Homepage / Bullion Investment Basics: Junk Silver


Apples of Gold Jewelry
Apples of Gold - Customer Reviews - 4.9 stars



Updated on 04/03/2025

Junk Silver Coins





follow us in feedly

"Junk silver coins" is a term used in the bullion market for old circulated silver coins minted in the United States, Canada, and many other Countries.




Why are these coins called Junk?



junk silver bag

It sounds odd to call old silver coins "Junk," but most of these coins are categorized as 'junk' because they have been in circulation for a long time and are in very poor condition.

Junk silver coins generally hold no numismatic value or collector's premium beyond their intrinsic value, which is determined by their weight in silver.




Gresham's Law




[Gresham's Law]: Bad money drives out good money. - Thomas Gresham

"Gresham's Law" - named after Sir Thomas Gresham (1519–1579).

In the 1960s, the Coinage Act of 1965 was implemented in the United States to address coin shortages caused by rising silver prices. The law eliminated silver from dimes and quarters.

From 1965 to 1970, the silver content in the half dollar was reduced from 90% to 40%; after 1970, the silver content in all half dollars was eliminated.

The reason junk silver coins are rarely found in circulation today is due to "Gresham's Law." People who recognize that the silver content in pre-1965 coins is worth more than their face value tend to keep these coins. Additionally, dealers often collect them to sell as junk silver.







U.S. Junk Silver Coins
Weight (oz.) & Percentage  



          Years            Description                         %               Troy oz

•  1942-1945 (War-Time) nickel............

•  1892-1916 Barber dime....................

•  1916-1945 Mercury dime..................

•  1946-1964 Roosevelt dime................

•  1892-1916 Barber quarter.................

•  1916-1930 Standing Liberty quarter...

•  1932-1964 Washington quarter..........

•  1892-1915 Barber half dollar..............

•  1916-1947 Walking Liberty half dollar..

•  1948-1963 Franklin half dollar............

•  1964 Kennedy half dollar...................

•  1965-1970 Kennedy half dollar...........

•  1878-1921 Morgan dollar...................

•  1921-1935 Peace dollar.....................

•  1971-1974 Eisenhower Silver Dollar ∙ Eagle flying over the moon holding an olive branch; tribute to the Apollo 11 mission: (total weight 24.59 gr) .......only with "S" mint mark.......... 

•  1975-1976 Eisenhower Silver Dollar ∙ Bicentennial design with the Liberty Bell in front of the moon (all dated 1776-1976):(total weight 24.59 gr) .......only with "S" mint mark..........

•  35%

•  90%

•  90%

•  90%

•  90%

•  90%

•  90%

•  90%

•  90%

•  90%

•  90%

•  40%

•  90%

•  90%




•  40%



•  40%

•  .0563

•  .0723

•  .0723

•  .0723

•  .1808

•  .1808

•  .1808

•  .36169

•  .36169

•  .36169

•  .36169

•  .14789

•  .77343

•  .77343




•  .31627



•  .31627

Please Note: The Eisenhower Silver Dollar coins minted at the San Francisco Mint in 1971, 1972, 1973, 1974, and 1976, were either uncirculated or proof coins and bore the San Francisco Mint's mark of "S" under President Eisenhower's neck.




Calculating the Price of
Junk Silver
Coins



In regards to junk silver coins, a coin's intrinsic value is determined by what it consists of and how much it weighs. 

Note: 1 Troy oz = 31.10 grams

A silver dime weighs:

  • 2.25 grams / .0723 oz. (2.25 ÷ 31.10 = .0723 troy oz.)

To figure out the intrinsic value of a dime made of silver:


Silver per Troy Oz. (ozt.)




Buy 90 Percent Junk Silver US Coins
BGASC - 4.8 star Customer Reviews



U.S.
"Junk Silver Coins"


Note: Mintage Figures do not include proof mintages.






FIVE CENTS




1942 - 1945 : War-Time Nickel


Face Value:..............FIVE CENTS

Total Weight:............5 grams

Purity.......................35% / 0.3500 silver

Silver Weight............1.75 grams / .0563 ozt.

Metal Composition:...35% silver, 56% copper, 9% manganese

Circulated Mintage:...869,896,100

Designer:.................Felix 0. Schlag

War-Time Nickles were minted from 35% silver, 56% copper, and 9% manganese during WWII, from 1942 to 1945, to conserve nickel for the war effort.

