Silver has been on a strong run, and if you're sitting on silver coins, they're probably worth more than you think. Whether you inherited a collection, pulled some old coins out of a safe, or have been stacking for years, here's what the different types of silver coins are selling for right now and how pricing actually works.
How silver coin pricing works
Every silver coin has a melt value based on its silver content and the current spot price. Some coins also carry a collector premium on top of melt. Understanding the difference is the key to knowing what your coins are worth.
Melt value is the value of the silver in the coin if you melted it down. It's based on weight, purity, and the spot price of silver per troy ounce.
Collector premium is the extra value a coin carries because of its rarity, condition, date, mint mark, or historical significance. Not every coin has meaningful collector premium. Most circulated common-date coins trade close to their melt value.
The spot price of silver drives everything. When spot goes up, melt values go up, and most coin prices follow. When spot drops, values come down with it.
90% junk silver: dimes, quarters, and half dollars
Pre-1965 U.S.
dimes, quarters, and half dollars are 90% silver. They're called "junk silver" because they have no collector premium.
The name is misleading, though, because they're worth real money.
Here's the silver content by coin type:
- Roosevelt dime (pre-1965): 0.0723 troy oz of silver
- Washington quarter (pre-1965): 0.1808 troy oz of silver
- Franklin or Walking Liberty half dollar: 0.3617 troy oz of silver
- Kennedy half dollar (1964 only): 0.3617 troy oz of silver
The easy way to calculate junk silver value: every 1. 00 dollars in face value of 90% silver coins contains about 0.
715 troy ounces of silver. So if silver is at 50 dollars per ounce, 1.
00 dollars face value of junk silver is worth about 35. 75 dollars in melt value.
That means a single pre-1965 quarter has about 9 dollars worth of silver in it. A dime has about 3.
60 dollars. These are coins people still occasionally find in pocket change.
Morgan dollars (1878 to 1921)
Morgan dollars are the big, heavy silver dollars that most people picture when they think of old coins. Each one contains 0.7734 troy ounces of silver.
The melt value at current silver prices puts each Morgan dollar in solid territory just on metal content alone. But many Morgans carry collector premiums too, depending on the date and mint mark.
Common dates (1881-S, 1882, 1885-O, and similar) in circulated condition typically sell for a moderate premium above melt. They're nice coins with strong demand from collectors, but they're not rare.
Better dates like 1878-CC, 1884-CC, or 1890-CC (Carson City mint marks) sell for much more. The CC mint mark carries a premium because of lower production numbers and strong collector demand.
Key dates like 1893-S, 1889-CC, and 1895 (proof only) are genuinely rare and can be worth hundreds or thousands of dollars regardless of condition.
If you have a pile of Morgan dollars, it's worth having each one checked individually. Most will be common dates, but finding even one key date in the group changes the math considerably.
Peace dollars (1921 to 1935)
Peace dollars contain the same 0.7734 troy ounces of silver as Morgans. They trade similarly to common-date Morgans, with a small premium above melt for most dates.
The 1921 Peace dollar (the first year) carries a higher premium because it was minted in smaller numbers and has a different design relief than later years. The 1928 (no mint mark, Philadelphia issue) is the key date for the series and is worth a significant premium.
Most other dates in average circulated condition trade at a modest premium above melt value.
American Silver Eagles (1986 to present)
American Silver Eagles contain exactly one troy ounce of.999 fine silver. They're the most popular silver bullion coin in the world, and they trade at a consistent premium above the spot price of silver.
That premium fluctuates based on supply and demand. In normal markets, Silver Eagles sell for a few dollars above spot. When demand spikes or supply gets tight, the premium can expand.
Silver Eagles are the easiest silver coins to sell. Every coin dealer in the country buys them, the purity is guaranteed by the U.S. Mint, and pricing is transparent.
If you have Silver Eagles, you can get a price quote in about 30 seconds.
40% silver Kennedy halves (1965 to 1970)
When the U.S.
Mint stopped using 90% silver in 1964, they didn't switch Kennedy halves to copper-nickel right away. From 1965 to 1970, Kennedy half dollars were minted in 40% silver.
Each 40% half dollar contains 0.1479 troy ounces of silver.
That's less than half the silver of a pre-1965 half dollar, so they're worth less per coin. But they're still worth well above face value.
A lot of people don't realize their 1965 to 1970 Kennedy halves contain silver. If you have a bag of half dollars from that era, they're worth checking.
