Homepage / Bullion Investment Basics: Junk Silver

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Updated on 04/03/2025

Junk Silver Coins

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"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?

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" - 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

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:

• Multiply the price of silver X .0723 oz. (troy ounces)

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U.S.
"Junk Silver Coins"

Note: Mintage Figures do not include proof mintages.

FIVE CENTS

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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)

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

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

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

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