Nickel is an industrial metal needed to manufacture ammunition, tank armor, and aircraft parts; to ration nickel, during the war, the United States Government made nickels without any nickel.





ONE DIME




1892 - 1916 : Liberty Head "Barber" Dime


Face Value:..............ONE DIME

Total Weight:............2.50 grams

Purity.......................90% / 0.900 silver

Silver Weight............2.25 grams / .0723 ozt.

Metal Composition:...90% silver, 10% copper

Circulated Mintage:...504,317,075

Designer:.................Charles E. Barber









1916 - 1945 : Winged Liberty Head
(Mercury) Dime


Face Value:..............ONE DIME

Total Weight:............2.50 grams

Purity.......................90% / 0.900 silver

Silver Weight............2.25 grams / .0723 ozt.

Metal Composition:...90% silver, 10% copper

Circulated Mintage:...2,677,153,880

Designer:.................Adolph A. Weinman





Purchase Junk Silver Bullion
from one of our Reputable Dealers



1946 - 1964 : Roosevelt Dime


Face Value:..............ONE DIME

Total Weight:............2.50 grams

Purity.......................90% / 0.900 silver

Silver Weight............2.25 grams / .0723 ozt.

Metal Composition:...90% silver, 10% copper

Circulated Mintage:...6,595,617,673

Designer:.................John R. Sinnock





QUARTER DOLLAR




1892 - 1916 : Liberty Head "Barber" Quarter


Face Value:..............QUARTER DOLLAR

Total Weight:............6.25 grams

Purity.......................90% / 0.900 silver

Silver Weight............5.63 grams / .1808 ozt.

Metal Composition:...90% silver, 10% copper

Circulated Mintage:...264,670,880

Designer:.................Charles E. Barber









1916 - 1930 : Standing Liberty Quarter


Face Value:..............QUARTER DOLLAR

Total Weight:............6.25 grams

Purity.......................90% / 0.900 silver

Silver Weight............5.63 grams / .1808 ozt.

Metal Composition:...90% silver, 10% copper

Circulated Mintage:...226,769,600

Designer:.................Hermon A. MacNeil





Buy Junk Silver Bullion
from one of our Reputable Dealers



1932 - 1964 : Washington Quarter


Face Value:..............QUARTER DOLLAR

Total Weight:............6.25 grams

Purity.......................90% / 0.900 silver

Silver Weight............5.63 grams / .1808 ozt.

Metal Composition:...90% silver, 10% copper

Circulated Mintage:...3,780,077,001

Designer:.................John Flanagan





HALF DOLLAR




1892 - 1915 : Liberty Head "Barber"
Half Dollar


Face Value:..............HALF DOLLAR

Total Weight:............12.50 grams

Purity.......................90% / 0.900 silver

Silver Weight............11.25 grams / .36169 ozt.

Metal Composition:...90% silver, 10% copper

Circulated Mintage:...135,916,889

Designer:.................Charles E. Barber









1916 - 1947 : Walking Liberty Half Dollar


Face Value:..............HALF DOLLAR

Total Weight:............12.50 grams

Purity.......................90% / 0.900 silver

Silver Weight............11.25 grams / .36169 ozt.

Metal Composition:...90% silver, 10% copper

Circulated Mintage:...485,320,340

Designer:.................Adolph A. Weinman









1948 - 1963 : Franklin Half Dollar


Face Value:..............HALF DOLLAR

Total Weight:............12.50 grams

Purity.......................90% / 0.900 silver

Silver Weight............11.25 grams / .36169 ozt.

Metal Composition:...90% silver, 10% copper

Circulated Mintage:...465,814,455

Designer:.................John R. Sinnock





Learn more from our

Junk Silver Buying Guide




1964 : Kennedy Half Dollar


Face Value:..............HALF DOLLAR

Total Weight:............12.50 grams

Purity.......................90% / 0.900 silver

Silver Weight............11.25 grams / .36169 ozt.

Metal Composition:...90% silver, 10% copper

Circulated Mintage:...429,509,450

Designer:.................Gilroy Roberts (obverse); Frank Gasparro (reverse)









1965 - 1970 : Kennedy Half Dollar


Face Value:..............HALF DOLLAR

Total Weight:............11.50 grams

Purity.......................40% / 0.400 silver

Silver Weight............4.60 grams / .14789 ozt.

