Scrap Silver Calculator
Calculate the melt value of silver coins, jewelry, or flatware.
Enter weight, purity (sterling, fine, coin silver), and spot price to find your scrap value.
Scrap Silver Value
The melt (intrinsic) value of silver depends on weight, purity, and the current spot price. Silver is priced per troy ounce (31.1035 grams) on global commodity markets.
Formula:
Melt Value = Weight in Grams × Purity Fraction × (Spot Price per Troy Oz / 31.1035)
Common silver purities:
| Type | Purity | Common Use |
|---|---|---|
| Fine silver (.999) | 99.9% | Bullion bars and coins |
| Britannia (.958) | 95.8% | British hallmarked silver |
| Sterling (.925) | 92.5% | Most jewelry, flatware, hollowware |
| Coin silver (.900) | 90.0% | Pre-1965 US dimes, quarters, halves |
| Mexican silver (.720) | 72.0% | Older Mexican coins |
Identifying sterling silver: Look for hallmarks stamped into the piece:
- “925” or “STERLING” — US and international jewelry
- Lion passant — British sterling standard
- “800” or “830” — European silver (lower purity)
What dealers pay: Scrap silver dealers and pawn shops typically pay 70–90% of melt value. Coin dealers may pay more for numismatic (collector) value on key-date coins. Industrial buyers and refiners pay closest to spot price.
Pre-1965 US coins — a quick reference:
| Coin | Silver Weight (troy oz) |
|---|---|
| Dime | 0.0723 |
| Quarter | 0.1808 |
| Half dollar | 0.3617 |
| Silver dollar | 0.7734 |
Note: The silver spot price fluctuates daily. Always check the live spot price before selling. Silver is more volatile than gold and can move significantly in a single day.