Selling Silver Coins: Where to Begin
Silver coins come in many forms. A typical box of silver might hold modern bullion coins such as American Silver Eagles, a few silver bars or rounds, rolls of old dimes and quarters, some 40% silver Kennedy halves and a handful of Morgan or Peace dollars. Some of those coins are worth only their silver content, while others are worth far more to collectors. Knowing how to sell silver coins the right way starts with knowing which is which.
Founded in 1990, American Rarities has purchased over $400 million in rare coins, precious metals, paper currency and collectibles, and as the strongest silver coin buyer, we buy silver of every kind every day. This guide explains the main kinds of silver coins, what buyers look for, how a sale works and what to expect when you sell. If most of your silver is dollars, see our guide on how to sell silver dollars, and if you have old dimes, quarters and halves, read what to avoid when selling your 90% silver coins. At the end, you will find how to get a free appraisal.
What Kind of Silver Coins Do You Have?
Before you sell, sort your silver into a few simple groups. Each group is priced in its own way, and keeping them apart makes it easy to check any offer you receive.
Silver Bullion Coins, Bars and Rounds
Bullion is silver made to be bought and sold for its metal. It includes American Silver Eagles, Canadian Maple Leafs and other government bullion coins, as well as bars and rounds from private mints. Most bullion is .999 fine silver, and its weight is usually stamped on it. Bullion is priced from the current spot price of silver, plus or minus a small premium that depends on the product.
Learn more on our page to sell silver bullion.
90% Silver Coins, Often Called Junk Silver
U.S. dimes, quarters and half dollars dated 1964 and earlier are 90% silver. Collectors call them junk silver, which only means they are usually traded for their silver content rather than as collectibles. They include Mercury and Roosevelt dimes, Washington quarters and Walking Liberty, Franklin and 1964 Kennedy half dollars. Junk silver is usually priced by its face value, because every dollar of face value holds about the same amount of silver. A few dates and mintmarks in these series are scarce, so it pays to have them checked before you sell by the bag. See our page for junk silver buyers.
40% Silver Coins
Kennedy half dollars from 1965 to 1970 are 40% silver, so they hold less than half the silver of a 1964 half. Some Eisenhower dollars made for collectors in the early 1970s are also 40% silver. Keep these apart from your 90% silver, because they are priced differently.
Silver Dollars and Collector Silver
Morgan and Peace dollars, earlier silver dollars and older silver coins such as Seated Liberty and Barber coins can be worth well above their silver value. Their date, mintmark, condition and demand all matter. Certified coins in holders from PCGS, NGC or ANACS, and coins with original, uncleaned surfaces, often bring the most. Read more on our silver dollar buyer page.
If you are not sure which group a coin belongs in, set it aside. We sort and check every coin during a free appraisal.
What Silver Coin Buyers Look For
A good buyer looks at each group of silver differently. Here is what an experienced buyer checks:
- Silver content. For bullion and junk silver, the value starts with how much pure silver the coins hold. That depends on the weight and the fineness, or purity, of each coin.
- The spot price. The spot price of silver changes throughout the trading day, so an offer for bullion or junk silver is tied to the spot price at the time of the offer.
- Product and premium. Government bullion coins such as Silver Eagles often bring a higher premium than generic rounds or bars.
- Key dates and mintmarks. A scarce date or mintmark can turn a coin that looks like junk silver into a collector coin.
- Condition and eye appeal. For collector silver, the grade makes a large difference. Toning, luster and strike also matter.
- Original surfaces. Cleaned coins are worth less, sometimes much less. Never polish or dip silver coins before you sell them.
The table below shows the silver content of some of the most common U.S. silver coins.
| Coin | Silver content | Usually priced by |
|---|---|---|
| American Silver Eagle | 1 troy ounce of .999 fine silver | Spot price plus a premium |
| Pre-1965 dimes, quarters and halves | 90% silver, about 0.715 troy ounces per $1 face value | Face value, tied to the spot price |
| 1965 to 1970 Kennedy half dollars | 40% silver, about 0.148 troy ounces each | Silver content |
| Morgan and Peace dollars | 90% silver, about 0.773 troy ounces each | Silver content or collector value, whichever is higher |
For more on silver dollars and melt value, see our page on 90% silver coin value.
How Selling Silver Coins Works
Selling silver is simple once your coins are sorted. Here is how the process usually works:
- Count and list your silver. Write down what you have in each group: the number of bullion coins and bars, the face value of your 90% and 40% silver, and the dates of any silver dollars or older coins.
- Leave the coins as they are. Keep rolls, tubes, holders and original packaging intact. Do not clean anything.
