90% Junk Silver
Most silver coins that are sold as investment silver bullion or as collectors’ items are 99% silver. “Junk silver” refers to anything that contains 35% silver, 40% silver, on up to 90% silver. This usually includes any kind of older silver coinage from the United States, when silver was used more often due to its lower price.
All 90% junk silver retains its value as US currency, but many of these coins are more valuable as collectors’ pieces or as silver bullion due to the price of silver today. Buying bulk silver, or junk silver bags, is an easy and affordable way for investors to begin building wealth in silver.
Although the name sounds off-putting, junk silver is not a bad investment, or a worthless pile of coin bags. There are two ways to look at the investment: the first is that you can typically get more silver for your money when investing in 90% Constitutional silver than if you bought silver coins. With the price of junk silver being lower than coins, a bag of 90% coins can be a very smart investment.
The second way to look at an investment in 90% silver is from the collector’s angle. Most junk silver coins are pre-1965; they are all previously used currency, meaning they are not in excellent condition. However, the durability of American currency makes these coins interesting and historically fascinating for many collectors. At SD Bullion, you can purchase bulk silver in 90% silver, including mercury dimes, silver US Kennedy halves, Barber quarters, silver US Walking Liberty coins, mixed lots, and more.
Why Buy 90% Silver Coins from SD Bullion?
SD Bullion has been helping investors buy precious metals online since 2012, processing over $7 billion in trusted transactions. We are an accredited member of the Better Business Bureau with an A+ rating and over 190,000 of verified customer 5 star reviews through Shopper Approved.
When you buy 90% constitutional junk silver from SD Bullion, every order is shipped in discreet packaging and fully insured for added peace of mind. Our pricing reflects the live silver spot price, with competitive premiums designed to deliver strong value on every purchase. We work to earn your trust and business by offering competitive pricing on junk silver backed by dependable service. For real-time pricing and quotes on large bag orders, call our team at 1-800-294-8732 during regular business hours.
Buyers choose SD Bullion for constitutional silver because we maintain consistent inventory across all denominations — Roosevelt dimes, Mercury dimes, Washington quarters, Walking Liberty half dollars, Franklin half dollars, Kennedy half dollars, Morgan dollars, and Peace dollars — with no minimum order requirement. Whether you are buying your first $10 face roll or a $1,000 face value bag of 90% silver coins for a portfolio allocation, SD Bullion offers the same competitive pricing, fast shipping, and customer service the precious metals community has relied on for over a decade.
What is 90% constitutional silver?
90% constitutional silver refers to U.S. coins minted before 1965 — dimes, quarters, half dollars, and dollars — that contain 90% pure silver and 10% copper. The term 'constitutional' distinguishes these legal-tender coins from privately minted silver rounds or bars.
What is 90% constitutional silver worth?
The melt value of 90% constitutional silver is determined by the current silver spot price. For dimes, quarters, and half dollars, multiply the total face value by 0.715 and then by the current spot price per troy ounce. At $32/oz, $1 of face value is worth approximately $22.88 in silver melt value.
How do I calculate the melt value of 90% silver coins?
Multiply the total face value of your coins by 0.715 (the troy ounces of silver per $1 face value for standard 90% coins), then multiply that result by the current silver spot price per troy ounce. For Morgan and Peace silver dollars, use 0.7734 instead of 0.715.
What coins qualify as constitutional silver?
U.S. dimes (Barber, Mercury, Roosevelt), quarters (Barber, Standing Liberty, Washington), half dollars (Barber, Walking Liberty, Franklin, Kennedy 1964-only), and silver dollars (Morgan, Peace) minted for circulation before 1965 qualify as 90% constitutional silver. The Kennedy half dollar was struck in 90% silver only in 1964; subsequent years use 40% or 0% silver compositions.
What is the difference between junk silver and constitutional silver?
The two terms describe the same coins. 'Junk silver' is the informal market term — it refers to the coins' circulated, non-collectible condition, not to any defect or low quality. 'Constitutional silver' is the more precise term emphasizing their status as U.S. legal-tender coinage. Both phrases are used interchangeably by dealers and investors.
What is the junk silver price today?
Junk silver has no single fixed price — it trades at a premium over the live silver spot price. Check SD Bullion's current silver spot price at sdbullion.com/silver-prices and apply the 0.715 multiplier to your face value amount to estimate the melt value. Dealer premiums are added on top of melt value and are reflected in our live product pricing above.
How much silver is in a $1,000 face value bag of 90% silver coins?
A standard $1,000 face value bag of 90% silver dimes, quarters, or half dollars contains approximately 715 troy ounces of pure silver. This is the original 'junk silver bag' size used by dealers and is the most common large-lot constitutional silver purchase.
What is the best denomination to buy in 90% junk silver?
For the lowest per-ounce cost, mixed constitutional silver bags typically offer the tightest premiums. Half dollars provide a practical balance of silver content per coin and ease of counting. Dimes offer the greatest divisibility. Morgan and Peace dollars appeal to buyers who value both silver content and numismatic history.
How is junk silver different from silver bullion coins like American Silver Eagles?
American Silver Eagles are .999 fine (99.9% pure) silver, freshly minted, and carry a higher premium over spot. Constitutional junk silver coins are 90% pure, circulated, and typically sell at a lower premium. Eagles are better for IRA-eligible accounts; 90% constitutional silver is not IRA-approved.