Metal Composition:...40% silver, 60% copper

Circulated Mintage:...848,895,006

Designer:.................Gilroy Roberts (obverse); Frank Gasparro (reverse)





ONE DOLLAR




1878 - 1921 : Morgan Dollar


Face Value:..............ONE DOLLAR

Total Weight:............26.73 grams

Purity.......................90% / 0.900 silver

Silver Weight............24.057 grams / .77343 ozt.

Metal Composition:...90% silver, 10% copper

Circulated Mintage:...656,989,387

Designer:.................George T. Morgan









1921 - 1935 : Peace Dollar


Face Value:..............ONE DOLLAR

Total Weight:............26.73 grams

Purity.......................90% / 0.900 silver

Silver Weight............24.057 grams / .77343 ozt.

Metal Composition:...90% silver, 10% copper

Circulated Mintage:...191,028,756

Designer:.................Anthony DeFrancisci






Learn more about these coins from this guide's

Junk Silver Buying Guide




Buy
Junk Silver Coins

Green Arrow (In) Shopping Cart

Junk Silver Coins

from the Reputable Bullion Dealers below.



The Links below will take you directly to

the page described.





BGASC

Junk Silver Coins page

Free Shipping on Orders $199+

4.8 star Customer Reviews






Money Metals Exchange

Junk Silver Coins page

Free Shipping on Orders $199+

BBB - Customer Reviews






SD Bullion

Junk Silver Coins page

Free Shipping on Orders $199+

4.8 star Customer Reviews






Small Affiliate Logo - SilverGoldBull - SGB

Junk Silver Coins page

Free Shipping on Orders $199+

4.9 star Customer Reviews






Small Affiliate Logo - Walmart - White Logo w/ Tag-Line

America's Superstore offering Precious Metal Coins and Bars from Reputable Bullion Dealers

Junk Silver Coins page


Shipping prices vary by item




Notice


  • This site receives a commission when you purchase from the merchants above.
  • No Personal Information is Obtained by this guide when you visit or order from any of the merchants above.
  • See this guide's Affiliate Disclosure page for more information: here)





Click to Request a Free Appraisal Kit, Please tell them this guide sent you
ExpressGoldCash - 4.9 star - Customer Reviews


Other pages, on this Guide, that you
may like...













SD Bullion

Bretton Woods

Establishing the Gold Standard of the

20th Century

Bretton Woods



Johnson Matthey

Bullion Refiner

Johnson Matthey

SilverGoldBull




Walmart












Home Page

FBIG - Home Page Screenshot

with Bullion Market News







Click to Request a Free Appraisal Kit, Please tell them this guide sent you
ExpressGoldCash - 4.9 star - Customer Reviews



Junk Silver Coins



For Bullion Market News...



Visit the Homepage







Please Donate to
Support this Guide

& Paypal

Thank You for
Your Support







Free Bullion Investment Guide







Free-Bullion-Investment-Guide "Search"
search engine by freefind advanced


Search - Magnify Glass







14 Years of Service Header - Banner - Free Bullion Investment Guide

Affiliate Links - Disclosure


Maple Tree of Life 5 oz. Fine Silver Coin

Enjoy this uniquely Canadian spin on a classic motif. [More]

Price: C$699.95





Donate to
Keep this Guide Online

& Paypal

Thank You for
Your Support




Free Bullion Investment Guide

follow us in feedly
with Feedly



search

   Search the Guide

search engine by freefind advanced




recent guide updates

Daily

Bullion News on the Homepage



August 2025

Newsletter




2024 & 2025
Jerusalem of Gold Bullion 
Coin
photos
(bottom of page)

2024 1oz. Jerusalem of Gold bullion coin (The National Library of Israel) Obverse side
2025 1oz. Jerusalem of Gold bullion coin (The Hebrew University of Jerusalem) Obverse side



Gold Buying Guide

Gold Buying Guide



Mintages
for

2024
Gold & Silver Mexican Libertad

Gold Libertads

2024 - 1oz Mexican Gold Libertad Bullion Coin - Reverse side

Silver Libertads

1oz. Mexican Silver Libertad Bullion Coin - Reverse side



Chinese Gold Coin Group Co.
& Chinese Bullion

Chinese Bullion page



PAMP

Refiner page

PAMP Gold



Heraeus Refiner page

Heraeus



Johnson Matthey Refiner page

Johnson Matthey



Engelhard Refiner page

Silver Engelhard Round





Archangel Raphael
~
The Angel of Healing

Archangel Raphael ~ The Angel of Healing



Cancer Awareness Information & Resources

Cancer Awareness Month Ribbon with FBIG Gold-Nano Logo



Help Us Expand our Audience by forwarding our link

www.free-bullion-investment-guide.com.

