Scrap Silver Calculator

Calculate the melt value of sterling, coin, or fine silver from weight and purity, add pre-1965 U.S. silver coins by face value, and estimate a buyer offer.

$
Dimes, quarters, and half dollars dated 1964 or earlier. Valued at 0.715 troy oz of silver per $1 of face value.
$ /troy oz
COMEX front-month price when this page was last built. Refreshes on load; edit to use a different price.
%
Share of melt value the buyer pays; 70% to 90% is common for sterling and coin silver.
Estimated Cash Offer
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Melt Value
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Pure Silver Content
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Value per Gram at This Purity
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Silver in Coins
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With the default inputs (Weight of silver items 100; Silver spot price $66.47; Buyer payout 80%; Weight unit Grams; Purity Sterling .925), this calculator returns Estimated Cash Offer $158.14, Melt Value $197.68 and Pure Silver Content 2.974 troy oz.

How purity changes the result

Every row is computed with this page's own calculator. Change the inputs above to model your own numbers.

Melt Value by purity (other inputs held at: Weight of silver items 100; Silver spot price $66.47; Buyer payout 80%; Weight unit Grams)
PurityMelt ValueEstimated Cash Offer
Fine silver .999$213.49$170.79
Britannia .958$204.73$163.78
Sterling .925$197.68$158.14
Coin silver .900$192.34$153.87
European .800$170.96$136.77

Key Takeaways

  • Silver purity determines how much entered weight becomes pure silver content.
  • Pre-1965 coin face value adds silver using 0.715 troy ounces per dollar.
  • The payout percentage converts silver melt value into an estimated buyer offer.
  • Weighted or plated objects can have far less value than scale weight suggests.

How to Use This Scrap Silver Calculator

Enter the weight of the silver items and choose the corresponding unit. Select the purity, such as sterling .925, and enter the silver spot price per troy ounce. If the lot includes circulated pre-1965 U.S. dimes, quarters, or half dollars, enter their combined face value separately. Set the buyer payout to estimate an offer below full melt value.

Common silver purities include fine silver .999, Britannia .958, sterling .925, U.S. coin silver .900, and .800 silver used in much European silverware. Sterling is usually stamped 925. Confirm that the item is solid silver rather than silver plate before treating its full weight as silver.

How the Math Works

Pure silver troy ounces = weight in grams × purity ÷ 31.1035, plus coin face value × 0.715. Melt value = pure silver troy ounces × spot price. Cash offer = melt value × payout.
  • Weight in grams is the entered item weight after conversion from the selected unit.
  • Purity is the decimal share of the item weight treated as silver.
  • 31.1035 is the number of grams in one troy ounce.
  • Coin face value is the denomination total of eligible circulated pre-1965 U.S. silver coins.
  • Spot price is the entered market price for one troy ounce of silver.
  • Payout is the buyer's share of calculated melt value.

Example Calculation

Using the shipped defaults, enter 100 grams of silver items, choose Sterling .925, leave pre-1965 U.S. 90% silver coin face value at $0, use a silver spot price of $66.47, and set the buyer payout to 80.

The item calculation produces Pure Silver Content: 2.974 troy oz, while the unused coin field produces Silver in Coins: 0.000 troy oz. At the entered purity and price, the result is Value per Gram at This Purity: $1.98. The complete valuation is Melt Value: $197.68, and applying the payout gives Estimated Cash Offer: $158.14.

Tips for Getting the Most From This Calculator

  • Group items by purity so sterling, fine silver, and lower-purity pieces are not mixed together.
  • Use the coin face value field only for qualifying circulated pre-1965 dimes, quarters, and half dollars.
  • Look for 925 or sterling marks and avoid treating EPNS or silver plate as solid silver.
  • Account for filler in weighted sterling candlesticks and some handles before entering weight.
  • Edit the daily spot price field when valuing the silver with a different quotation.

Important Considerations

Circulated pre-1965 U.S. dimes, quarters, and half dollars are commonly valued in the trade at 0.715 troy ounces of silver per $1 of face value. Their mint weight was 0.7234 troy ounces before wear. The separate coin field prevents those coins from being treated like ordinary weighed silver.

Silver-plated items contain only a thin surface layer and have essentially no melt value. Weighted pieces may contain filler, making their silver value much lower than their scale weight suggests. For gold jewelry and other gold items, use the Scrap Gold Calculator. For recyclable copper, use the Scrap Copper Calculator.

Frequently Asked Questions

How is sterling silver value calculated?
Sterling silver is treated as 92.5% silver. The calculator converts the entered weight to grams, multiplies it by .925, and converts the pure silver amount to troy ounces. That content is then multiplied by the entered silver spot price.
Which pre-1965 coins belong in the face value field?
The field is intended for circulated pre-1965 U.S. dimes, quarters, and half dollars made from 90% silver. Their trade valuation uses 0.715 troy ounces of silver per $1 of face value, reflecting wear below the original mint weight.
Does silver plate have meaningful melt value?
Silver-plated objects contain only a thin silver surface layer and have essentially no melt value. Marks such as EPNS or silver plate indicate plating. A 925 or sterling mark is a more relevant sign that an item is sterling silver.
Why can weighted sterling show an overstated value?
Weighted sterling pieces, including candlesticks and some handles, can contain filler beneath a silver exterior. A scale measures both the silver and the filler. Entering the entire weight as sterling therefore can produce a melt value far above the actual silver content.
What does the buyer payout percentage mean?
The buyer payout is the percentage of calculated melt value used to estimate a cash offer. A lower percentage produces a lower offer without changing the underlying pure silver content or melt value. Actual buyer terms can differ from the entered assumption.