Investing in Junk Silver, Pre-1965 90% Silver Circulated Dimes and Quarters

Here is a good reference for various coins of this period and their minting years and silver content. Compare prices between large banks and small, local coin dealers. Consider supporting local businesses, which can give much better deals, since they don't have the overhead that large banks do.

Junk silver is an informal term used in the United States, United Kingdom, Canada and Australia for any silver coin which is in fair condition and has no numismatic or collectible value above the bullion value of the silver it contains. Such coins are popular among people seeking to invest in silver, particularly in small amounts. The word "junk" refers only to the value of the coins as collectibles and not to the actual condition of the coins; junk silver is not necessarily scrap silver.^[1]

Precious metals including silver are measured in troy ounces (ozt). A spot price for silver is the price for a troy ounce of silver which is 99.9-percent pure, or 999 fine. Silver coins including junk-silver coins have set silver-alloy contents ranging from 35-percent to 90-percent or more. The term "coin silver," for example, refers to 90-percent silver alloy which was the most common alloy used to mint silver U.S. coins.

Any combination of 90-percent silver U.S. coins which have a face value of US$1.00 contains 0.715 troy ounces of 99.9-percent silver^[2] (0.7234 troy ounces if uncirculated), except for the silver dollars (Morgan and Peace) which contain .7736 troy ounces of silver. In other words, a full troy ounce of 99.9-percent silver is contained in any combination of 90-percent silver U.S. coins which have a face value of US$1.40.^[3]

The most commonly collected junk-silver U.S. coins were minted before 1965 and include Morgan and Peace dollars; Liberty Head "Barber," Walking Liberty, Franklin and Kennedy half dollars; Liberty Head "Barber," Standing Liberty and Washington quarters; Liberty Head "Barber," Winged Liberty Head "Mercury" and Roosevelt dimes; and Jefferson "Wartime" nickels.^[4]

Dollars

• Morgan (1878–1921) -- 90-percent silver
• Peace (1921–1928 and 1934–1935) -- 90-percent silver

Half-Dollars

• Liberty Head "Barber" (1892–1915) -- 90-percent silver
• Walking Liberty (1916–1947) -- 90-percent silver
• Franklin (1948–1963) -- 90-percent silver
• Kennedy (1964) -- 90-percent silver
• Kennedy (1965–1970) -- 40-percent silver

Quarters

• Liberty Head "Barber" (1892–1916) -- 90-percent silver
• Standing Liberty (1916–1930) -- 90-percent silver
• Washington (1932, 1934–1964) -- 90-percent silver

Dimes

• Liberty Head "Barber" (1892–1916) -- 90-percent silver
• Winged Liberty Head "Mercury" (1916–1945) -- 90-percent silver
• Roosevelt (1946–1964) -- 90-percent silver

Nickels

• Jefferson "Wartime" (1942 (partial)-1945) -- 35-percent silver

Junk silver - Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia

One of the most popular ways to invest in silver bullion is with the 90% U.S. silver bags. Misleadingly called “junk” silver bags, this name developed in the 1970s and was used to describe a bag of average circulated silver coins, meaning no rare coins were included.

All silver coins are struck in 1964 or earlier with 90% purity. Each bag contains $250 face value of either all dimes or quarters, and contains approximately 178.75 ounces of silver.

$250 Face Value Bag of 90% Silver Coins - Bullion

Junk Silver Coins are coins which derive most of their value from silver content alone. Traditionally, this has been a low premium method of investing in silver. It also has an interesting benefit. Because the coins are actual legal tender coins, the face value of the coins will provide an ultimate back stop for the value of the investment.

On a dealer level, junk silver coins are usually purchased in $1,000 face value bags. They are sold based on the value of the silver content plus a mark up. A $1,000 face value bag of junk silver will contain over 700 ounces of pure silver. See the various junk silver coin values for different coin series.

On a retail level, junk silver coins can be bought in any size, although its often convenient to purchase based on face value increments. This makes determining the silver content value easier.

On this site you will find $5, $10, $100, and $1,000 face value junk silver coins for sale. Also various values of 40% junk silver and 90% silver dollar rolls.

Junk Silver Coins | 90% Silver Bags & Rolls