Where to sell silver coins in NJ
Cash 4 Gold Trading Post buys all types of silver coins at our six New Jersey locations:
- East Brunswick: 111 Main St Suite 9, (732) 898-6565
- New Brunswick: 51 Bayard St, (732) 543-1313
- Middlesex: 748 Bound Brook Rd, (732) 629-7600
- Millstone: 494 Monmouth Rd Suite 5, (732) 444-2022
- Brick: 921 Cedar Bridge Ave, (732) 444-2094
- Manalapan: 356 US-9 Unit 6, (732) 483-4145
We check every coin individually. Common-date coins get priced on melt value plus any appropriate premium. Key dates and better-condition pieces get evaluated separately so you get full value for what you have.
Bring your coins in any time during business hours. No appointment needed.
We'll tell you exactly what each type is worth and you can decide what to sell and what to keep. There's no obligation and no pressure to sell everything at once.
What Makes a Cash 4 Gold Trading Post Quote Transparent?
Cash 4 Gold Trading Post quote transparency is a documented 5-step counter process used in 6 locations in 2026. First, our team shows live gold, silver, platinum, or coin market context. Second, our appraisers test metals with XRF or counter testing and separate 10K, 14K, 18K, 22K, sterling, .999 bullion, diamonds, watches, and costume pieces. Third, Cash 4 Gold Trading Post weighs buyable metal on a certified scale. Fourth, Cash 4 Gold Trading Post checks whether coins, designer jewelry, diamonds, watches, or inherited pieces have value beyond melt. Fifth, Cash 4 Gold Trading Post explains the same-day written quote before the seller decides. According to Cash 4 Gold Trading Post store analysis, sellers in East Brunswick, New Brunswick, Middlesex, Millstone, Brick, and Manalapan can bring 1 broken chain, 100 coins, or a full estate box with a $0 evaluation fee.
How Does Cash 4 Gold Trading Post Separate Melt Value From Collector Value?
Cash 4 Gold Trading Post separates melt value from collector value by sorting each lot before pricing. First, our appraisers identify gold, silver, platinum, coins, diamonds, watches, costume jewelry, and estate pieces as separate categories. Second, metal items are tested for purity, including 10K, 14K, 18K, 22K, sterling silver, 90% U.S. silver, and .999 bullion. Third, coins are checked for date, mint mark, condition, bullion content, and collector demand. Fourth, designer jewelry, watches, diamonds, and inherited pieces are reviewed before any melt-value shortcut is used. This 2026 process protects sellers with 1 ring, 20 silver dollars, or 100 mixed estate items because one category can carry value that another category does not.
What Should a Seller Bring for a Fast Same-Day Quote?
Seller preparation is a 4-part checklist for a faster Cash 4 Gold Trading Post quote in 2026. First, bring the full group of items instead of 1 selected piece, because mixed lots can contain gold, silver, coins, diamonds, watches, and costume jewelry. Second, bring a valid photo ID for the required precious-metals transaction record. Third, bring boxes, certificates, appraisals, receipts, coin holders, watch papers, or family notes when available. Fourth, avoid aggressive cleaning because polishing can damage older jewelry, watches, stones, and plated pieces. Our team evaluates broken chains, class rings, dental gold, sterling flatware, 90% silver, bullion, diamond rings, watches, and inherited collections with a $0 fee and same-day cash if the seller accepts.
Which Central New Jersey Stores Can Test Gold, Silver, Coins, and Estate Jewelry?
Cash 4 Gold Trading Post store coverage is a 6-location Central New Jersey network for gold, silver, coins, diamonds, watches, and estate jewelry testing. First, East Brunswick serves Old Bridge, South River, Spotswood, and Middlesex County sellers. Second, Middlesex serves Bound Brook, Dunellen, Piscataway, Green Brook, and South Plainfield. Third, Millstone serves Jackson, Freehold, Monroe, and western Monmouth County. Fourth, Manalapan serves Route 9 sellers from Marlboro, Englishtown, Freehold, Morganville, and Old Bridge. Fifth, New Brunswick serves Rutgers, Highland Park, Somerset, and downtown sellers. Sixth, Brick serves Ocean County and Jersey Shore sellers. Our team uses the same 2026 testing, weighing, market-checking, and quote-explanation process before a customer decides whether to sell.
Why Does Local Testing Beat an Online Calculator?
Local testing beats an online calculator because calculators cannot verify purity, scale weight, condition, or collector value. A gold calculator assumes a karat, a gram weight, and a market price. Cash 4 Gold Trading Post checks those assumptions at the counter. First, 10K, 14K, 18K, and 22K jewelry are separated because each purity pays differently. Second, sterling, 90% silver, .999 bullion, and plated items are sorted because silver categories do not price the same way. Third, coins, diamonds, watches, and inherited jewelry are reviewed for value beyond melt. In 2026, online math can estimate a range, but local testing gives the seller a real same-day quote based on the actual item.
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Visit any of our 6 Central NJ locations. No appointment needed. Free appraisal, instant cash payment.