- Get a free appraisal. Send a list and photos to a reputable dealer. An experienced buyer will point out any collector coins hiding among the bullion and junk silver.
- Compare written offers. Ask for an itemized written offer, so you can see what each group is worth. You are welcome to compare our offer with others.
- Ship or meet, then get paid. Ship your silver fully insured, or for larger amounts, meet the buyer in person, and get paid when you accept the offer.
Selling everything by weight without checking for scarce dates is one of the most common mistakes silver sellers make. Our guide on what to avoid when selling your 90% silver coins covers the others.
What to Expect When You Sell Silver Coins
When you sell your silver coins to American Rarities, you can expect:
- A free appraisal. There is never a fee for our appraisal, and appraisals are usually done within 24 hours.
- A written offer. We list each group of silver with our price, so you can see how we arrived at the total. No one pays you more.
- Honest advice. We tell you which coins are worth their silver content and which are worth more to collectors.
- A choice of how to sell. You can ship your silver to us fully insured at our expense, or for larger collections we can meet you at your bank. If you decline, we return your items fully insured.
- Fast payment. When you accept our offer, we pay you immediately by cash, check, ACH or wire.
If your silver is part of a larger collection, see our guides on how to sell a coin collection and how to sell gold coins, or browse all of our how-to-sell guides. You can also read more on our sell my silver coins page.
Ready to Sell Your Silver Coins?
Whether you have a few Silver Eagles, a bag of old dimes and quarters or a lifetime collection of silver dollars, the steps are the same: sort your silver, leave it uncleaned, get a free appraisal and compare written offers. We have bought silver coins from collectors, families and estates since 1990, and we would be glad to help you.
How We Buy Silver Coins
Send Photos and/or a List
Send us a list of your silver, photos, or both. For bullion and junk silver, a count and the face value are enough to start. Text them to 720-600-4740, email staff@americanrarities.com or use the form further down this page.
Free Appraisal and Written Offer
We send you a free, no-obligation written offer that lists each group of silver with our price. Appraisals are usually done within 24 hours, and you are welcome to compare our offer with others.
Ship or Meet
Ship your silver to us fully insured at our expense, or for larger collections we can meet you at your bank. If you decline our offer, we return your items fully insured.
Get Paid
When you accept our offer, we pay you immediately by cash, check, ACH or wire, whichever you prefer. There is never a fee for our appraisal.
American Rarities holds a 4.7-star Google rating and an A+ rating with the BBB, we are ANA Life Members, and we are an authorized PCGS, NGC and ANACS dealer. Learn more on our pages to sell silver coins and to sell silver bullion.
You can also call 800-622-5680. Calls go to our answering service, so leave a message and we will call you back. Or visit our contact a rare coin buyer page.
How to Sell Silver Coins: Frequently Asked Questions
What is the best way to sell silver coins?
Sort your silver into bullion, 90% silver, 40% silver and collector coins, and do not clean anything. Then get a free appraisal and an itemized written offer from an experienced dealer. Selling to one reputable buyer who checks every coin for collector value is usually the simplest and safest way.
How are silver coins priced?
Bullion and common silver coins are priced from their silver content and the current spot price of silver. Collector coins, such as scarce dates, high grades and many silver dollars, are priced by their collector value, which can be far above the silver value.
What is junk silver?
Junk silver is a nickname for circulated U.S. dimes, quarters and half dollars dated 1964 and earlier, which are 90% silver. They are usually traded for their silver content and priced by face value, although a few scarce dates are worth more.
Are Kennedy half dollars silver?
The 1964 Kennedy half dollar is 90% silver. Kennedy halves from 1965 to 1970 are 40% silver, and most later Kennedy halves made for circulation contain no silver.
Should I clean my silver coins before selling them?
No. Cleaning, polishing or dipping silver coins leaves fine scratches and removes the original surface, which lowers the value of collector coins. Leave your coins exactly as they are.
Do you buy silver bars and rounds as well as coins?
Yes. We buy silver bullion coins, bars and rounds, 90% and 40% silver coins, silver dollars and collector silver coins, so you can sell all of your silver in one transaction.
How do you pay when I sell my silver coins?
When you accept our offer, we pay you immediately by cash, check, ACH or wire, whichever you prefer. Appraisals are usually done within 24 hours, there is never a fee for our appraisal, and if you decline, we return your items fully insured.
Free Silver Coin Appraisal and Offer
Email, Text, or Use This Form To Send Us Your Inventory List or Pictures
Email: staff@americanrarities.com | Text: 720-600-4740
