About the Coin Melt Value Calculator
This coin melt value calculator works out what US coins are worth for their metal alone. Pick a coin — pre-1965 dimes, quarters and halves, 40% Kennedy halves, Morgan and Peace dollars, wartime silver nickels, ordinary nickels, copper and zinc pennies, or Silver and Gold Eagles — enter how many you have and today’s metal prices, and it returns the melt value per coin, the total, and how many times face value that is.
It is useful for sorting inherited coin jars, pricing “junk silver” lots, checking a dealer’s offer, or simply seeing why a nickel costs more to make than it is worth. The table compares every coin type at your prices so you can see which ones carry the most metal.
Weights are the US Mint’s standard specifications for new coins; circulated silver coins are typically a little lighter from wear, so dealers often count about 0.715 oz of silver per $1 face of 90% coins rather than the theoretical 0.7234 oz. Melting or exporting current US pennies and nickels is prohibited by federal regulation, so their melt value is informational. Numismatic value — dates, mint marks, condition — is not included.
With the default inputs, the total melt value is $36.17. Change any value above to recalculate instantly.
How to use the coin melt value calculator
- 1Choose the coin type — check the date to tell 90% silver from clad coins.
- 2Enter how many coins you have (or how many $1 face lots of junk silver).
- 3Enter today’s silver, gold or copper/nickel/zinc prices as prompted.
- 4Read the total melt value and the multiple of face value.
- 5Use the table to compare every coin type at the same prices.
Formula and method
Silver and gold content is in troy ounces of pure metal: the coin’s weight in grams × its fineness ÷ 31.1034768. A pre-1965 dime, for example, is 2.50 g × 0.90 ÷ 31.1035 = 0.07234 oz of silver. That content is multiplied by the spot price per troy ounce.
Base metals are priced per pound, so the grams of copper, nickel and zinc are divided by 453.59237 (grams per pound) and multiplied by the price per pound. The small copper share in 90% and 40% silver coins is ignored because buyers pay only for the silver. Results use mint-standard weights; worn coins weigh slightly less.
- Ag, Au
- Pure silver and gold per coin, troy ounces
- S_ag, S_au
- Spot prices per troy ounce
- Cu, Ni, Zn
- Grams of copper, nickel and zinc per coin
- p
- Base metal prices per pound
Worked examples
Ten 90% silver dimes at $50 silver
Each pre-1965 dime holds 2.50 g × 0.90 = 2.25 g, or 0.07234 oz, of silver — $3.62 at $50 per ounce. Ten dimes ($1 face) melt for about $36.17, or 36 times face value.
100 nickels at $4.50 copper and $7.50 nickel
A nickel is 3.75 g of copper and 1.25 g of nickel. At $4.50/lb and $7.50/lb that is $0.0372 + $0.0207 = $0.0579 of metal, so 100 nickels hold about $5.79 of metal for $5 face.
20 Morgan dollars at $48 silver
A Morgan dollar is 26.73 g of 90% silver: 0.7734 oz of pure silver. At $48 that is $37.13 per coin, so 20 coins melt for about $742.50 — before any collector premium.
Frequently asked questions
How much silver is in a pre-1965 quarter?+
A 1964-and-earlier quarter weighs 6.25 g and is 90% silver, containing 0.1808 troy ounces of pure silver. Multiply by the spot price for its melt value — about $9.04 at $50 silver.
What is junk silver?+
“Junk silver” is circulated 90% silver US dimes, quarters and halves dated 1964 or earlier, traded for their metal rather than collector value. It is usually priced per $1 of face value, which holds about 0.715 oz of silver after wear.
Which years of US coins are silver?+
Dimes, quarters and half dollars dated 1964 and earlier are 90% silver. Kennedy halves from 1965–1970 are 40% silver, and Jefferson nickels from mid-1942 to 1945 with a large mint mark above Monticello are 35% silver.
Is it legal to melt pennies and nickels?+
No. US Treasury regulations (31 CFR Part 82) prohibit melting or treating current 1¢ and 5¢ coins and limit exporting them. Melting silver coins and bullion coins is not covered by that rule.
Is my coin worth more than melt value?+
Possibly. Rare dates, mint marks, errors and coins in high grades sell for numismatic premiums far above melt. Check a price guide or ask a coin dealer before selling anything unusual as scrap.
Results are estimates for educational purposes and are not financial advice. Rates, fees and terms vary — confirm with your lender or a licensed advisor before making decisions.