Junk Silver Melt Value Calculator

Current Silver Spot Price ($/oz)

Coin	ASW (oz)	Quantity
90% Silver Dime (Roosevelt/Mercury)	0.0723
90% Silver Quarter (Washington/Standing Liberty)	0.1808
90% Silver Half Dollar (Kennedy '64, Franklin, Walking Liberty)	0.3617
90% Silver Dollar (Morgan/Peace)	0.7734
40% Silver Half Dollar (1965-1970)	0.1479
35% Silver War Nickel (1942-1945)	0.0563

Total Silver Melt Value $0.00

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Silver Weight & Purity Melt Calculator

For sterling flatware, jewelry, bars, and rounds — enter any weight, unit, and purity.

Silver Spot Price ($/oz) Weight Unit Purity

Pure Silver Content 0.0000 ozt

Melt Value (100% of spot) $0.00

Realistic Dealer Offer (70–80% of melt) $0.00 – $0.00

Melt value isn’t what a dealer will pay you. Melt value is the raw silver content priced at the current spot price — it assumes zero cost to refine, test, ship, or resell the metal. Reputable dealers typically pay 70–80% of melt value for sterling, coin silver, and scrap, since they take on refining loss, assay risk, and market-timing risk before they can resell it. Be skeptical of any buyer advertising “up to 95% of melt” — that rate is rarely applied to an entire lot and is usually reserved for the single highest-purity item in a batch, with everything else paid well below it.

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Frequently Asked Questions

What is junk silver?

“Junk silver” refers to pre-1965 U.S. circulating coins — dimes, quarters, half dollars, and dollars — minted with 90% silver content, along with 1965-1970 40% silver half dollars and 1942-1945 35% silver war nickels. The term describes their bullion value rather than any numismatic rarity.

How is junk silver melt value calculated?

Melt value is calculated by multiplying a coin’s actual silver weight (ASW), in troy ounces, by the current silver spot price per ounce. For example, a 90% silver quarter has an ASW of 0.1808 troy ounces, so its melt value equals 0.1808 times the spot price.

Does junk silver melt value change throughout the day?

Yes. The silver spot price moves throughout each trading day, so melt value shifts in real time with it. This calculator lets you enter the current spot price to see updated totals instantly.

What’s the difference between 90%, 40%, and 35% silver coins?

90% silver coins (dimes, quarters, half dollars, and dollars) were minted before 1965. 40% silver half dollars were minted from 1965 to 1970. 35% silver “war nickels” were minted from 1942 to 1945 to conserve nickel for the war effort. Each has a different actual silver weight per coin, listed in the calculator above.

Is junk silver melt value the same as its market price?

Not necessarily. Melt value reflects only the coin’s raw silver content at the current spot price. Dealers may buy or sell junk silver at a premium or discount to melt value depending on demand, coin condition, and local market conditions.