The Junk Silver Discount: Why 90% Silver Coins Are Selling Below Melt in 2026
For the first time in years, junk silver is trading at or below its melt value at many dealers.
junk silver
Why 90% Silver Coins Are the Most Interesting Buy in Precious Metals
They’re the only form of physical silver that was once legal tender, that carries a face value guaranteed by the United States government, that comes in denominations people already understand, and that can be worth significantly more than its silver content to the right buyer.
1966 Quarter Value, Including Error Coins, No Mint Mark, SMS, and others Worth Money
Explore the value of the 1966 Quarter, including Special Mint Set (SMS), error coins like curved clips and other valuable Washington quarters
Junk Silver: What You Need to Know About 90% Silver Coins
Many people don’t know that they could be sitting on cash when it comes to their old coins. Learn more about 90% Silver Coins
1965 Quarter Value: What’s Worth Keeping & Why It Matters
More than 1.8 billion 1965 quarters were minted by the US Mint. Only a few rare coin errors exists from this year that are sought after by numismatists and collectors.
America the Beautiful 5 oz Silver Coins and 90% Silver Proof Quarters
The America the Beautiful series was conceived as a continuation of the popular state quarters program that was launched in 2010. The series included 5 oz silver coins as well as 90% Silver Proof Quarters. The complete series included 56 different designs by its conclusion in 2021. For investors looking for options from the US Mint, these 90% Silver coins make an excellent option for junk silver investors looking to add weight to your stack.
What Dimes Contain Silver?
Silver dimes, 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 little to no numismatic value. Their value lies strictly in the silver content.
Cleaning Old Coins
Cleaning old coins is a controversial topic that often divides coin collectors and numismatists. Experts advise against cleaning coins, as doing so not only removes the patina, it can also scratch their surface and will most likely diminish their value, especially for collectible or antique coins.
Silver Dimes
Until 1965, U.S. dimes were composed of 90% silver and 10% copper. However, because of rising silver prices, the U.S. Mint decided to continue debasement of coinage by changing the composition of dimes to a copper-nickel alloy, starting with the clad coin production in 1965. Today’s dimes are composed of 91.67% copper and 8.33% nickel.
Online bullion dealers typically offer 90% silver dimes based on the face value that each contains. For example, a $5 Face Value standard bank roll of silver dimes will contain fifty individual pieces that were minted Pre-1965. Each circulated silver dime contains approximately .0715 troy ounces, with each standard $5 Bank Roll of silver dimes having a total of 3.575 troy ounces ASW.
Silver Toning vs. Tarnish: What Causes It, When It Adds Value, and How to Clean Silver Coins
Toning or tarnish is a layer of corrosion that forms on the surface of silver and can affect the appearance and luster of the shiny metal. Natural versus artificial toning can effect any underlying numismatic value.