Is Your Change Worth More Than You Think?

photo by Chris Dlugosz (Cubosh) via Flickr.com

The coins in your pockets may have clearly marked face values, but they could be worth a lot more than they let on. Prior to 1965, dimes, quarters, and half dollars contained 90 percent silver, and many of them are still in circulation today—and while they are still accepted as valid currency, you can also sell those coins for much more than they say they’re worth.

The coins are made with silver contents proportionate to their denominations, so every $1 in any combination of pre-1965 dimes, quarters, and half dollars contains .715 troy ounces of silver. The quickest way to check if your change is worth more than face value is to look at the edges: if they have a brown tinge to them (and it’s not just dirt), they probably have a copper core. But if they’re shiny silver, it’s worth taking a closer look at the date.

Cash in on Silver Coins

The US stopped minting silver coins for circulation because the melt value of the coins began to exceed their face values, and that is still true today. With free shipping and no hidden brokerage or assay fees, you can sell those coins to Cash for Silver USA both risk- and hassle-free. Use our silver calculator to find out the true value of your silver coins today.