$1 face value of 90% constitutional silver contains 0.715 troy ounces of silver. This is the base unit of the junk silver pricing system — 10 dimes, 4 quarters, or 2 half dollars. Its melt value updates in real time based on the current silver spot price.
$1 face value is the base unit of the junk silver pricing system. This calculator uses the industry-standard 0.715 troy ounces per $1 face value and live silver spot prices to show you the current melt value of any amount of 90% constitutional silver.
Melt value only. Uses 0.715 troy oz per $1 face value (standard circulated weight). Actual buy and sell prices are typically higher or lower than melt depending on dealer premiums and market conditions.
If you are holding multiple lots bought at different prices, knowing today's melt value is not enough. You need to track what you paid and how your stack is actually performing over time. MyOunces does this automatically →
The Formula
How the Math Works
The 0.715 rule is the industry standard for pricing 90% US silver coins. Here is exactly how melt value is calculated for any face value amount.
Face Value 1
x Silver per $1 0.715 troy oz
= Total Silver 0.715 troy oz
x Spot Price live $/oz
= Melt Value updates live above
Last updated: March 2026
Reference
Junk Silver Melt Value by Face Amount
Standard lot sizes used by dealers and stackers. All values update live with the silver spot price.
Face Value
Silver (troy oz)
Melt Value
Equivalent Coins
$1 face
0.715 oz
—
10 dimes, 4 quarters, or 2 halves
$5 face
3.575 oz
—
50 dimes, 20 quarters, or 10 halves
$10 face
7.15 oz
—
100 dimes, 40 quarters, or 20 halves
$20 face
14.30 oz
—
200 dimes, 80 quarters, or 40 halves
$50 face
35.75 oz
—
500 dimes, 200 quarters, or 100 halves
$100 face
71.5 oz
—
1,000 dimes, 400 quarters, or 200 halves
$500 face
357.5 oz
—
5,000 dimes, 2,000 quarters, or 1,000 halves
$1,000 face bag
715 oz
—
Standard wholesale unit, weighs ~55 lbs
Common Questions
$1 Face Value Junk Silver FAQ
How much silver is in $1 face value of junk silver?
$1 face value of 90% US silver coins contains 0.715 troy ounces of silver. This applies to any combination of pre-1965 dimes, quarters, and half dollars adding up to $1 in face value. The 0.715 figure accounts for average circulation wear — uncirculated coins contain closer to 0.7234 oz per $1 face.
What coins make up $1 face value of junk silver?
$1 face value can be any combination of 90% silver coins totaling $1: 10 Roosevelt or Mercury dimes, 4 Washington quarters, 2 Walking Liberty or Franklin half dollars, or any mix. All contain the same 0.715 troy oz of silver per $1 face regardless of denomination.
How do dealers price junk silver by face value?
Dealers quote junk silver as a multiple of face value. At $80 silver, $1 face contains 0.715 oz worth about $57.20 melt — so dealers might say they are buying at 55x face or selling at 60x face. The multiplier moves with spot price. Always calculate melt value yourself to know what you are paying or receiving.
Why is the standard 0.715 oz and not 0.7234 oz?
The theoretical mint weight of $1 face value of 90% silver coins is 0.7234 troy oz for uncirculated coins. The 0.715 standard accounts for average circulation wear — coins lose a small amount of silver over decades of use. Dealers use 0.715 as the industry standard for pricing circulated junk silver. This calculator uses 0.715 to match dealer pricing.
Is $1 face value of junk silver a good way to buy silver?
Yes, especially for small purchases. Junk silver in small face value amounts is one of the most accessible ways to buy physical silver. The fractional nature makes it easy to buy exactly what you want. Premiums on small lots are typically 5-15% over melt in normal markets. For the lowest premiums, larger lots like $100 face or $1,000 face bags offer better pricing per ounce.
If you are tracking multiple coins, MyOunces automatically calculates your total melt value across gold, silver, platinum, and palladium with live spot prices.