What are published fine weights for common U.S. silver coins (dime, quarter, half dollar, silver dollar)?
Executive summary
Pre-1965 circulating U.S. silver coins fall into two clear categories: the small change dimes/quarters were struck in 90% silver with modest actual silver weights, mid-sized half dollars held substantially more silver, and silver dollars exist in both 90% historical types and full‑ounce modern bullion issues — each with published fine weights collectors and melt‑value calculators routinely cite [1] [2] [3]. Recent reporting from the U.S. Mint on proof sets clarified that published weights can be expressed as grams or troy ounces and sometimes reflect lower specification limits rather than a change in metal content [4].
1. Dime: the little coin that still carries measurable silver
Pre‑1965 dimes (Mercury and Roosevelt types) were struck at about 2.50 grams total weight and at 90% silver content, yielding roughly 2.25 grams of fine silver, commonly quoted as about 0.0723 troy ounces of silver per coin [5] [1]. The U.S. Mint’s more recent practice of reporting weights in troy ounces for proof coins prompted questions, but the Mint confirmed the intrinsic silver content was not altered — the Mint sometimes used the lower limit of the manufacturing specification when converting grams to troy ounces for published listings [4].
2. Quarter: a compact but heavier silver content
Washington quarters struck 1932–1964 have a total weight of 6.25 grams and are 90% silver, which equals 5.625 grams of fine silver or about 0.1808 troy ounces per quarter; this is the figure most reference guides and bullion dealers use for pre‑1965 quarters [2] [1]. As with dimes, collectors should note published figures can appear in grams or troy ounces and that Mint documentation on proof sets has clarified the numbers reflect specification limits rather than a change to alloy composition [4].
3. Half dollar: where silver content jumps noticeably
Classic half dollars (Barber, Walking Liberty, Franklin, and pre‑1965 Kennedys) were struck at 12.50 grams total weight and 90% silver fineness, giving about 11.25 grams of pure silver per coin (approximately 0.3617 troy ounces) — a substantially larger silver weight than the dime or quarter [1] [2]. Important nuance: in 1965–1970 the half dollar’s silver content was reduced to 40% for circulation, and after 1970 circulating half dollars contained no silver; reference material and dealers distinguish the 90% “junk silver” half dollars from the later 40% issues [5].
4. Silver dollar: two families — 90% historic dollars and modern 1‑ounce bullion
Historic U.S. silver dollars such as Morgan and Peace dollars were made at roughly 26.73 grams total weight with 90% silver, which yields about 24.057 grams of fine silver per coin (roughly 0.7734 troy ounces) and is the standard “actual silver weight” cited for those series [6] [3]. By contrast, modern U.S. Mint bullion dollars (American Silver Eagles and similar one‑ounce legal‑tender silver dollars) contain a full troy ounce of fine silver — 31.1035 grams — explicitly guaranteed and stated by U.S. bullion specifications [7] [1]. Legal tolerances and statutory specifications also exist for minting and inscriptions on certain bullion issues, underscoring that “silver dollar” can mean different published fine weights depending on whether the coin is an historical 90% dollar or a modern 1.0 oz bullion dollar [8] [7].
5. Why published numbers sometimes look inconsistent — tolerances, formats, and eras
Reference tables from numismatic sites and bullion dealers list the same base numbers but can present them in grams or troy ounces, use nominal vs. lower‑limit spec weights, and separate 90% era coins from 40% or clad issues, which causes appearance of inconsistency unless those distinctions are noted [4] [1] [9]. Sources used here — U.S. Mint commentary in reporting, specialist bullion and numismatic summaries, and aggregated weight tables — agree on the fundamental fine weights once the coin type and era are specified [4] [2] [3].