90% Junk Silver Coins

Understanding Junk Silver

Definition and Composition

Junk silver, or Constitucional Silver, refers to coins minted before 1965 valued solely for their silver content rather than any collectible appeal. Junk silver coins include war nickels, dimes, quarters, and half-dollars.

In the modern bullion coin industry, silver coins are often sold in 'face bags,' which measure the total 'legal tender' face value each bag contains.

Historical Context

These coins were once common in daily transactions but were eventually replaced by coins made of base metals like copper and nickel as silver prices rose exponentially in the late 1960's. So, people began to hoard the silver coinage for their melt value.

Earlier in history, the silver content of a coin would have been worth its face value, but this is not the case nowadays. The current silver price fluctuates around $30.00 as of Q4 2024.

Like the Morgan Silver Dollar, 90% Junk Silver Coins are official US currency and thus can be used as a legal tender face value payment. However, given the silver bullion value contained within them, they are often saved and held for the long term.

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Types of Junk Silver Coins

SD Bullion carries an entire inventory of pre-1965 US silver coins, including:

• Pre-1965 90% Silver US Dimes - includes Mercury, Liberty Head, and Roosevelt

• Pre-1965 90% Silver US Quarters- includes Washington, Liberty Head, and Standing Liberty

• Pre-1965 90% Silver US Half Dollars - includes Liberty Head, Walking Liberty, Kennedy, and Franklin

• Pre-1965 90% Silver Dollars- includes Peace Dollars and the Morgan Silver Dollar

• 40% Silver US Half Dollars - includes John Kennedy Half Dollars issued between the dates 1965-1970 and also the year 1976

• 35% Silver War Nickels- minted 1942-1945

Buying Junk Silver

You can purchase 90% Junk Silver Face Rolls in increments of as little as $5 face value in silver dimes. Each $5 face roll contains 50 silver dimes and 3.575 ounces of silver.

You can also buy 90% Silver Face Bags in bulk increments of $100 Face Value, $500 Face Value, and $1000 Face Value with varying coins from silver dimes to silver quarters.

Role in the Bullion Industry

Both old US 40% and 90% silver coins are still legal tender today, but they are, as mentioned before, traded based on their overall silver content and not their legal tender face values. Many silver savers like owning these old US silver coins for potential use in direct barter or trade.

For example, small old US 90% silver dimes contain about 2.25 grams of silver in each coin. In a financial crisis, many contend these small denomination silver coins could be useful when purchasing everyday goods and services.

Investment Value

Yet the most significant reason customers buy and hold old US Constitutional Silver Coins for the long term is that their precious silver content has proven to be a good hedge against ongoing fiat currency debasement and purchasing power loss.

In short, silver retains its value over the long term, allowing holders to keep a portion of their wealth in these private, tangible, legal tender, precious metal silver coins of our forefathers.

Low Premium

Junk silver coins are called "junk" because they are usually extremely poor or heavily worn.

Besides that, silver products tend to have a lower premium than gold products since the intrinsic value of gold is much higher than silver. Therefore, the demand for silver is enough for its supply if compared to other precious metals like gold and palladium.

Silver Content and Value Retention

Precious metals have intrinsic value, and they tend to appreciate over time. Even if you sell your coins decades from now, there's little risk of devaluation because people tend to trust physical assets more during economic downturns.

Collectibility and Numismatic Value

Collectible Coins vs. Junk Silver

Numismatits understand collectible coins as condition rarities or bearing significant historical value. But junk silver is only valued for its silver content in weight and nothing else. So mint marks, variations, and obverse or reverse design do not affect its final price.

For example, the U.S. Mint issued the 40% silver version of the 1971 Silver Eisenhower dollar as a collectible. It was not released for circulation like its copper-nickel "clad" counterpart. Therefore, it is a collectible coin with a higher premium than a regular junk silver coin because it was not available to everybody, it was a particular issue, and it is not found in pocket change. 

Is junk silver worth anything?

Junk Silver is worth roughly their weight in actual silver content times the silver spot price of the day. Junk Silver is a term that refers to Pre-1965 circulating coins before the United States Congress voted to remove all silver content from U.S. coinage and use only base metals (nickel and copper, mostly). Each coin (dime, quarter, half dollar, and dollar) has different amounts of silver and are, thus, priced according to their intrinsic value.

