How much silver is really in your coins, flatware, and jewelry — and how to spot silverplate.
Get Your Free QuoteUS dimes, quarters, and half dollars dated 1964 and earlier are 90% silver — every $1 of face value holds about 0.715 troy ounces of silver. Kennedy halves from 1965–1970 are 40% silver. Sterling silver (stamped Sterling or 925) is 92.5% silver. Items marked EPNS, silverplate, or IS have only a thin silver coating and little melt value.
Today’s silver spot price: see our live prices page. The values below update when this page loads and show melt value only — not an offer, and not collector value.
| Coin | Silver | Pure silver | Melt value |
|---|---|---|---|
| Dimes, quarters, halves 1964 and earlier (per $1 face) | 90% | 0.715 oz | — |
| Morgan dollar (1878–1921) / Peace dollar (1921–1935) | 90% | 0.7734 oz | — |
| 1964 Kennedy half dollar | 90% | 0.3617 oz | — |
| 1965–1970 Kennedy half dollar | 40% | 0.1479 oz | — |
Silver content per the US Mint specifications summarized by GoldSilver, Morgan dollar and Kennedy half dollar references. Dimes and quarters from 1965 on, and halves from 1971 on, contain no silver.
Some coins — certain Morgan dollar dates and mint marks, high-grade coins, and proofs — sell for well above their silver value. Don’t clean your coins (cleaning can cut collector value). Bring them as they are and we’ll check dates and condition before quoting.
| Mark | What it means | Melt value |
|---|---|---|
| Sterling, 925, .925 | 92.5% silver throughout | — |
| Coin, 900 | 90% silver (older American flatware) | — |
| EPNS, Silverplate, Silver on Copper, IS, Quadruple Plate | Thin silver coating over base metal | Little to none |
Melt values in the table are per gram of item weight.
Sterling knife handles, candlesticks, and some bowls are weighted — filled with cement, pitch, or another material, and often marked “weighted” or “reinforced.” Only the thin silver shell counts, so a weighted piece is worth far less than its total weight suggests. Knife blades are usually stainless steel. We separate these before weighing so you see a fair number.
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