Junk Silver, Explained: Which Old Coins Are 90% Silver

The name "junk silver" is a bit unfair, since there is nothing junky about it. It just means common U.S. silver coins valued for their metal rather than as collectibles. For anyone with a jar of old change, it can add up in a hurry.

This guide covers which coins qualify and how their value is worked out.

The coins that qualify

Most U.S. dimes, quarters, and half dollars from 1964 or earlier are 90% silver. In 1965 the mint moved dimes and quarters to copper-nickel, so the date is an easy first check.

Roosevelt and Mercury dimes dated 1964 or earlier
Washington quarters dated 1964 or earlier
Walking Liberty, Franklin, and 1964 Kennedy halves
Barber dimes, quarters, and halves
Kennedy halves from 1965 to 1970, which are 40% silver

How it is priced

Junk silver is paid as a share of its melt value, starting from the coin’s actual silver weight times the live spot price. Dealers often talk in terms of "face value," since a known amount of 90% silver holds a predictable amount of metal.

Larger, sorted lots usually earn a tighter rate to spot than a loose handful, but there is no minimum to sell.

When a "junk" coin is not junk

Now and then a coin in a junk pile turns out to be a better date or a higher grade worth more than metal. That is exactly why a buyer should look through the coins instead of only weighing them, and why you should never sort or clean them yourself.

Key takeaways

Junk silver is common pre-1965 U.S. 90% silver coinage.
Value is the silver weight times the live spot price.
Kennedy halves from 1965 to 1970 are 40% silver, a separate group.
Let a buyer look through the coins in case a better date is tucked in.

FAQ

Common questions

Which years are silver?

U.S. dimes and quarters from 1964 or earlier are 90% silver. Half dollars are 90% through 1964 and 40% from 1965 to 1970. From 1965 on, dimes and quarters are copper-nickel.

What is a bag of junk silver worth?

It tracks the total silver content times the live spot price, adjusted for quantity. Bring it in and we weigh it, quote against the market, and look through it for any better dates.

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