Can you get junk silver at a bank?

You won't typically find banks directly selling junk silver coins. You can find them at coin shops, auctions, and, most importantly, online dealers. Remember to only purchase from trusted sources.

Is 90% silver considered sterling?

No, it is not. Sterling silver is a term that refers to a specific alloy containing 92.5% silver and 7.5% other base metals, usually copper.

Why do you call it Junk or Constitutional silver?

While the term "junk" silver might sound derogatory, it simply states that these coins are generally in circulated condition and are not from any key dates. In other words, they do not carry any numismatic value, but are mainly priced according to their silver content. The term "Constitutional" refers to the constitutional clause that granted Congress the authority to manage and order the production of U.S. money.

Why do people like to buy 90% silver?

90% silver coins are not only silver bullion but also real money. Their intrinsic value, based on their precious metal content, will fluctuate according to different market conditions and especially rise in economic uncertainty, helping investors hedge against inflation. Finally, 90% silver stackers believe that these coins can work as bartering items in case of a widespread economic collapse.

How can I tell if my loose change is junk silver?

Any dimes, quarters, half dollars, and dollar coins dated before 1965 are made of 90% silver.

How much Silver is in a 90% Silver Dollar, Half Dollar, Quarter and Dime?

Here's the silver content of 90% silver coins:

Dollar: 0.7734 troy ounces;

Half Dollar: 0.36169 troy ounces;

Quarter: 0.1808 troy ounces;

Dime: 0.0723 troy ounces.

Are 40% Half Dollars a good value?

40% Half Dollars contain 0.1479 troy ounces and are priced according to their actual silver content. In other words, prices will also fluctuate according to the silver spot price, just like 90% silver coins.

With age, do all junk silver coins have the same amount of silver in them (re: wear and tear on older coins)?

Unless the coin is clipped or pierced, regular wear and tear does not significantly reduce the amount of silver in it and should not affect that value.

Why do you call them Face Dollars?

The term "Face Dollars" refers to the face value of a coin. It's the amount of money that the coin is officially worth. For example, a silver dollar coin has a face value of one dollar, even though its silver content may be worth more.

This term is often used when discussing the purchase or sale of silver coins, as the face value is typically lower than the coin's actual silver value, especially for older coins with higher silver content.

I know many people hold 90% silver coins for bartering, but is there anything else you recommend for Barter?

Because gold and silver have been used as money for millennia, any of these precious metals should pose a good value for barter in case of a widespread economic collapse.

Is it better to buy 90% silver coins or Silver Bullion (Coins/Generics)?

If you are a collector or an enthusiast of American coinage history, 90% silver coins might be a better choice for you. On the other hand, if your investment goals is to stack on the purest silver possible, consider purchasing silver coins or silver bars. In terms of liquidity, silver bullion coin programs, such as the American Silver Eagle and the Canadian Silver Maple Leaf, enjoy the highest demand among silver investors and should be easier to resell.

How is junk silver priced?

Junk silver is priced based on the silver spot price and the actual silver weight of the coins. For instance, an $100 Face Bag of 90% Constitutional Silver contains 71.5 Troy ounces of actual silver content. You can multiply that by the silver spot price per troy ounce and get the rough value of the bag. Just remember that dealers also add a premium over the spot price, which is a mark-up value to guarantee a profit and maintain their businesses.

Can junk silver be used as currency?

Yes. Though unadvisible because their silver content (intrinsic value) is worth much more than their face values, junk silver coins are still legal tender in the United States and can be used as currency. And even if the price of silver drops exponentially for any reason, these coins will never be worth less than their face values.

How do I store junk silver?

Junk silver is usually stored in rolls or bags. Because they don't carry a lot of numismatic value and they are generally in circulated conditions, these coins typically do not require any other special storing. Just remember to keep them in a cool, dry place to avoid tarnish.

Are there different purity levels in junk silver?

Yes. Most junk silver coins are 90% pure, but Kennedy Half-Dollars minted from 1965 to 1970 are only 40% silver.

Where can I sell my junk silver?

You can sell your junk silver at pawn shops, coin shops, and online bullion dealers. SD Bullion has a very transparent buyback process and our team is constantly buying products to our stock.