Coins with a nice shiny silver appearance aren’t too hard to come by. You might even have some in your pocket right now. However, unless those coins were minted prior to 1965, they’re not 90 percent silver or anything close to pure silver. This is one of the more compelling reasons to consider buying 90 percent silver coins, especially if you’re a collector or looking for the potential to get a good return on your investment. The precious metals experts from First National Bullion, the silver and gold dealers San Diego collectors rely on for outstanding quality and service, explain.
Older 90 Percent Silver Coins Are Worth at Least Their Face Value
All silver half-dollars, quarters, and dimes made between the 1830s and just prior to 1965 are, at a minimum, 90 percent silver. These coins are often referred to as “junk silver,” but they’re hardly junk when it comes to their value. At the very least, these older silver coins are worth their face value.
Some of These Coins Are Rare & Extremely Valuable
Since 90 percent silver coins are older and no longer officially minted, they can be worth much more than their actual face value. For example, an 1894-S Barber dime has a stated value of nearly $2 million. In this instance, the reason is because only 24 of these silver coins were made.
Realistically, finds of this nature are rare. That being said, it’s still possible to purchase older 90 percent silver coins that increase in value over time. You may also be able to find a collector willing to pay more than what you paid.
Know What to Expect to Pay for 90 Percent Silver Coins
What you’ll pay for any 90 percent silver coin depends on several factors, such as the condition of the coin. For a well-worn common date coin, expect the price to be based on the current spot price of silver and the face value of the coin. Additional factors that tend to influence what you’ll initially pay for these coins include:
• The date the coin was minted
• The number of coins you’re interested in that are known to still exist
• The general condition of the coin
• Any unique design characteristics
Sell Your Coins for Scrap
With 90 percent silver coins that aren’t too valuable, you may prefer to sell what you purchase for scrap once you get enough of them. How much you’ll be able to make by doing this depends largely on the spot price of silver at any given moment. As long as you keep an eye on market trends with silver, you may be able to time your buying and selling in a way that rewards you with a profit.
Brush Up on Your Silver Coin Knowledge
Silver coins with minimum 90 percent silver content can be a smart purchase if you’re a well-informed buyer. There are numerous online sources you can use to see which specific coins falling into this category are more valuable or sought after most by collectors. If you’re a collector yourself or planning to start a silver coin collection, this added knowledge gives you some guidance for your purchases.
Whether you’re a veteran coin collector or you’re simply looking to sell your old silver coins, reach out to the experts at First National Bullion. In addition to buying and selling coins, we also offer a huge selection of gold, platinum, and silver bars. San Diego collectors who are looking for the finest-quality coins, bars, and bullion should give us a call at (858) 304-7580 to speak with one of our precious metals experts.
The statements made in this blog are opinions, and past performance is not indicative of future returns. Precious metals, like all investments, carry risk. Precious metals and coins may appreciate, depreciate, or stay the same in cash value depending on a variety of factors. First National Bullion does not guarantee, and its website and employees make no representation, that any metals for sale will appreciate sufficiently to earn the customers a profit. The decision to buy, sell, or borrow precious metals and which precious metals to purchase, borrow, or sell are made at the customer’s sole discretion.
FAQs
All silver half-dollars, quarters, and dimes made between the 1830s and just prior to 1965 are, at a minimum, 90 percent silver. These coins are often referred to as “junk silver,” but they're hardly junk when it comes to their value. At the very least, these older silver coins are worth their face value.
Is it worth buying 90 silver coins? ›
To identify junk silver coins, look for U.S. dimes, quarters, and half dollars minted before 1965. These coins contain 90% silver, making them valuable for their precious metal content rather than their collectible or numismatic worth.
How much are 90% silver coins worth? ›
Melt Value: $1 Face Value 90% Silver Coins
This silver coin contains 0.715 troy ounces of bullion. Based on the metal content and weight, the intrinsic melt value of one $1 Face Value 90% Silver Coins is $21.08 based on today's silver spot price.
How much 90% silver does it take to make an ounce? ›
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.
Is it worth it to buy silver coins? ›
Silver bullion coins are an ideal investment for most people who want to diversify their portfolios. The coins are great for new investors who want to minimize upfront costs by making purchases in smaller amounts. They work well for retail investors, too.
What to do with 90 silver coins? ›
Typically these coins are not considered for their numismatic value, and they are often traded for their silver bullion content in $100, $500, and $1000 face value rolls or bags.
Is buying junk silver coins a good investment? ›
Is junk silver worth buying? Many silver stackers actually prefer buying junk silver coins because they're more affordable than investment-grade silver bullion coins. If you're interested in adding silver to your portfolio, buying junk silver may not be the shiniest approach, but you'll save a lot of money on premiums.
How many ounces of silver should I own? ›
How Much Silver Should You Own? Determining the right amount of silver to own depends on several factors, including your investment goals, risk tolerance, and overall financial situation. While some experts suggest a precious metals allocation of 5-10% of your total portfolio, this can vary widely among investors.
How many 1964 quarters does it take to make an ounce of silver? ›
How Many Silver Quarters Add Up to One Ounce of Silver? Pre-1965 90% junk silver quarters contain 0.17875 ounces of silver per coin. To compile a full troy ounce of silver, you would need about 5.5 Pre-1965 U.S. Quarters. Since we don't commonly cut quarters in half, we will round that up to six.
What is the downside of buying silver? ›
Cons of Investing in Silver Bars
Silver prices can be more volatile than other asset classes, experiencing significant price swings over short periods. While this volatility can present opportunities for profit, it also carries higher risk, requiring investors to tolerate fluctuations in the value of their investment.
Before selling your silver coins, assess their condition, purity, and authenticity. Evaluate whether any coins are rare or numismatic and consider getting them professionally graded. There's a cost to doing this, but graded coins can fetch double their ungraded versions, so it may be worth it.
Is it worth buying graded silver coins? ›
Are graded coins worth more? Not in all cases. The value of a graded coin depends heavily on the current worth of a coin. Some collectors may choose to pay more than the actual metal value or face value of a coin because it is extremely rare or in extremely good condition.
What silver coins are worth saving? ›
Some of the most valuable silver coins based on year include Morgan silver dollars minted from 1878-1904, Mercury dimes from 1916-1945, and Walking Liberty half dollars minted from 1916-1947. Key dates from those series in pristine condition can be worth thousands.
What year did they stop making 90% silver coins? ›
254, enacted July 23, 1965, eliminated silver from the circulating United States dime (ten-cent piece) and quarter dollar coins. It also reduced the silver content of the half dollar from 90 percent to 40 percent; silver in the half dollar was subsequently eliminated by a 1970 law.
