Junk Silver Dimes
Buying junk silver is popular for silver stackers. Certain dimes contain 90% silver, classifying them as junk silver. So, which dimes are silver? If you are shopping for dimes with 90% silver, look for Mercury or Roosevelt dimes minted in 1964 or earlier. These coins were struck in a 90% silver alloy and boast a melt value high above their face value. “Junk silver” is a colloquial term; these coins are not junk. They have a considerable metal content and a fair melt value, making them an excellent way to begin investing in silver.
Silver Dime Years
Determining if your dime is silver is easy and takes just a few moments. You will be looking for the following:
- The mintage year. Mercury and Roosevelt dimes produced in 1964 or before contain silver. These dimes are “junk silver” and have 90% silver content.
- Whitish color and lustrous glow. While the year of mintage is the easiest giveaway, the lustrous appearance of these coins helps assure you of their metal content.
- The coin’s edge will be silver all the way through, with no line of other metal at its core.
Value of Dimes that Contain Silver?
Some dimes with numismatic value are especially appealing to collectors, but investors’ primary interest in dimes will be for the melt value of their silver. Junk silver dimes are valuable based on their 90% silver metal content. Collecting silver dimes is an easy way to obtain silver at a low premium, while also offering the opportunity to own beautiful silver coins.
How Much Silver is in a Mercury Dime?
The Mercury Dime is one of the most collected coins ever minted in the United States. Originally known as the Winged Liberty Head Dime, it was minted from 1916 through 1945. The whimsical design features Lady Liberty in profile, wearing a winged Phrygian cap. Designed by Adolph A. Weinman, this image was often confused with the Roman god Mercury, and through the years this coin became exclusively known as the Mercury Dime. The reverse design showcases fasces, the symbol of authority held by the lictors who escorted Roman magistrates.
The Value of Mercury Dimes
In addition to the popular design, Mercury dimes are highly collectible for their 90% silver content. In total, there are 77 different combinations of mint and date within the Mercury Dime series. Each coin is made up of 90% silver and 10% copper. With a total weight of 2.5 grams, each coin contains .0723 ounces of silver. While the current price of silver fluctuates, in today’s market, the value of the Silver in a Mercury Dime far exceeds face value.
