What Is Your Silver Worth, Melted?
Pre-1965 US dimes, quarters, and half dollars are 90 percent silver, and their floor value moves with the silver spot price. Count your coins, type today's spot price, and the exact melt math runs from real US Mint weights.
How the math works
Melt value = silver content (troy oz) x spot price x quantity. The constants come straight from US Mint specs: a 90 percent silver dime weighs 2.50 g and carries 0.0723 ozt of silver; a quarter, 6.25 g and 0.1808 ozt; a half dollar, 12.50 g and 0.3617 ozt; a Morgan or Peace dollar, 26.73 g and 0.7734 ozt. Kennedy halves from 1965-1970 dropped to 40 percent silver (0.1479 ozt). Melt is the FLOOR, not the ceiling: dates, mint marks, and condition can push collector value far above it, so check the values guide before selling anything by weight, and read how to sell to avoid the classic buyer traps.