US Silver Coin Melt Value Calculator
Melt value of every US silver coin today
The table lists each common US silver coin with its actual silver weight (ASW) — the pure silver content in troy ounces after the copper alloy is taken out. Melt value per coin is simply ASW × spot. "Per $1 face" lets you compare coins of different denominations, and "per roll" uses the standard bank roll size.
| Coin | Silver | ASW (ozt) | Melt / coin | Melt / $1 face | Melt / roll |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Roosevelt / Mercury / Barber dime (90%)1892–1964 | 90% | 0.07234 | $3.90 | $39.00 | $195.02 (50 × $5 face) |
| Washington quarter 1932–1964 (90%)1892–1964 | 90% | 0.18084 | $9.75 | $39.00 | $390.03 (40 × $10 face) |
| Kennedy 1964 / Franklin / Walking Liberty half (90%)1916–1964 | 90% | 0.36169 | $19.50 | $39.00 | $390.04 (20 × $10 face) |
| Kennedy half dollar 1965–1970 (40%)1965–1970 | 40% | 0.14792 | $7.98 | $15.95 | $159.51 (20 × $10 face) |
| Morgan / Peace silver dollar (90%)1878–1935 | 90% | 0.77344 | $41.70 | $41.70 | $834.06 (20 × $20 face) |
| Eisenhower dollar 1971–1976 S (40%)1971–1976 (S-mint) | 40% | 0.31610 | $17.04 | $17.04 | — |
| War nickel 1942–1945 (35%)1942–1945 | 35% | 0.05626 | $3.03 | $60.67 | $121.34 (40 × $2 face) |
| American Silver Eagle (.999)1986–present | 99.9% | 1.00000 | $53.92 | $53.92 | $1,078.37 (20 × $20 face) |
Values shown are melt (metal) value only. Key dates, rare mint marks, errors and coins in high grade can sell for much more to collectors; worn common dates usually trade near melt.
How to calculate silver coin melt value
Every melt calculation uses the same formula:
melt value = actual silver weight (troy oz) × silver spot price ($/oz) × quantity
Worked example: ten pre-1965 Washington quarters contain 10 × 0.18084 = 1.8084 troy oz of silver. At $53.92/oz that is $97.51. A single Morgan dollar holds 0.77344 oz, so its melt is $41.70.
Note that the coin's gross weight is not the silver weight. A 90% silver quarter weighs 6.25 g, but 10% of that is copper. Multiplying 6.25 g × 0.90 gives 5.625 g of silver, which divided by 31.1035 g per troy ounce equals 0.18084 ozt.
Junk silver: valuing coins by face value
"Junk silver" is the trade name for circulated 90% silver dimes, quarters and halves with no collector premium. Because 90% coins were minted with a fixed silver-to-face ratio, you can value a bag or jar by face value instead of counting coin types.
| Face value | Theoretical silver (0.7234) | Rule of thumb (0.715) | Melt value (0.715) |
|---|---|---|---|
| $1 | 0.72 ozt | 0.72 ozt | $38.55 |
| $10 | 7.23 ozt | 7.15 ozt | $385.52 |
| $100 | 72.34 ozt | 71.50 ozt | $3,855.18 |
| $1,000 | 723.40 ozt | 715.00 ozt | $38,551.79 |
The theoretical figure of 0.7234 ozt per $1 assumes uncirculated coins. Real-world bags have decades of wear, so dealers price them at about 0.715 ozt per $1 face. At today's spot, a $100 face bag is worth roughly $3,855.18 in metal. Silver dollars are not counted as junk silver because they contain 0.77344 ozt per $1 — more silver per dollar than dimes, quarters and halves.
40% and 35% silver coins
Not all silver coins are 90%. Kennedy half dollars from 1965 to 1970 are 40% silver (0.14792 ozt each), and the 1942–1945 "war nickels" with a large mint mark above Monticello are 35% silver (0.05626 ozt). These must be valued separately — never mix them into 90% face-value counts, because $1 face of 40% halves contains only about 0.296 ozt of silver.
Coin-by-coin guides
- Silver dollar value — Morgan, Peace, Eisenhower 40% and Silver Eagle.
- Silver half dollar value — Walking Liberty, Franklin and Kennedy halves.
- Silver quarter value — Washington, Standing Liberty and Barber quarters.
- Silver dime value — Roosevelt, Mercury and Barber dimes.
What you will actually get when selling
Melt value is a reference, not a quote. Coin shops and bullion dealers buy junk silver at a percentage of melt or at a set multiple of face value, and that spread changes with demand. When premiums are high, common 90% silver can sell above melt; when supply is plentiful it may sell slightly below. Compare at least two buy quotes and confirm whether they are quoting per coin, per $1 face or per troy ounce. For collectible coins, have them graded or check a current price guide before selling at melt — a key date Morgan dollar or a 1916-D Mercury dime is worth far more than its silver.
For other world bullion coins such as Krugerrands, Maple Leafs and Britannias, see the gold and silver coin melt value table. To follow the market itself, use the live silver price page.
Frequently asked questions
What is the melt value of a silver coin?
Melt value is the worth of the pure silver inside a coin: actual silver weight in troy ounces multiplied by the live silver spot price. It ignores collector premiums, so it is the floor value of a common-date coin.
Which US coins contain silver?
Dimes, quarters and half dollars dated 1964 or earlier are 90% silver. Kennedy halves from 1965 to 1970 are 40% silver, war nickels from 1942 to 1945 are 35% silver, and Morgan and Peace dollars are 90% silver.
How much silver is in $1 face value of junk silver?
Uncirculated 90% coins contain 0.7234 troy oz of silver per $1 face. Dealers use 0.715 troy oz per $1 face as a rule of thumb because circulated coins have lost a little metal to wear.
Is junk silver worth more than melt value?
Common circulated 90% coins usually trade close to melt, sometimes with a small premium or discount depending on demand. Rare dates, mint marks and high grades can be worth far more than melt to collectors.
Do coins from 1965 or later contain silver?
Regular circulating dimes and quarters from 1965 onward are copper-nickel clad with no silver. Exceptions include 40% Kennedy halves from 1965 to 1970, 40% bicentennial and Eisenhower collector issues, and silver proof sets.
How often is the melt value updated?
The calculator uses the live silver spot price from our MetalflowAPI data feed, refreshed every few minutes, so the melt values on this page move with the silver market during the day.