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U.S. Silver Coinage
Pre-1965
Pre-1965
Silver Coins
Gulf Coast Coin & Jewelry buys and sells U.S. silver coinage—from individual coins and rolls to full bags and larger quantities.
Buying Physical Silver?
Buy 90% Silver at Spot.
Pre-1965 U.S. dimes, quarters and half dollars are one way to buy physical silver in familiar, recognizable American coinage.
Gulf Coast actively buys and sells 90% silver coinage. When available, ask us about purchasing 90% silver at spot.
Inventory changes with the market, so contact us for current availability and larger quantities.
Understanding Silver
What Does “Face Value” Mean?
When silver buyers and sellers talk about “face value,” they're talking about the denomination printed on the coins— not the current value of the silver.
10 Dimes
10 × 10¢
4 Quarters
4 × 25¢
2 Half Dollars
2 × 50¢
$1 Face ≈ 0.715 Troy Oz. Silver
For circulated 90% U.S. silver dimes, quarters and half dollars, approximately 0.715 troy ounce of silver per $1 face value is commonly used to account for normal circulation wear.
One Full Bag
$1,000 Face
Approximately 715 troy ounces of silver using the
common circulated 90% silver approximation.
What Is a “Bag” of Silver?
In the precious-metals trade, a full bag of 90% silver generally refers to $1,000 in face value of U.S. silver dimes, quarters or half dollars.
You do not need a full bag to do business with Gulf Coast. We buy and sell individual coins, rolls, partial bags, full bags and larger quantities.
What We Buy & Sell
Common U.S. 90% Silver Coinage
This guide starts with Barber coinage introduced in 1892 and covers the silver dimes, quarters and half dollars customers commonly bring to Gulf Coast through 1964.
90% Silver
Silver Dimes
- Barber Dime — 1892–1916
- Mercury Dime — 1916–1945
- Roosevelt Dime — 1946–1964
90% Silver
2.5 g
17.9 mm
Approx. .0723 oz ASW
90% Silver
Silver Quarters
- Barber Quarter — 1892–1916
- Standing Liberty Quarter — 1916–1930
- Washington Quarter — 1932–1964
90% Silver
6.25 g
24.3 mm
Approx. .1808 oz ASW
90% Silver
Silver Half Dollars
- Barber Half Dollar — 1892–1915
- Walking Liberty Half Dollar — 1916–1947
- Franklin Half Dollar — 1948–1963
- Kennedy Half Dollar — 1964
90% Silver
12.5 g
30.6 mm
Approx. .3617 oz ASW
We Buy More Than 90%
Other U.S. Silver Coinage
Not everything containing silver falls into the standard pre-1965 90% category. Gulf Coast buys these coins too.
40% Silver
1965–1970 Kennedy Half Dollars
After the 90% silver 1964 Kennedy half dollar, regular Kennedy half dollars dated 1965 through 1970 were struck with a 40% silver composition. Gulf Coast buys and sells these separately from standard 90% silver.
35% Silver
1942–1945 Wartime Jefferson Nickels
Certain Jefferson nickels produced during World War II contain 35% silver. These are not part of standard 90% silver face-value calculations, but Gulf Coast buys them too.
Buying or Selling
Quantity Is Everything.
Whether you're bringing us a few silver coins or discussing a much larger position, Gulf Coast actively trades physical silver.
Quantity can affect a transaction. If you're buying or selling a substantial amount, contact us before you come in so our precious-metals team knows what you're looking to do.
Individual Coins
Yes—we buy them.
Rolls
Bring them in.
Partial Bags
You don't need $1,000 face value.
Full Bags
$1,000 face value and larger quantities welcome.
Large Holdings
Call us to discuss quantity and current market conditions.
Before You Sell It for Silver
What If My Coin Is Worth More Than Melt?
Some silver coins have additional collector value because of their date, mintmark, variety, error, condition or collector demand.
Gulf Coast is a coin dealer as well as a precious-metals dealer. If something deserves to be evaluated as a collectible coin instead of ordinary silver, that's an important distinction to make before you sell it.
Think you may have something unusual? Don't clean it.
Send us clear pictures of the front and back first.
Send Coin Photos →
Common Questions
Silver Coin Questions
Should I clean my old silver coins?
No. Do not polish, scrub or otherwise clean an old coin before having it evaluated. Cleaning can alter the coin's original surfaces and may reduce its collector value. Bring it in exactly as you found it.
My coin doesn't have a mintmark. Is it rare?
Usually not. Many U.S. coins were produced without a mintmark, particularly coins struck at the Philadelphia Mint during many periods. A missing mintmark can matter on certain specific dates or varieties, but having no mintmark by itself does not make a coin rare.
How do I know if my silver coin is rare?
Age alone does not determine rarity. Date, mintmark, variety, errors, condition, surviving population and collector demand can all matter. If you're unsure, send Gulf Coast clear pictures of both sides before assuming the coin is only worth its silver content.
Are all old U.S. coins made of silver?
No. Coin composition depends on the denomination, date and issue. This page identifies some of the common U.S. silver coinage Gulf Coast regularly buys and sells, but an old date by itself does not necessarily mean a coin contains silver.
Are 1965–1970 Kennedy half dollars silver?
Yes. Regular Kennedy half dollars dated 1965 through 1970 contain 40% silver. The 1964 Kennedy half dollar contains 90% silver.
Are Jefferson nickels made of silver?
Most Jefferson nickels are not silver. Certain Jefferson nickels produced from 1942 through 1945 during World War II contain 35% silver. Gulf Coast buys these wartime silver nickels as well.
Do I need a full bag for Gulf Coast to buy my silver?
No. Gulf Coast buys individual silver coins, rolls, partial bags, full bags and larger quantities. You do not need $1,000 face value to sell your silver coins to us.
Can I buy 90% silver coins from Gulf Coast?
Yes, subject to current inventory. Gulf Coast actively buys and sells U.S. 90% silver coinage. Ask us about current availability, including 90% silver offered at spot when available.
Southwest Florida's Precious Metals & Coin Dealer
Buying Silver? Selling Silver?
From a few coins to rolls, bags and larger holdings, put Gulf Coast Coin & Jewelry's experience in the physical silver market to work for you.
All Internet and Website Prices are indicators ONLY. Must be confirmed by phone or in person. Price Subject to change quickly and without notice.