90% U.S. Silver Coins (Pre-1965) overview
90% U.S. Silver Coins (Pre-1965) refers to the circulated and uncirculated American coinage struck by the U.S. Mint prior to 1965 that carries a composition of 90% silver and 10% copper. This category encompasses dimes, quarters, half dollars, and dollars produced across several classic series, including Roosevelt and…
Updated June 2026
90% U.S. Silver Coins (Pre-1965)
90% U.S. Silver Coins (Pre-1965) refers to the circulated and uncirculated American coinage struck by the U.S. Mint prior to 1965 that carries a composition of 90% silver and 10% copper. This category encompasses dimes, quarters, half dollars, and dollars produced across several classic series, including Roosevelt and Mercury dimes, Washington and Standing Liberty quarters, Walking Liberty, Franklin, and Kennedy (1964) half dollars, and Morgan and Peace dollars, among others. The shift away from silver coinage came with the Coinage Act of 1965, which replaced silver with copper-nickel clad in most circulating denominations. As a result, pre-1965 90% silver coins represent the last generation of everyday American silver coinage, and they remain a cornerstone of the numismatic and bullion markets alike. Each coin's silver content is well-established by denomination: a dime contains approximately 0.0723 troy oz of silver, a quarter approximately 0.1808 troy oz, a half dollar approximately 0.3617 troy oz, and a silver dollar approximately 0.7734 troy oz. On CoinDuffle, this category features listings from multiple dealers offering 90% silver coins in a variety of formats — individual coins by date and mint mark, as well as bulk "junk silver" lots sold by face value (e.g., $1 face, $10 face, $100 face). Buyers will find coins spanning a wide range of grades, from well-worn circulated examples to higher-grade collectible pieces, across the full spectrum of classic U.S. silver series. Whether sourced for their numismatic interest or their silver content by weight, pre-1965 90% silver coins are one of the most widely traded categories in American numismatics.
3 results
Filters
Metal Type
Price Type
Price Range
Sellers
.png_b3cc6a4d-f7ce-40c5-ad10-8bf13f44e3e6.png&w=3840&q=75)
About 90% U.S. Silver Coins (Pre-1965)
90% U.S. Silver Coins (Pre-1965) refers to the circulated and uncirculated American coinage struck by the U.S. Mint prior to 1965 that carries a composition of 90% silver and 10% copper. This category encompasses dimes, quarters, half dollars, and dollars produced across several classic series, including Roosevelt and Mercury dimes, Washington and Standing Liberty quarters, Walking Liberty, Franklin, and Kennedy (1964) half dollars, and Morgan and Peace dollars, among others.
The shift away from silver coinage came with the Coinage Act of 1965, which replaced silver with copper-nickel clad in most circulating denominations. As a result, pre-1965 90% silver coins represent the last generation of everyday American silver coinage, and they remain a cornerstone of the numismatic and bullion markets alike. Each coin's silver content is well-established by denomination: a dime contains approximately 0.0723 troy oz of silver, a quarter approximately 0.1808 troy oz, a half dollar approximately 0.3617 troy oz, and a silver dollar approximately 0.7734 troy oz.
On CoinDuffle, this category features listings from multiple dealers offering 90% silver coins in a variety of formats — individual coins by date and mint mark, as well as bulk "junk silver" lots sold by face value (e.g., $1 face, $10 face, $100 face). Buyers will find coins spanning a wide range of grades, from well-worn circulated examples to higher-grade collectible pieces, across the full spectrum of classic U.S. silver series. Whether sourced for their numismatic interest or their silver content by weight, pre-1965 90% silver coins are one of the most widely traded categories in American numismatics.
Frequently asked questions
Pre-1965 U.S. dimes, quarters, half dollars, and most dollars were struck with an alloy of 90% silver and 10% copper. This composition was standard for circulating American coinage for well over a century before the Coinage Act of 1965 transitioned most denominations to copper-nickel clad. The 90% silver content is consistent and well-documented across all affected denominations.
This category includes Roosevelt and Mercury dimes, Washington and Standing Liberty quarters, Walking Liberty, Franklin, and 1964 Kennedy half dollars, and Morgan and Peace silver dollars, among others. All were produced by the U.S. Mint with a 90% silver composition and are dated 1964 or earlier, with silver dollars having their own distinct production histories that end earlier for some series.
Junk silver is an informal term for circulated 90% U.S. silver coins traded primarily for their silver content rather than numismatic value. Bulk lots are conventionally sold by face value — for example, $10 face value in quarters equals 40 coins. This face-value pricing convention makes it straightforward to calculate the total silver content of a lot by denomination.
Each denomination contains a fixed amount of silver by design. A dime holds approximately 0.0723 troy oz of silver, a quarter approximately 0.1808 troy oz, a half dollar approximately 0.3617 troy oz, and a silver dollar approximately 0.7734 troy oz. These figures apply to coins in any condition, as the silver alloy composition remains constant regardless of wear.
Buying by face value (e.g., $10 face in quarters) is common for bulk or 'junk silver' lots where design and date are mixed or unspecified. Buying individual coins allows collectors to target specific dates, mint marks, series, or grades — including higher-grade circulated or uncirculated examples — that carry numismatic premiums beyond their silver content alone.