Junk Silver: What Pre-1965 Dimes, Quarters and Half Dollars Are Worth

Short answer: US dimes, quarters and half dollars dated 1964 and earlier are 90 percent silver, and so are silver dollars dated 1935 and earlier. Every dollar of face value in these dimes, quarters and halves held about 0.7234 troy ounces of silver when new, so most of them are worth about their melt value. A handful of key dates are worth well above melt to collectors.

Which coins are 90 percent silver

“Junk silver” is the trade name for circulated silver coins that are common enough to be valued mainly on their metal. It says nothing bad about the coins; it just means the silver is the main story. The rule is simple: a dime, quarter or half dollar dated 1964 or earlier is 90 percent silver and 10 percent copper. NGC explains that the Coinage Act of 1965 took the silver out of the dime and the quarter and cut the half dollar to 40 percent silver, and PCGS confirms that Washington quarters dated 1964 and earlier are 90 percent silver and 10 percent copper.

Silver dollars were made to the same 90 percent standard. Morgan and Peace dollars each hold 0.7734 troy ounces of silver, according to NGC’s specifications, and the American Numismatic Association dates the Peace dollar series from 1921 through 1935. Our Morgan and Peace silver dollar value guide covers those coins in detail.

Silver per dollar of face value

Because the dime, quarter and half were all struck to the same 90 percent standard, the silver scales with face value. Ten dimes, four quarters or two half dollars each add up to one dollar in face value, and each group held about 0.7234 troy ounces of silver when new. You can check it with the quarter: PCGS lists 0.18084 troy ounces of pure silver per Washington quarter, and four of them come to 0.7234.

That makes face value a handy shortcut. Count the face value of your 90 percent dimes, quarters and halves, multiply by about 0.7234, and you have a close estimate of the ounces of silver in the pile. This shortcut does not apply to Morgan and Peace dollars, which hold about 0.7734 troy ounces each.

You may also see dealers use 0.715 troy ounces per dollar of face value. That is a common estimate for circulated coins that have lost a little metal through wear. The original silver content was about 0.7234 ounces, but well-worn coins may contain less. Both are estimates; the actual weight and condition of your coins matter, which is why a fair buyer weighs the coins instead of assuming the full amount.

Worked example: melt value of junk silver

Example numbers only, at a round silver price of $58 an ounce. It is not today’s price.

These figures use the silver content of new coins. Melt value is what the metal is worth at spot, not an offer, and worn coins weigh a little less.

How to spot silver coins in a jar of change

• Check the date first. A dime, quarter or half dated 1964 or earlier is 90 percent silver. Most regular-circulation dimes and quarters dated 1965 or later are copper-nickel clad and contain no silver. There are exceptions, including special silver proof coins made for collectors.
• Look at the edge. PCGS describes the clad coins dated 1965 and later as a core of pure copper surrounded by a layer of copper-nickel, so their edge shows a copper stripe. A traditional 90 percent silver coin has a silver-colored edge without that copper stripe.
• Feel the weight. Silver is denser than the clad metal. NGC notes that a silver Roosevelt dime weighs 2.5 grams, while the clad version dated 1965 and later weighs 2.27 grams.
• Half dollars dated 1965 to 1970 are a special case. They are 40 percent silver, not 90. Our guide to Kennedy half dollars and which years are silver explains the difference.

Key dates worth more than melt

Most common-date circulated silver coins are valued mainly for their silver. Certain dates, mint marks and better-preserved coins, though, were made in small numbers and can be worth well above melt to collectors, even in worn condition:

• 1916-D Mercury dime. The ANA notes that more than 20 million Mercury dimes were struck at Philadelphia in 1916 but only 264,000 at Denver, which makes the 1916-D scarce and valuable. PCGS puts it at the top of the series’ key dates.
• 1932-D and 1932-S Washington quarters. PCGS calls these the two real keys to the series, and the ANA notes that they are the rarest Washington quarters while the 1932 Philadelphia quarter is plentiful.
• 1921-D Walking Liberty half dollar. PCGS notes that only 208,000 were minted.

Collector values depend heavily on condition, rarity and current demand, so we don’t give a single price for key-date coins. If you think you have one of these, have it looked at before you sell it by weight. And please do not clean your coins first. Cleaning can lower the value of an older or collectible coin, and we would much rather see it exactly the way you found it.

Selling junk silver in Greenville

Bring the coins as they are: rolls, jars, folders or a coffee can of loose change. We examine your coins for their dates, mint marks, condition and silver content, and when appropriate we use additional testing, including our XRF analyzer, to help verify the metal. If a coin is worth more to collectors than for its silver, we take that into account, and we’ll walk you through your offer before you decide whether to sell. A free, no-pressure coin evaluation is available if you just want to know what you have.

No appointment is needed; bring a valid photo ID, which South Carolina requires. New to selling coins? Start with our guide on how to sell coins in the Upstate, or see what we buy on our sell coins page.

Greenville Gold & Silver is a family-run shop at 1637 Woodruff Rd in Greenville, serving the Upstate since 2012, with 4.9 stars from 800+ Google reviews. We’re open Monday to Friday 10 to 6 and Saturday 10 to 3. Stop in, or call 864-901-7975.