Barber Dime melt value & silver content
1892–1916 · 90% silver · 0.07234 troy oz of pure silver per coin.
What a Barber Dime is worth
The melt value of a Barber Dime is its 0.07234 troy oz of pure silver multiplied by the silver spot price. It contains 90% silver, and at a face value of $0.10 that works out to 0.7234 troy oz of silver for every dollar of face value. The calculator above uses the current spot price, so the figure it shows is what the silver in the coin is worth right now.
Melt value is a floor, not a price. A Barber Dime in collectible grade, or a scarce date, can be worth well above its silver. Dealers also buy under melt and sell over it — the spread is how they make money, so expect to pay a premium buying and receive a discount selling.
What a Barber Dime works out to
| Quantity | Silver | Melt value |
|---|---|---|
| One coin | 0.07234 oz | — |
| A troy ounce of silver | 13.8 coins | — |
| $1.00 of face value | 10 coins | — |
| A roll of 50 | 3.617 oz | — |
Melt value updates with the spot price above.
Silver standards in United States
United States silver coinage ran at 90% fine through 1964. Half dollars continued at 40% from 1965 to 1970, and nothing struck for circulation after that carries silver.
Because dimes, quarters and halves were all struck to the same standard, a dollar of face value in any mix of them holds the same silver — about 0.715 troy oz once circulated. That constant is what this site is named after.
Key dates to look for
- Key1894-SOne of the great US rarities — 24 were struck and nine are known today.
- Key1895-OLowest mintage of the regular issues.
- Semi-key1901-S, 1903-SBoth scarce in any grade.
Dates like these are worth more than their silver, so check the date and mintmark before anyone values your coin by weight alone.