Thank You!



July's

Best News

The LBMA Warns Us About Counterfeit Precious Metals - This Is Getting Quite Interesting - Jensen's Economic, Precious Metals, & Markets Newsletter

Graphic: A Historical Look at the Gold/Silver Ratio and Silver Prices - Mining Visuals

Platinum market’s ‘deep’ tightness shows little sign of relief - MINING.COM

Sticker Shock at the Auto Museum: Let’s Price Things in Gold - The Daily Reckoning

Platinum surges to 11-year high powered by supply deficits and industrial demand - Invezz

Graphic: Gold and Silver: A Historical Journey Through Cumulative Performance (1960 - Today) - Mining Visuals

China’s Economic Demise And Its Impact On The U.S. - Real Investment Advice

Fed’s Nightmare: CPI Inflation in Services Reheats (not tariffed), while Inflation in Durable Goods, Apparel & Footwear (tariffed) Remains Cool - Wolf Street

ALERT: Gold Bar Scam on Elderly: NY man accused of using ‘gold bar scam’ to steal $555,892 from Pennsylvania resident - The Hill

Mastering the Basics of Cash and Debt Management - Financial Sense

Whacked Down by Plunging Inventories and Whacked Up by Plunging Imports, GDP Grows by 3.0% - WOLF STREET

(.pdf) Report: July thru September 2025 - Commodities Outlook - StoneX

AI Is Deflationary But Its Energy Demand Could Fuel Inflation - Inflation Data

Tariff-ic! Core Consumer Price Inflation Cooler Than Expected In June - ZeroHedge

Podcast: Riding the Wave: Strategic Metals and the New Commodity Bull Market - Financial Sense

Report: Gold and Silver Bull Run Continues - Sprott Insights

Central bank gold buying picks up in May - World Gold Council

5 of the world’s most popular silver bullion coins - Bankrate (msn)

Report: The Portfolio Continuum: Rethinking Gold in Alternatives Investing - World Gold Council

Copper price collapses by 20% as US excludes refined metal from tariffs - MINING.COM

Graphic: Ranked: The World's Largest Miners by Earnings (incl. Revenue) - Mining Visuals

Silver reaches a 14-year high. Will it outperform the gold price this year? - The Motley Fool

What's on the Horizon After Platinum's Rally - Daily Wealth

(.pdf) Report: • Gold, • Silver • Mining Stocks • Macro • Proprietary Models ~ Monthly Gold Compass - July 2025 - incrementum

Deficits 101: What They Are, Why They Matter, and How They Impact an Economy - Dunham Trust and Investment Services

Gold-Mining Stocks Are the Hidden Winners of 2025 - Daily Wealth

Graphic: Is the U.S. Dollar Primed for a Digital Rebound? - Visual Capitalist

(off topic) Fact Checkers are Fake News: 'Fact Checkers' Claim NY Mayoral Candidate's "Seize The Means Of Production" Remark Isn't Communist - Zero Hedge

Gold Nanoparticle Cancer Research

Overcoming Cancer Drug Resistance: A Novel Gold Nanoparticle Therapy - AZoNano (msn)

First Patient Dosed in Early Feasibility Study Trial of Its Cancer Therapy - Sona NanoTech

Nigerian researcher develops new drug delivery system to tackle deadly cancers - Nigerian Tribune Online


All Articles were Originally Posted on the Homepage






Buy 90 Percent Junk Silver US Coins










































14K Solid Gold Crucifix Pendants










































Gunsafes.com































































































































27W LED Security Light (Dusk to Dawn & Motion Sensor) - $49.99

from: SANSI LED LIGHTING INC.










































Home Depot










































Buy 90 Percent Junk Silver US Coins
BGASC - Customer Reviews link