Tools
Melt Value Calculator
SILVER, COPPER AND NICKEL COINS AT LIVE SPOT
Silver $60.52 / oz
Reference prices, not live
Melt value per coin
| Coin | Melt value |
|---|---|
| Dime, 90% silver | $4.38 |
| Quarter, 90% silver | $10.94 |
| Half dollar, 90% silver | $21.89 |
| Dollar, 90% silver | $46.81 |
| Kennedy half, 40% silver | $8.95 |
| Eisenhower dollar, 40% silver | $19.14 |
| War nickel, 35% silver | $3.41 |
| American Silver Eagle | $60.52 |
| Lincoln wheat cent, bronze | $0.04 |
| Lincoln cent, 95% copper | $0.04 |
| Buffalo nickel, 75% copper 25% nickel | $0.07 |
Melt value, explained
How do I calculate the melt value of a silver coin?
Multiply the coin's weight in grams by its silver purity (0.9 for 90% silver), divide by 31.1035 to get troy ounces of pure silver, then multiply by the current silver spot price per troy ounce.
How much silver is in a dollar of 90% silver coins?
A face value of $1 in pre-1965 dimes, quarters or half dollars contains about 0.7234 troy ounces of pure silver. Morgan and Peace dollars hold 0.7734 troy ounces each.
Is melt value what a dealer will pay?
Not exactly. Dealers buy below spot to cover their costs and resale margin, and sell above it. Melt value is the value of the metal, not an offer.
Do Kennedy halves contain silver?
The 1964 Kennedy half is 90% silver (0.3617 troy ounces). Halves from 1965 to 1970 are 40% silver (0.1479 troy ounces). Halves from 1971 on, apart from special collector issues, contain no silver.