What Is Melt Value?
Melt value is the raw metal value of a coin or bar based on its silver content and the current spot price. It represents the minimum value — what the item would be worth if melted down. Actual resale value may be higher due to premiums, numismatic value, or collector demand.
How Is Junk Silver Melt Value Calculated?
Pre-1965 US dimes, quarters, half dollars, and dollars contain 90% silver. Each denomination has a known silver weight: a quarter contains 0.1808 troy oz, a half dollar contains 0.3617 troy oz, etc. Multiply the silver content by the spot price to get the melt value.