What Is Junk Silver?
"Junk silver" is a term used by coin dealers and investors to describe United States coins minted in 1964 or earlier that contain 90% silver. The term "junk" is a misnomer; it simply means the coins have no numismatic (collectible) value because they are worn or were minted in such high quantities. However, they are highly valuable for their intrinsic precious metal content.
In 1965, the US Mint switched to copper-nickel "clad" coins. Because the 1964 silver coins were worth more than their face value, they quickly disappeared from circulation—a classic example of Gresham's Law: "Bad money drives out good." Today, finding a silver quarter in your pocket change is a rare event.
Common Junk Silver Coins & Their Weights
Investors typically buy junk silver in bulk bags. The following coins are the standard components of a 90% silver mix:
- Dimes (Mercury & Roosevelt) — 0.07234 troy oz pure silver
- Quarters (Washington) — 0.18084 troy oz pure silver
- Half Dollars (Franklin & Kennedy) — 0.36169 troy oz pure silver
- Silver Dollars (Morgan & Peace) — 0.77344 troy oz pure silver
Additionally, War Nickels (1942–1945) contain 35% silver, and Kennedy Halves (1965–1970) contain 40% silver. Our calculator handles all these variations automatically.
Why Invest in Junk Silver?
Junk silver is often the first choice for "survivalist" investors because it is government-issued, highly recognizable, and comes in small, divisible units. Unlike a 100oz bar, you can sell a single silver dime or quarter if you only need a small amount of cash. Because the coins are no longer being minted, their supply is finite, adding a layer of scarcity to their intrinsic value.
The $1.00 Face Value Rule
A helpful shortcut for investors: **$1.40 in face value** (e.g., 14 dimes or 5 quarters + 1 dime) contains almost exactly one troy ounce of pure silver. This makes it easy to calculate the total value of a large collection without a scale.