Junk silver calculator
Enter your pre-1965 coins (or face value) and today's silver spot price to see how much pure silver you have and its approximate melt value.
By Prepper Metals Editorial · Updated October 2026 · Editorial standards
Enter your coins
Use today's spot price from your dealer or a price website.
Results
Melt value = silver content × spot. Dealers usually pay somewhat less than melt when buying and charge more when selling. This is an estimate, not an offer or appraisal.
How the calculator works
| Coin | Silver content used |
|---|---|
| $1 face value of 90% dimes, quarters or halves | 0.715 troy oz (worn) or 0.7234 oz (new) |
| 40% Kennedy half dollar, 1965–1970 | 0.1479 troy oz each |
| 35% war nickel, 1942–1945 | 0.05626 troy oz each |
Most dealers price circulated 90% silver at 0.715 oz per $1 face value to allow for decades of wear. Uncheck the box to use the original 0.7234 oz.
New to junk silver? Read the junk silver guide for which coins qualify and how to spot them.
Educational information only, not investment, tax or legal advice. Precious metals prices change constantly and can go down as well as up. Talk to a licensed professional about your situation. Full disclaimer.
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Sources
We check facts against primary sources where possible. Spot an error? Email hello@preppermetals.com. See our editorial standards.
Common questions
How much is $1 face value of junk silver worth?
It contains about 0.715 troy ounces of silver, so its melt value is roughly 0.715 times the current spot price. Dealers' buy and sell prices will differ from melt.
Is melt value what a dealer will pay me?
Usually not exactly. Dealers often pay somewhat below melt when they buy and charge above it when they sell. Ask for a quote per ounce over or under spot.