Sell Silver Coins in Dallas
Most silver coins that come out of Dallas homes are pre-1965 dimes, quarters and halves, 90% silver and worth more than their face. Chris sorts them by type and date, pulls out any better dates, then weighs the rest and prices it off the live spot price while you watch.
By appointment with Chris, Monday to Friday, 9am to 5pm.
How silver coins are priced
Common 90% coins are priced on their silver. Each $1 in face value holds about 0.715 troy ounces of silver, so a coffee can of dimes can be counted by face and confirmed on the scale. Better dates come out of the pile first and are priced as collector coins.
$1 face in pre-1965 dimes (ten dimes) at today’s spot price
24.7 grams × 90% silver = 0.7147 troy oz × spot $59.08 = $42.23 in metal
Melt value only. Collector value, when a coin has it, is priced separately and shown to you at the table.
What changes a silver coin offer
- Metal content: 90% for coins before 1965, 40% for Kennedy halves from 1965 to 1970, and 35% for war nickels from 1942 to 1945.
- Better dates, like a 1916-D Mercury dime or a 1932-D or 1932-S Washington quarter, sell as collector coins.
- Wear matters on better dates, while common worn coins are priced on silver alone.
- Silver Eagles hold one troy ounce of .999 silver each and track the spot price closely.
- Circulating dimes and quarters from 1965 on are copper-nickel clad and carry no silver.
What happens at your appointment
- 1
Sort if you like
Separate dimes, quarters and halves if you have time, or bring them mixed and let Chris do it.
- 2
Pull the better dates
Every coin is looked over for date and mint mark before anything goes on the scale.
- 3
Weigh and test
The XRF reader confirms silver content on screen, and the Texas Department of Agriculture inspected scale gives the weight.
- 4
Get the total
You see the full figure in writing and can take payment that day or take the coins home.
Silver coins from Dallas homes
Silver coins are the most common thing Dallas families find when they clean out a house. They turn up in mason jars in a Garland garage, in a velvet bag in a dresser drawer in Oak Cliff, or in bank rolls a parent pulled from pocket change in the 1960s, when dimes and quarters stopped being made of silver.
The rule of thumb is simple. If a U.S. dime, quarter or half carries a date of 1964 or earlier, it is 90% silver. Kennedy halves from 1965 to 1970 are 40% silver. Jefferson nickels from 1942 to 1945 are 35% silver, and you can spot many of them by the large mint mark above Monticello on the back.
Dealers call the common 90% coins junk silver. The name sounds rough, but it only means the coins trade for their metal. About 0.715 troy ounces of silver sits in each $1 of face value, so $10 in face works out to a little over seven ounces.
Not every old coin in the jar is junk. A 1916 Mercury dime with a D mint mark, or a 1932 Washington quarter from Denver or San Francisco, sells as a collector coin. Barber coins and Walking Liberty halves in strong grades can also beat melt. Chris checks every date before a single coin is weighed.
Silver Eagles, made since 1986, each hold one troy ounce of .999 silver. They usually come in green Mint tubes or in the original boxes. Keep them in whatever they came in, and do not wipe or polish them, since rubbing shows on the bright fields.
Chris books appointments Monday to Friday, 9am to 5pm. Sellers from Mesquite, from Garland near the downtown square and from the Lakewood homes off Abrams Road often bring silver in one heavy box, and that is fine. Bring a driver's license or state ID, and plan on watching every coin get sorted, weighed and priced.
Common questions
How much silver is in a pre-1965 quarter?
Each $1 of 90% face holds about 0.715 troy ounces, so a quarter holds a quarter of that, close to 0.18 troy ounces.
Are 1965 and later coins silver?
Circulating dimes and quarters from 1965 on are clad with no silver. The one exception in pocket change is the Kennedy half dated 1965 to 1970, which still holds 40% silver. Halves after that are clad, apart from some collector issues.
What are war nickels?
Jefferson nickels made from 1942 to 1945 used an alloy with 35% silver. They are priced on that silver unless the date and grade call for more.
Do I need to count my coins before the appointment?
No. Counting by face value gives you a head start if you want one, but Chris sorts and weighs everything in front of you.
Are Silver Eagles worth more than other silver?
Each one holds a troy ounce of .999 silver and usually trades close to spot, often with a small premium over generic silver. Proof Silver Eagles in the original box can be priced a little differently.
Should I clean tarnished silver coins first?
No. Cleaning lowers the grade and strips the original surface. Bring them dark and dirty, just as you found them.
Get a free coin appraisal
Leave your name and number and tell us what you’re selling. Chris calls you back the same business day.
(469) 599-3283By appointment, Monday to Friday, 9am to 5pm
Serving Dallas, the Park Cities and nearby suburbs