Canadian silver dollar (1935–1967) melt value
Every Canadian circulating dollar dated 1935 to 1967 is 80% silver and holds about 0.6 troy ounces of pure silver. A few dates, especially the 1948 and the 1947 "maple leaf" dollar, are scarce and usually sell well above their silver value. Here's what the silver inside is worth at today's live price.
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Canadian silver dollars by year
| Years | Composition | Melt value |
|---|---|---|
| 1935–1967 | 80% silver | — |
| 1968–1986 (circulating) | Nickel (no silver) | Face value only |
Related coins
All coins →Common questions
How do I know if my canadian silver dollar is silver?
Check the date and size. Silver dollars are dated 1935–1967, measure about 36 mm across and weigh about 23.3 grams. Most show a canoe with two paddlers (the "voyageur" design) on the back. Special designs were used in 1935 (the first year), 1939 (royal visit), 1949 (Newfoundland), 1958 (British Columbia totem pole), 1964 (Charlottetown and Quebec conferences) and 1967 (a flying Canada goose for the centennial). No dollars were made for circulation from 1940 to 1944. From 1968 the dollar became smaller (about 32 mm), lighter (about 15.6 grams) and pure nickel, which sticks to a strong magnet. Look for a small maple leaf beside the date on a 1947 dollar before selling it for melt. Face value is 1 Canadian dollar.
Why does a dealer pay less than melt value?
Dealers need room to cover refining, shipping and resale costs, so most pay a percentage of melt value for common-date coins.
What is "junk silver"?
Common-date 90% silver coins that are bought and sold for their silver content rather than their collector value.
Is it legal to melt coins?
US rules prohibit melting one-cent and five-cent coins. That rule does not cover dimes, quarters, half dollars, dollars or bullion coins. Most people sell coins whole to a dealer rather than melting them.