About

For numismatists and stackers, knowing the Actual Silver Weight (ASW) of a collection is critical. Silver coins are rarely 100% pure; historic US coinage (pre-1964) is 90% silver, while British Sterling is 92.5%. This calculator eliminates the guesswork of alloy math.

By selecting from a comprehensive database of mint standards-including Morgan Dollars, Peace Dollars, and modern bullion sovereigns like the Canadian Maple Leaf-this tool computes the exact melt value. It aggregates the total weight in Troy Ounces and converts it to fiat currency based on real-time market inputs.

Formulas

The Melt Value V is the product of quantity q, Actual Silver Weight ASW, and Spot Price S.

V = q × ASW × S

The ASW itself is derived from the coin's gross weight in grams w_g converted to troy ounces and multiplied by purity p:

ASW = (w_g / 31.1035) × p

Reference Data

Coin Type	Dates	Purity	Gross Weight (g)	ASW (troy oz)
US Silver Eagle	1986-Pres	.999	31.10 g	1.000 ozt
US Morgan Dollar	1878-1921	.900	26.73 g	0.7734 ozt
US Half Dollar (1964)	1964	.900	12.50 g	0.3617 ozt
US Half Dollar (JFK)	1965-1970	.400	11.50 g	0.1479 ozt
US Quarter (Pre-64)	-1964	.900	6.25 g	0.1808 ozt
US Dime (Pre-64)	-1964	.900	2.50 g	0.0723 ozt
Can. Maple Leaf	1988-Pres	.9999	31.11 g	1.000 ozt

Frequently Asked Questions

Junk silver refers to circulated US coins minted before 1965 (dimes, quarters, halves) that contain 90% silver. They have no numismatic (collector) value but are traded strictly for their metal content.

Melt value is the baseline floor price of the metal. Collectible coins often carry a "premium" due to rarity, condition (grade), or demand. A Morgan Dollar might have $18 of silver in it but sell for $35 due to its historical appeal.

Generally, no. For numismatic coins, cleaning destroys the original surface luster and significantly reduces value. For generic bullion or scrap, condition matters less.