How many silver dimes to equal 1 ounce of silver
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Executive summary
Pre‑1965 U.S. dimes (90% silver) contain about 0.0715–0.0723 troy ounces of pure silver, so it takes roughly 14 such dimes to equal one troy ounce of silver (1 oz ÷ ~0.0723 ≈ 13.8 → commonly rounded to 14) [1] [2] [3]. Some sources give slightly different per‑coin figures—0.0715 oz (Money Metals) vs. 0.0723 oz (SDBullion/AccuratePMR)—which explains minor variation in the “14” calculation [1] [2] [4].
1. Why people ask “how many dimes to an ounce”
Collectors, investors and barterers want an easy conversion between face value and bullion weight: pre‑1965 dimes are common “junk silver” pieces sold by weight, so knowing that roughly 14 dimes equal one troy ounce simplifies pricing and small transactions [3] [5].
2. The arithmetic behind the headline number
U.S. dimes struck before 1965 weigh about 2.5 grams and are 90% silver, giving a pure silver content near 0.0715–0.0723 troy ounces per coin; dividing one troy ounce by that per‑coin silver content yields ≈13.8–14 dimes per ounce, which is why most dealers and guides state “14 dimes = 1 oz” [1] [2] [3].
3. Why some sources say 12 or 11.6 dimes
Older Q&A posts and some blog math use total coin weight rather than pure silver content or mistake troy ounce vs. avoirdupois ounce, producing numbers like ~11.6 or “12 dimes” per ounce; those figures are inconsistent with the standard 90% silver content and troy ounce (31.103 g) measure used by dealers [6] [7]. Verify whether a source is quoting pure silver content, gross coin weight, or using the wrong ounce definition before trusting a different count [6].
4. Practical dealer and melt‑value context
Dealers quote melt value by multiplying spot price by the pure silver per coin: for example, Money Metals lists 0.0715 oz per pre‑1965 dime and uses that to compute melt worth; SDBullion and others use 0.0723 oz and reach nearly identical market conclusions — the small numeric spread slightly shifts per‑coin melt value but not the practical “14 per ounce” rule of thumb [1] [2] [3].
5. Which dimes count and which do not
Only dimes minted with silver—generally pre‑1965 Roosevelt and earlier Mercury dimes—contain the quoted ~0.072 oz of silver. Modern clad dimes (post‑1964 production for Roosevelt design) contain no silver; using those modern weights produces totally different counts and is irrelevant to the “14 per ounce” statement [5] [2].
6. Disagreements and why they matter to you
Sources largely converge on the practical answer (≈14 dimes/oz), but they disagree slightly on the per‑coin decimal (0.0715 vs. 0.0723 oz). Those decimals matter if you’re calculating exact melt value at high silver prices or negotiating a bulk purchase; for casual conversion or barter the rounded “14” is reliable [1] [2] [3].
7. How to verify for your transaction
Ask the dealer which per‑coin silver content they use and whether they price by troy ounce; confirm coins are pre‑1965 90% silver. If precision matters, calculate using 31.103 grams per troy ounce and the exact silver grams per coin the seller cites (sources above show the typical per‑coin figures dealers use) [1] [2] [5].
Limitations and final note: available sources do not mention any authoritative U.S. Mint table in these search results giving a single definitive oz‑per‑dime number; instead, the listed dealer and bullion sites provide the working per‑coin figures that produce the common “14 dimes = 1 troy ounce” rule of thumb [1] [2] [3].