1. What is Junk Silver?

Junk silver refers to coins that have no numismatic value and are valued primarily for their silver content. These are typically older coins that circulated before 1965 in the U.S. and contain 90% silver.

2. How Does the Calculator Work?

The calculator uses the simple formula:

Where:

• \( weight_{oz} \) — Total weight of silver in ounces
• \( purity \) — Silver purity as a fraction (e.g. 0.90 for 90%)
• \( silver_{spot} \) — Current silver spot price per ounce

Explanation: The formula multiplies the physical weight of silver by its purity to get the actual silver content, then multiplies by the current market price.

3. Importance of Calculating Silver Value

Details: Knowing the melt value of junk silver helps investors and collectors understand the intrinsic value of their coins and make informed buying/selling decisions.

4. Using the Calculator

Tips: Enter the total weight in ounces, purity as a decimal (e.g. 0.90 for 90% silver), and current silver spot price. All values must be positive numbers.

5. Frequently Asked Questions (FAQ)

Q1: What's the purity of U.S. junk silver coins?
A: Most U.S. junk silver (pre-1965 dimes, quarters, halves) are 90% silver (0.900 purity).

Q2: How do I find the current silver spot price?
A: Check financial news sites or precious metals dealers for the current silver price per ounce.

Q3: Does this calculator account for premiums?
A: No, this calculates melt value only. Actual buy/sell prices may include dealer premiums.

Q4: What's the weight of common junk silver coins?
A: For example, a pre-1965 U.S. quarter contains 0.1808 oz of pure silver (0.2009 oz × 0.90).

Q5: Is junk silver a good investment?
A: Junk silver offers tangible asset ownership with liquidity, but like all investments, carries risks and should be part of a diversified portfolio.