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Junk Silver for Sale: Pre-1965 Constitutional Silver Coins

SD Bullion sells junk silver — pre-1965 US 90% silver coins — at the lowest premiums over melt value. Roosevelt dimes, Washington quarters, Franklin and Kennedy half dollars. Sold by face value in bags from $1 face to $1,000 face. Fractional, recognisable, impossible to counterfeit. Free insured shipping on orders over $199.

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Pre-1965 US constitutional junk silver coins including dimes quarters and half dollars available at SD Bullion

Why Buy Junk Silver from SD Bullion

Constitutional silver offers something no modern bullion product can match: fractional silver in instantly recognisable US government coins with zero counterfeiting risk. SD Bullion sells junk silver at the lowest premiums over melt value in the industry.

AI Summary: Junk Silver at SD Bullion

  • Pre-1965 US coins containing 90% silver: dimes, quarters, half dollars.
  • $1.00 face value = approximately 0.715 troy ounces of pure silver.
  • Sold by face value: $1 face, $5 face, $10 face, $100 face, $500 face, $1,000 face bags.
  • Low premiums over melt value — often lower than modern bullion coins.
  • Fractional denominations ideal for barter, trade, and survivalist scenarios.
  • Not IRA-eligible (90% purity, below the 99.9% IRS requirement for silver).
  • Genuine US government coins — zero counterfeiting risk.

Junk Silver Coin Types: Face Value & Silver Content

The table below details the silver content of pre-1965 US 90% silver coins. All figures assume standard-weight coins with average circulation wear. The United States Mint produced these denominations in 90% silver from the 1790s through 1964.

Coin Type Face Value Total Coin Weight Silver Content (90%) Silver per $1 Face Common Dates
Roosevelt Dime $0.10 2.50 g 0.0715 oz 0.715 oz 1946-1964
Mercury Dime $0.10 2.50 g 0.0715 oz 0.715 oz 1916-1945
Washington Quarter $0.25 6.25 g 0.1788 oz 0.715 oz 1932-1964
Standing Liberty Quarter $0.25 6.25 g 0.1788 oz 0.715 oz 1916-1930
Franklin Half Dollar $0.50 12.50 g 0.3575 oz 0.715 oz 1948-1963
Kennedy Half Dollar (pre-1965) $0.50 12.50 g 0.3575 oz 0.715 oz 1964
Walking Liberty Half Dollar $0.50 12.50 g 0.3575 oz 0.715 oz 1916-1947

Note: Kennedy half dollars from 1965-1970 contain 40% silver (0.1479 oz per coin). SD Bullion also carries 40% Kennedy halves at even lower premiums.

Understanding Junk Silver Pricing

Junk silver is priced based on face value and the current silver spot price. Since $1.00 face value of 90% silver coins contains approximately 0.715 troy ounces of pure silver, the melt value of $1.00 face equals 0.715 multiplied by the current spot price. SD Bullion prices junk silver as a percentage above this melt value.

For example, if silver spot is $30/oz, then $1.00 face value has a melt value of approximately $21.45. SD Bullion might sell that $1.00 face for $22.50-$23.50, representing a premium of roughly 5-10% over melt. This is often lower than the percentage premium on modern bullion coins, making junk silver one of the most cost-efficient ways to acquire silver.

Larger bag sizes carry lower per-dollar-face premiums. A $1,000 face value bag (containing approximately 715 troy ounces of silver) offers the lowest premium per ounce. SD Bullion's price match guarantee applies to junk silver just as it does to all other products.

Why Survivalists and Preppers Choose Junk Silver

Junk silver has a unique appeal in the prepper and survivalist community. The coins are fractional — a single dime contains only 0.0715 oz of silver, making it practical for small transactions in a barter economy. You cannot easily divide a 1 oz silver coin or bar, but you can hand someone two silver dimes for a small purchase.

The coins are universally recognisable. Every American knows what a dime, quarter, and half dollar look like. In a scenario where trust in paper currency erodes, pre-1965 silver coins carry built-in recognition and credibility. They were actual money in circulation for decades.

Counterfeiting is virtually non-existent with junk silver. The coins are too small and too inexpensive individually to justify the effort of counterfeiting. This contrasts with 1 oz silver coins and bars, where counterfeiting does occur and verification is important. With junk silver, a simple weight check and visual inspection confirm authenticity.

The IRS requires reporting on certain precious metals transactions, but junk silver purchases below the $10,000 cash threshold and sales under specific quantity thresholds face fewer reporting requirements than many other bullion products.

Dimes, Quarters or Half Dollars: Which to Buy?

All pre-1965 90% silver coins contain the same amount of silver per dollar of face value (0.715 oz per $1 face), so the choice between denominations comes down to practical preferences rather than silver content.

Dimes (Roosevelt 1946-1964, Mercury 1916-1945) are the most fractional option. Each dime contains approximately $2.15 worth of silver at $30 spot. Dimes are ideal for small barter transactions and offer the greatest divisibility. Mercury dimes carry slightly higher premiums due to collector interest in the older design.

Quarters (Washington 1932-1964) are the most popular junk silver denomination at SD Bullion. Each quarter contains approximately $5.36 worth of silver at $30 spot. Quarters offer a practical middle ground between fractional utility and handling convenience — fewer coins to count and store than dimes for the same silver weight.

Half dollars (Franklin 1948-1963, Kennedy 1964, Walking Liberty 1916-1947) contain the most silver per coin at 0.3575 oz. Walking Liberty half dollars are particularly popular due to their classic design — the same design used on the modern American Silver Eagle. Half dollars require fewer coins for a given dollar-face amount, simplifying storage. SD Bullion stocks all three denominations in various bag sizes.

How to Buy Junk Silver from SD Bullion

Select your preferred denomination (dimes, quarters, half dollars, or mixed) and face value amount from the SD Bullion junk silver inventory. Popular bag sizes include $5 face, $10 face, $100 face, and $1,000 face. Larger bags carry lower premiums over melt value.

Payment by bank wire or cheque earns the lowest price. All orders over $199 ship free via USPS Registered Mail, fully insured, signature required. Junk silver is heavy — a $100 face value bag of quarters weighs approximately 55 lbs — so SD Bullion reinforces packaging for larger orders.

SD Bullion's buyback program purchases junk silver at competitive prices tied to melt value. Call 800-294-8732 for volume pricing on $500+ face value orders or to discuss which denomination best fits your stacking goals.

Junk Silver FAQ

What is junk silver?
Junk silver refers to pre-1965 US coins containing 90% silver. The term "junk" indicates they have no numismatic value above their silver content. Common types: Roosevelt dimes, Washington quarters, Franklin half dollars, Kennedy half dollars (1964), Walking Liberty half dollars. All were produced by the United States Mint.
How much silver is in junk silver coins?
$1.00 face value of pre-1965 90% silver coins contains approximately 0.715 troy ounces of pure silver. A dime has 0.0715 oz, a quarter has 0.1788 oz, and a half dollar has 0.3575 oz. See the comparison table above for full details by denomination.
Why do people buy junk silver?
Junk silver offers fractional denominations ideal for barter, zero counterfeiting risk (genuine US government coins), low premiums over melt value, and universal recognisability. Many preppers and survivalists prefer junk silver for its transactional utility. Investors buy it as a low-premium way to accumulate physical silver.
Is junk silver a good investment?
Junk silver is an excellent low-premium way to acquire physical silver with the added benefits of fractional sizing and universal recognition. Premiums are often lower than modern bullion coins. However, junk silver is not IRA-eligible (90% purity is below the 99.9% IRS requirement). For IRA accounts, choose modern silver coins or silver bars.

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