"Junk silver" is the trade name for worn US dimes, quarters and half dollars dated 1964 or earlier, which are 90% silver. Dealers usually price it by face value, using about 0.715 troy ounces of silver for every $1 of face value.
What “junk silver” means
“Junk silver” is a dealer term for common, worn US coins that are worth about the value of their silver and little more. The word “junk” doesn’t mean the coins are damaged or worthless. It just means collectors don’t pay extra for them, so they trade as metal.
If you’ve found a jar of old dimes and quarters, a roll of half dollars in a drawer, or a coin folder that was never finished, some of it is probably junk silver.
Which coins count
Most junk silver is 90% silver and 10% copper. Until 1965, US dimes, quarters and half dollars were struck in 90% silver. The Coinage Act of 1965 removed silver from dimes and quarters and cut the half dollar to 40% silver.
| Coin | Years that are 90% silver |
|---|---|
| Roosevelt dime | 1946–1964 |
| Mercury dime | 1916–1945 |
| Washington quarter | 1932–1964 |
| Franklin half dollar | 1948–1963 |
| Kennedy half dollar | 1964 only |
| Walking Liberty half dollar | 1916–1947 |
Older Barber and Standing Liberty coins are 90% silver too, but even worn ones often sell for more than their silver. See how to tell if a coin is silver for quick checks using the date and the edge.
Some coins are silver but not 90%. Kennedy halves from 1965 to 1970 are 40% silver, and wartime Jefferson nickels (mid-1942 to 1945) are 35% silver. Dealers usually price these separately. Morgan and Peace silver dollars are 90% silver, but they are usually sold by the coin rather than mixed in with junk silver.
How dealers price it: face value
Instead of weighing every coin, dealers price 90% silver by its face value, the amount stamped on the coins. Ten dimes, four quarters or two half dollars all add up to $1 face value, and they all hold the same amount of silver.
When new, $1 face value of 90% coins held about 0.7234 troy ounces of pure silver. Coins lose a little metal as they wear, so dealers commonly use a round figure of about 0.715 troy ounces per $1 face value for circulated coins. A troy ounce is a little heavier than a kitchen ounce; see troy ounce vs regular ounce.
Work out what yours is worth
- Sort out the silver coins. Check the date on every dime, quarter and half dollar. Set aside anything 1964 or earlier, plus 1965–1970 Kennedy halves in their own pile.
- Add up the face value. Count each pile in dollars. For example, 30 dimes, 12 quarters and 4 halves is $3 + $3 + $2 = $8 face value.
- Multiply by 0.715. $8 × 0.715 = 5.72 troy ounces of silver.
- Multiply by today’s silver price. That gives you the melt value. Our silver calculator and coin melt values page do this math at the live price.
Dealer offers are usually quoted as a multiple of face value, such as “so many times face”. Divide the offer by your face value to compare it with the melt value you worked out.
Check for collector coins first
Most worn silver coins from the 1940s to 1964 are worth only their silver. A few dates and mint marks are scarce, though, and are worth more than melt even when worn. Before you sell a large group, look up the older and less common coins in our coin value finder or read melt value vs collector value.
Also set aside any coins in sealed mint packaging or proof sets, and anything that looks uncirculated, with sharp details and original shine. Don’t clean any of them. Cleaning leaves fine scratches that collectors can spot, and it can lower the value.
Selling tips
- Keep it sorted. Separate 90%, 40% and 35% silver so a buyer can count it quickly.
- Ask for the price per $1 face value. It makes offers easy to compare between buyers.
- Ask more than one buyer. Like other bullion, buyers pay a bit under melt, and the gap varies. See how to tell if a gold offer is fair; the same idea applies to silver.
- Count large amounts at home first. Bring a written count by coin type and face value.
- Keep a record of what you sold and the price, in case you need it for taxes. See do you pay taxes when you sell gold?
Quick summary
| Question | Short answer |
|---|---|
| What is it? | Worn 90% silver US coins worth about their silver |
| Which dates? | Dimes, quarters and halves dated 1964 or earlier |
| How is it priced? | By face value, about 0.715 oz of silver per $1 face |
| What to check first | Scarce dates, uncirculated coins and proof sets |
Melt values are estimates based on the current silver price, not an offer and not financial advice.
Last reviewed November 2, 2026. This guide is general information, not legal, tax or financial advice.