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Silver Coin Melt Values at Fresh Highs
October 11, 2009 by Silver Coins Today · Leave a Comment
Silver coin melt values registered fresh highs last week, displacing the previous peaks reported just three weeks ago. The gains came as a result of record silver prices, with London silver reaching $17.80 an ounce on Thursday.
Despite a 17 cent retreat on Friday to $17.63 an ounce, the metal is sporting an incredible gain of $6.84, or 63.4 percent, for the year as compared to the $10.79 closing price on Dec. 31, 2008. And with that, it’s a good time to again look at how the intrinsic values of 90 percent silver coins have jumped.
Silver Coins Today has tables of silver coin values and several country coin melt calculators for just this occasion, making the process simplistic. As a quick reference and to show how much intrinsic coin values have increased in 2009 alone, here is a sampling output based on the US silver coin melt calculator at Friday’s $17.63 silver price.
Old Silver Coin Melt Values
| Silver Coin Types | Year of Issue |
Coin Face Values |
Coin Melt Values |
2009 Increase |
| Jefferson War Nickel |
1942-1945
|
$0.05
|
$0.99
|
$0.38
|
| Mercury Dime |
1916-1945
|
$0.10
|
$1.28
|
$0.50
|
| Roosevelt Dime |
1946-1964
|
$0.10
|
$1.28
|
$0.50
|
| Washington Quarter |
1932-1964
|
$0.25
|
$3.19
|
$1.24
|
| Walking Liberty Half Dollar |
1916-1947
|
$0.50
|
$6.38
|
$2.48
|
| Franklin Half Dollar |
1948-1963
|
$0.50
|
$6.38
|
$2.48
|
| Kennedy Half Dollar |
1964
|
$0.50
|
$6.38
|
$2.48
|
| Kennedy Half Dollar |
1965-1970
|
$0.50
|
$2.61
|
$1.01
|
| Morgan Dollar |
1878-1921
|
$1.00
|
$13.64
|
$5.29
|
| Peace Dollar |
1921-1935
|
$1.00
|
$13.64
|
$5.29
|
| Eisenhower Dollar (40%) |
1971-1976
|
$1.00
|
$5.57
|
$2.16
|
| Silver Eagle (1 oz) |
1986-2009
|
$1.00
|
$17.63
|
$6.84
|
The "junk silver coins" description is often used by coin collectors to refer to older 90 percent silver coins with intrinsic silver or melt values that are worth more than their numismatic values. The old term is used to this day, but the coins are far from junk as the above prices show.
Their buying and selling activity is at a high. As an example, a search on eBay with the keywords "90% Silver Coins" currently shows more than 730 active listings. When we discussed this topic three weeks back, there were 580 active listing.
As another follow-up, using the Silver Coins Today page Silver Coins: Prices & Sales, the following table was produced to highlight how much collector coin melt values have increased between their issue date and up through Friday.
US Mint 2009 Silver Coin Intrinsic Values
| Issue Date | Intro Price | Final Price | London Silver Price on Issue Date | Total Silver Included (troy oz) | Melt Value on Issue Date | Melt Value on Oct. 9 | Melt Value Increase | |
| Lincoln Silver Dollar – Uncirculated | Feb. 12 | $31.95 | $33.95 | $13.34 | 0.773 | $10.32 | $13.64 | $3.32 |
| Lincoln Silver Dollar – Proof | Feb. 12 | $37.95 | $41.95 | $13.34 | 0.773 | $10.32 | $13.64 | $3.32 |
| Quarters Silver Proof Set | Mar. 23 | n/a | $29.95 | $13.76 | 0.868 | $14.93 | $19.13 | $4.20 |
| Braille Silver Dollar – Uncirculated | Mar. 26 | $31.95 | $33.95 | $13.60 | 0.773 | $10.52 | $13.64 | $3.12 |
| Braille Silver Dollar – Proof | Mar. 26 | $37.95 | $41.95 | $13.60 | 0.773 | $10.52 | $13.64 | $3.12 |
| 2009 US Mint Silver Proof Set | Jul. 17 | n/a | $52.95 | $13.16 | 1.519 | $19.99 | $26.78 | $6.79 |
Now these coins and sets are obviously not within the "junk silver" realm. Their true values are mostly dictated by their numismatic worth. However, secondary market prices fluctuate based on large precious metal price swings.
