Junk silver

Junk Silver. From top left: Silver dimes in paper holders, a roll of dimes and a mixed-loose lot of half dollars, quarters, dimes and "wartime" nickels.

Junk silver is an informal term used in the United States, United Kingdom, Canada and Australia for any silver coin which is in fair condition and has no numismatic or collectible value above the bullion value of the silver it contains. Such coins are popular among people seeking to invest in silver, particularly in small amounts. The word "junk" refers only to the value of the coins as collectibles and not to the actual condition of the coins; junk silver is not necessarily scrap silver.

Precious metals including silver are measured in troy ounces (ozt). A spot price for silver is the price for a troy ounce of silver which is 99.9-percent pure, or 999 fine. Silver coins including junk-silver coins have set silver-alloy contents ranging from 35-percent to 90-percent or more. The term "coin silver," for example, refers to 90-percent silver alloy which was the most common alloy used to mint silver U.S. coins.

Any combination of 90-percent silver U.S. coins which have a face value of US$1.00 contains 0.715 troy ounces of 99.9-percent silver (0.7234 troy ounces if uncirculated). In other words, a full troy ounce of 99.9-percent silver is contained in any combination of 90-percent silver U.S. coins which have a face value of US$1.40.

Common U.S. coins

The most commonly collected junk-silver U.S. coins were minted before 1965 and include Morgan and Peace dollars; Liberty Head "Barber," Walking Liberty, Franklin and Kennedy half dollars; Liberty Head "Barber," Standing Liberty and Washington quarters; Liberty Head "Barber," Winged Liberty Head "Mercury" and Roosevelt dimes; and Jefferson "Wartime" nickels.

Dollars

• Morgan (1878-1921) -- 90-percent silver
• Peace (1921-1928 and 1934-1935) -- 90-percent silver

Half-Dollars

• Liberty Head "Barber" (1892-1915) -- 90-percent silver
• Walking Liberty (1916-1947) -- 90-percent silver
• Franklin (1948-1963) -- 90-percent silver
• Kennedy (1964) -- 90-percent silver
• Kennedy (1965-1970) -- 40-percent silver

Quarters

• Liberty Head "Barber" (1892-1916) -- 90-percent silver
• Standing Liberty (1916-1930) -- 90-percent silver
• Washington (1932, 1934-1964) -- 90-percent silver

Dimes

• Liberty Head "Barber" (1892-1916) -- 90-percent silver
• Winged Liberty Head "Mercury" (1916-1945) -- 90-percent silver
• Roosevelt (1946-1964) -- 90-percent silver

Nickels

• Jefferson "Wartime" (1942 (partial)-1945) -- 35-percent silver

Common U.K. coins

The most commonly collected junk-silver U.K. coins were minted before 1946 and include Edward VII, George V and George VI crowns; as well as Victoria, Edward VII, George V and George VI half crowns, florins, shillings, six pences, and three pences.

Crowns

• Edward VII (1902) -- 92.5-percent silver
• George V (1927-1936) -- 50-percent silver
• George VI (1937) -- 50-percent silver

Half Crowns

• Victoria (1837-1901) -- 92.5-percent silver
• Edward VII (1902-1910) -- 92.5-percent silver
• George V (1911-1919) -- 92.5-percent silver
• George V (1920-1936) -- 50-percent silver
• George VI (1937-1946) -- 50-percent silver

Florins (2 Shillings)

• Victoria (1849-1901) -- 92.5-percent silver
• Edward VII (1902-1910) -- 92.5-percent silver
• George V (1911-1919) -- 92.5-percent silver
• George V (1920-1936) -- 50-percent silver
• George VI (1937-1946) -- 50-percent silver

Shillings

• Victoria (1838-1901) -- 92.5-percent silver
• Edward VII (1902-1910) -- 92.5-percent silver
• George V (1911-1919) -- 92.5-percent silver
• George V (1920-1936) -- 50-percent silver
• George VI (1937-1946) -- 50-percent silver

Six Pences

• Victoria (1837-1901) -- 92.5-percent silver
• Edward VII (1902-1910) -- 92.5-percent silver
• George V (1911-1920) -- 92.5-percent silver
• George V (1920-1936) -- 50-percent silver
• George VI (1937-1946) -- 50-percent silver

Three Pences

• Victoria (1838-1901) -- 92.5-percent silver
• Edward VII (1902-1910) -- 92.5-percent silver
• George V (1911-1920) -- 92.5-percent silver
• George V (1920-1936) -- 50-percent silver
• George VI (1937-1945) -- 50-percent silver

Other countries

Some Swedish coins with 80% silver content.

Canadian quarter and dime coins minted before 1967 contained 80-percent silver. In 1967, they were minted in coins which contained either 80-percent or 50-percent silver. In 1968, they were minted in coins which contained either 50-percent silver or 100% nickel. Dollar and half-dollar coins contained 80-percent silver through 1967.

Australian "pre-silver" florin, shilling, sixpence and threepence coins minted from 1910 to 1945 contained 92.5-percent silver. From 1946 to 1964, they were minted in "post-silver" coins which contained 50-percent silver. In 1966, the "round" 50-cent coin contained 80-percent silver.

Popularity

Junk-silver coins may be a desirable method of investing in silver for several reasons:

Low premiums

Coins can often be purchased for little or no premium over the spot price of silver, particularly during periods of economic stability.

Legal tender

Coins remain legal tender and maintain their face value regardless of the price of silver.

Recognition

Coins are familiar and less likely to have their value disputed than silver rounds or bars.

Divisibility

Coins can be easily spent or traded in small amounts. In contrast, minted silver bullion is rarely smaller than a troy ounce, while minted gold bullion (and other precious metals) is highly valued in even small amounts, like the American Gold Eagle coins.

For these reasons, junk silver is popular among survivalists. In the event of a crisis or catastrophe during which traditional currency collapses, it is speculated that silver coins could provide a viable alternative, temporarily or indefinitely, while fiat currency, which is not backed by precious metals or other commodities, has no inherent value and can be subject to extreme inflation, even hyperinflation, similar to Weimar Germany and, more recently, Zimbabwe. Proponents of junk silver and other precious metals adhere to the principle that, while fiat currencies have historically been subject to hyperinflation, precious metals will always have inherent value and can act as a medium of financial exchange when fiat currencies are obsolete.

Junk copper

Some coin collectors and investors are also informally using the term "junk copper" to refer to any copper-bullion coins of no numismatic value. Prominent examples include U.S. pennies minted before 1982 (partial), Canadian pennies minted before 1997, and some pre-Euro copper European coins. One hundred fifty-four junk-copper U.S. pennies contain a full pound of fine copper.

See also

• Coin collecting