Edit Article

Junk silver coins include old US coins minted before 1964 that contain silver. They are an excellent way to invest in silver for people on small or large budgets. They include silver dollars, mercury dimes, barber quarters, Kennedy half dollars and so on. Here are some tips on how to buy them. Anything else made of silver follows the same steps.



  1. 1
    Decide which Junk Silver Coins to buy. Morgan Silver, Kennedy 1964 Half Dollars, Mercury or Roosevelt dimes might be the best place to start.
  2. 2
    Calculate the current silver value of the junk silver coins you have chosen to buy. You can do this by taking the current silver price and multiply it by 0.36169 (for Kennedy Half Dollars) or by 0.07234 (for Mercury Dimes). Lets say the Silver price is $16 and you want to buy some Kennedy Half Dollars so the spot silver value of each is $5.78.
    • Any dealer will charge you a premium above the spot value of the coin and they will often quote the price in terms of "face" (i.e. face value). So for example our Kennedy Half Dollar that is worth $5.78 would be quoted at around 11.5 times face. The face value is 50 cents, the spot silver value is $5.78 divide $5.78 by 0.5 which gives you roughly 11.5 times face.
    • Whatever the face price is for Kennedys, will also be the same for Mercury Dimes, Roosevelt Dimes and Barber Quarters. So a Mercury Dime at 11.5 times face will be worth $1.15 and so on.
  3. 3
    Search different online auction sites for Junk silver coins. Many sellers will sell in smaller quantities and offer free shipping. [Calculate the spot value] of the lot they were selling and put in a bid just as tiny but above that spot value and to do this for many different lots. Often I would win at least a couple of bids the bid because not so many people were bidding on that lot.
  4. 4
    Search Locally. Flea Markets, Antique Stores, Jewelry Stores, Pawn Shops, Hobby Shops, often offer competitive and close to spot price 90% silver. An advantage is that you can inspect coins before you buy, sometimes negotiate price, and learn from someone experienced with coins. A disadvantage is that sales tax is sometimes applicable for small purchases.


  • The key is knowing the value of the coins you are buying.
  • If you are on a smaller budget, do not worry - many coin dealers will sell you individual coins - meaning you can start investing in silver for as little as $1.50. My experience has shown that your local coin shop will offer better prices than large internet retailers so its worth shopping around. Buying singles or smaller lots may push the premium you pay up to 20%.


  • This article does not constitute financial advice - nor is it a solicitation to buy or sell anything. It is purely for your information only.

Article Info

Categories: Coins

In other languages:

Español: comprar monedas de plata vieja

Thanks to all authors for creating a page that has been read 28,774 times.

Did this article help you?
Yes No

an Author!

Write an Article