Junk Silver — 90% U.S. Coins (Pre-1965)
Junk silver refers to pre-1965 U.S. circulated coins — dimes, quarters, and half dollars — that carry no numismatic premium above their silver content. The term "junk" is a trade designation, not a quality judgment; these are genuine, legal-tender coins of the United States struck in .900 fine silver. Common pieces in this category include Roosevelt and Mercury dimes, Washington quarters, and Franklin and Walking Liberty half dollars, typically sold in bulk by face value rather than individually.
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About Junk Silver — 90% U.S. Coins (Pre-1965)
The .900 fine silver composition was standard for U.S. dimes, quarters, and half dollars from the mid-19th century through 1964. Each $1.00 of face value contains approximately 0.7234 troy ounces of pure silver, making face value a convenient unit for calculating silver content at any given spot price. Because these coins were struck for circulation rather than as collectibles, grades range widely — from heavily worn to lightly circulated — and they are priced almost entirely on their silver melt value rather than condition or date.
At Lone Star Coins, junk silver is sold in $10 face-value bags by denomination: quarters, dimes, and half dollars. Each $10 face bag contains roughly 7.234 troy ounces of pure silver. Pricing is updated against the live spot market, and all bags are in stock at our San Antonio showroom, available to ship nationwide or pick up in person. Buyers looking for larger or smaller quantities, or for a step up into numismatic silver, may also want to browse our 90% silver rolls and our broader U.S. silver coin collections.
Updated June 2026