Which Quarters are Silver?

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junk silver quarters

US quarters that were minted before 1965 contain silver. The silver quarters were struck with an alloy that contains 90% silver. The melt value for each silver quarter is over $4.00 today.

Silver quarters, like all 90% silver US coinage are sometimes referred to as “junk silver”. This is a common term adopted from the coin collecting industry for coins that have no numismatic value. Their value lies strictly in the intrinsic silver content.

Junk silver quarters are a great way to get started with investing in silver. They are fractional and you can buy them close to spot price. In some cases, you can buy silver quarters at spot price.

Silver Quarters in Circulation

There are still some silver quarters circulating alongside modern quarters. The Washington Quarter was introduced in 1932. More than 3 billion silver Washington quarters were minted up until the debasement began in 1965. While many have been melted down over the years, there are still plenty available in the wild.

The easiest way to tell if you have a silver quarter is to look at the date. All quarters that were minted prior to 1965 contain 90% silver content. If your quarter is from 1964 or earlier, then it is a silver quarter.

Silver Quarter Worth

At the very minimum, a silver quarter is worth its weight in silver. A 90% silver quarter has an overall gross weight over around 6.25 grams. Therefore, it has roughly 5.625 grams of silver. Based on the spot price, the intrinsic value of the silver is worth significantly more than the face value. Which is the primary reason that the government stopped to use of silver and made the switch to clad coins.

An easy way to estimate how much your silver quarters are worth is that each $1.00 Face Value, or four silver quarters, contains .715 troy ounces of silver. This is a commonly accepted weight that takes into consideration that there may be some wear and tear from circulation.

For more information about which silver quarters may be key dates and have some numismatic value you can check out the page on coinflation.com.

You can easily compare online dealer prices for 90% silver quarters:

1 oz Silver Coins

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2018 American 1 oz Silver Eagle

1 oz silver coins are issued by various government mints around the world and are popular among investors and collectors for their silver content, as well as for their artistic and historical designs.

These silver coins are legal tender in the country they are minted, though their market value based on the silver content far exceeds their face value.

These coins are minted to cater to the demand from investors who invest in physical silver as a hedge against inflation, economic instability, or as part of a diversified investment portfolio. Investors buy 1 oz silver coins because they provide an accessible entry point into physical precious metals due to their relatively low cost compared to gold coins.

With unique and sometimes annually changing designs, these coins also appeal to collectors, attracting not only investors but also coin enthusiasts. Minting 1 oz silver coins allows countries to showcase their cultural heritage, national symbols, or commemorate significant events and figures.

Popular government bullion coins, such as the American Silver Eagle and the Austrian Silver Philharmonic are only minted in the standard 1 oz silver coin size. While larger size coins are available from other mints, they require a larger initial investment.

  • Compare the premium for different coins.
  • Coins with lower premiums are more cost-effective for pure investment purposes and as a store of value.
  • Coins from established, reputable mints are more trusted in terms of purity and quality.

Consider how easily the coin can be sold. Popular coins like the American Silver Eagle or Canadian Maple Leaf are recognized worldwide and are more liquid.

For some investors, the joy of collecting and the aesthetic appeal of a coin are also important considerations. Remember that some coins might carry a higher premium due to collectibility, design, or other factors.

US Mint American Eagle 1 oz Silver Coins

2023 American Eagle 1 oz Silver Coin Obverse

The US Mint first issued the American Eagle 1 oz Silver coin in 1986 as a trusted store of value for investors. For more than 37 years,

Research and Continuous Learning

As with any investment, it is important to stay informed trends in the precious metals market, historical values of coins and new issues. It can be helpful to join online forums, such as /r/Silverbugs on Reddit and engage with other collectors and investors can help provide valuable insights.

There are following news sites that specialize in news related to the precious metals industry and the numismatic industry.

Larger Silver Coin Denominations

Some governments issue coins in larger denominations and weights. For example, the Mexico Silver Libertad is released every year in multiple sizes, as are several of the annual series’ from the Perth Mint. The sizes include full troy ounce weights including:

Cheapest American Silver Eagle coins

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Cheapest American Silver Eagle

American Silver Eagle Coins, the Silver Standard

The American Silver Eagle (ASE) coin has become the most recognized government-issued bullion coin in the world. Introduced by the US Mint in 1986, it has stood the test of time. Millions of Silver Eagle coins are minted each year, and investors and silver stackers are always on the hunt for the cheapest American Silver Eagle coins available.

Silver Eagle Premium

Authorized Purchasers are bullion wholesalers. Authorized Purchasers buy Silver Eagle coins at a fixed premium of $3.05 per coin over the LBMA silver spot price, automatically setting the price of American Silver Eagle coins higher than generic silver bullion. The dealers pass this premium on to consumers along with an additional premium that represents the dealer’s price markup.

Cheaper American Silver Eagle – Random Year (BU)

There are opportunities to buy American Silver Eagle (ASE) coins at a significant discount. Dealers trade American Silver Eagle coins from individuals at a discounted price as part of the secondary market for precious metals.

Secondary Market Silver Eagles
Secondary Market Silver Eagles are typically from random mintage years

Dealers sell these coins at a discount, which helps them pass some of the savings on to end users by offering discounts on “Random Year” coins. These listings refer to coins that the dealer has inventory, likely acquired from different individuals over time.

Random Year American Silver Eagle coins are among the best values available for silver investors and stackers.

Cull Condition – The Cheapest American Silver Eagles

The cheapest American Silver Eagle coins on the secondary market are usually “Cull” coins. The condition of Cull American Silver Eagle coins will vary from dealer to dealer and from batch to batch.

Examples of American Silver Eagles in Cull or Impaired Condition
Examples of American Silver Eagles in Cull or Impaired Condition

Coins in cull conditions will usually show:

  • Signs of scratches
  • Some wear and tear
  • Signs of circulation and handling
  • It may have been cleaned
  • Imperfections or other damage

A cull ASE coin will still contain 1 troy ounce of silver, and the intrinsic value will remain. Even in cull condition, American Silver Eagle coins are still the most recognized government bullion coin in the world.

The cheapest American Silver Eagle coins you can buy are often in cull condition.

Where to Find the Cheapest American Silver Eagle Coins

Dealers that offer cull condition and secondary market American Silver Eagle coins will have product listings on their website. The description or title of the listing will identify the coins as Random Year or Cull American Silver Eagle coins.

FindBullionPrices.com tracks the prices from various trusted and reputable online bullion dealers. The cost of Random Year American Silver Eagle and Cull American Silver Eagle coins varies based on daily changes to the silver spot price.