What is Junk Silver?

The How and What of Junk Silver

It almost seems like an oxymoron. How could something as precious as a silver coin be junk? To those new to the precious metals game, the term might be a bit misleading. 

This is because junk silver coins are genuinely sought after for their silver content. Junk silver is often defined as silver coins that were minted prior to 1965. These coins are made of 90% silver. Coins minted after ’65 to present day are more of a copper-nickel blend. 

Not all Junk Silver is Created Equal

There were years prior to 1965 when minted silver coins had less silver than others. As an example, the so called “war nickels” produced during America’s entry into World War II (1942-1945), are comprised of only 35 percent silver as the precious metal was reserved for wartime efforts. The Kennedy half dollar produced between 1965-1970 is only 40 percent silver and is therefore not as popular with junk silver enthusiasts. 

These are a few examples of how junk silver can differ from year-to-year and coin-to-coin. If the junk silver scavenger hunt has caught your attention, we recommend some due diligence. A little research might be in order so that you may know which silver coins would be more aligned with your particular wants or needs. 

Is Junk Silver Better for Investing and Collecting?

Junk Silver coins do not have any real numismatic value and are not generally considered collectables. So, why do people seek out junk silver coins? They are wanted for their heavy silver content and, therefore, preferred mostly by silver investors and coin dealers. 

If you choose to invest, we recommend you go big as junk silver can be a way to hedge against inflation. Back in its day, a silver quarter was worth its face value with 90% silver. However, today that quarter could be worth as much as 15 times that. 

Another small perk to investing in junk silver is that it’s just as easy to sell as it is to buy. Junk silver coins are a snap to authenticate because the date on the coin is all that’s really needed. Given its popularity, the market for junk silver is always available which makes it easy to move when or if needed.

The Junk Silver Summary

Junk silver is more about the hunt than anything. Those who are big into finding small treasures really take to seeking out, buying and trading junk silver. Yes, some of these coins can be worthy collectables but, for the most part, it’s simply about treasuring the precious metal from a bygone day when silver played a bigger role in the minting of U.S. coins.

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