90% and 40% Silver Bags

Ninety-percent silver bags are often referred to as 'junk silver' though this term can be misleading. Ninety-percent silver generally refers to pre-1965 circulated silver dimes, quarters and sometimes even half-dollars which were all comprised of 90% silver and 10% copper. These coins are generally sold in $1,000 bags which reflect their face value (i.e., the legal tender value of the coins). People refer to the face value because, regardless of the denomination of the coins, $1,000 bags all contain the same amount of silver which is generally 715 troy ounces (the gross weight of these bags are approximately 800 troy ounces or 54.85 pounds). These bags also come in half and quarter bags (i.e., $500 and $250 bags).

Silver bags can be purchased in bags of coins composed of either 90% or 40% silver.

90% Silver

90% silver bags are probably acquired more often than 40% silver; they contain worn pre-1965 dimes, quarters or half-dollars in any combination.

Prior to 1965, silver American coins were composed of 90% silver and 10% copper.

$1,000 face value bags of 90% silver weigh about 54-55 pounds and contain a gross weight of 800 troy ounces. The pure silver content of these coins is approximately 715 troy ounces.

40% Silver

40% silver bags consist of only circulated Kennedy clad half-dollars minted between 1965 and 1970. These coins have an outer layer composition of 80% silver and 20% copper and are bonded to an inner core of 20.9% silver and 79.1% copper. Slightly lighter than 90% bags, these $1,000 face value bags contain approximately 295 troy ounces of pure silver.

To acquire silver bags for your holdings, please call 1-877-376-2646 and speak to an Account Executive.