get a reasonable value estimate sight-unseen!

      How to find the value of silver dollar coins? ›

      To calculate the value of a silver dollar, you multiply its fine silver content by the current spot price for silver. A silver dollar contains 0.7735 troy ounces of pure silver, so at the time of writing a silver Dollar would be worth over $17 on metal value alone.

      How do you calculate the melt value of a silver coin? ›

      To calculate the melt value of this coin, you simply multiply the silver weight times today's spot price.

      How much silver is in $10 junk silver? ›

      $10 Face Value Circulated "Junk" 90% Silver Coins Details:

      Contains approximately 7.15 troy ounces of silver.

      How much silver is in $100 face value junk silver? ›

      Junk refers to the collectible value of the coin. These silver bags are a cost-effective way to invest in silver that is also easily divisible. This bag contains pre-1965 silver coins with a face value of $100, for a total of approximately 71.5 Troy oz of silver.

      Top Articles
      Living Costs and Expenses
      Ranked: Which cities are Europe’s best financial hubs?
      Tattoo Shops Lansing Il
      English Bulldog Puppies For Sale Under 1000 In Florida
      Best Pizza Novato
      Pga Scores Cbs
      9192464227
      Flat Twist Near Me
      Top Golf 3000 Clubs
      Obituary Times Herald Record
      No Credit Check Apartments In West Palm Beach Fl
      Wunderground Huntington Beach
      Goldsboro Daily News Obituaries
      R/Altfeet
      Wordle auf Deutsch - Wordle mit Deutschen Wörtern Spielen
      Bc Hyundai Tupelo Ms
      Craigslist Malone New York
      Lesson 8 Skills Practice Solve Two-Step Inequalities Answer Key
      The Superhuman Guide to Twitter Advanced Search: 23 Hidden Ways to Use Advanced Search for Marketing and Sales
      Nashville Predators Wiki
      N2O4 Lewis Structure & Characteristics (13 Complete Facts)
      Imagetrend Inc, 20855 Kensington Blvd, Lakeville, MN 55044, US - MapQuest
      Jellyfin Ps5
      Ruben van Bommel: diepgang en doelgerichtheid als wapens, maar (nog) te weinig rendement
      Cocaine Bear Showtimes Near Regal Opry Mills
      At&T Outage Today 2022 Map
      Mdt Bus Tracker 27
      Watson 853 White Oval
      Craigslist Fort Smith Ar Personals
      What Sells at Flea Markets: 20 Profitable Items
      Tom Thumb Direct2Hr
      Dtlr On 87Th Cottage Grove
      2015 Chevrolet Silverado 1500 for sale - Houston, TX - craigslist
      Drabcoplex Fishing Lure
      Darrell Waltrip Off Road Center
      The Complete Guide To The Infamous "imskirby Incident"
      Pawn Shop Open Now
      Woodman's Carpentersville Gas Price
      Philadelphia Inquirer Obituaries This Week
      Ksu Sturgis Library
      Dee Dee Blanchard Crime Scene Photos
      Anguilla Forum Tripadvisor
      Aurora Il Back Pages
      Oklahoma City Farm & Garden Craigslist
      Gli italiani buttano sempre più cibo, quasi 7 etti a settimana (a testa)
      Europa Universalis 4: Army Composition Guide
      Beds From Rent-A-Center
      Naomi Soraya Zelda
      O.c Craigslist
      Fahrpläne, Preise und Anbieter von Bookaway
      Latest Posts
      Article information

      Author: Aracelis Kilback

      Last Updated:

      Views: 6086

      Rating: 4.3 / 5 (64 voted)

      Reviews: 87% of readers found this page helpful

      Author information

      Name: Aracelis Kilback

      Birthday: 1994-11-22

      Address: Apt. 895 30151 Green Plain, Lake Mariela, RI 98141

      Phone: +5992291857476

      Job: Legal Officer

      Hobby: LARPing, role-playing games, Slacklining, Reading, Inline skating, Brazilian jiu-jitsu, Dance

      Introduction: My name is Aracelis Kilback, I am a nice, gentle, agreeable, joyous, attractive, combative, gifted person who loves writing and wants to share my knowledge and understanding with you.