Current Melt Value Of Coins - How Much Is Your Coin Worth?

Coin values updated on May 08, 2008

"Forever" Stamp Sales Surge Before Rate Increase
MSN Money

I still think the post office's definition of "forever" will only be 3 or 4 years. The kind of inflation we're going to see (already seeing) will force them to renege.
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Thursday's Featured Auction:
1400 Pre-1982 Copper Cents - 28 Rolls

More Coin and Inflation Articles - Updated May 08, 2008

May 08 - Pair Arrested For Stealing Swimming Pool New Haven Advocate
May 08 - On The Pot-Holed Highway To Hell Financial Times
May 07 - "Coinflation" May Bring Back Steel Pennies - And Nickels Asbury Park Press
May 07 - How to Collect and Store Coins Numismaster
May 06 - Washington D.C. Could Use Change For Its Quarter Washington Post
May 06 - Why The Bank Hates Your Coins MSN Money
May 06 - Letter To The Editor: A Brief Lesson On Inflation Gilroy Dispatch
May 06 - Missing Brass Fittings Cause Chemical Spill Mercury News
May 05 - People Don't Want Dollar Coins, Harris Poll Says American Coin-Op
May 05 - Metals Surge as Rationing Cuts Power at Biggest Mines Bloomberg
May 05 - IRS Wants Piece Of Action If You Sell Old Coins Orlando Sentinel
May 05 - Rumors Of Shortage Prompt Rush On Rice In Anchorage Juneau Empire

» More Articles | Submit Article

United States Circulating Coinage Intrinsic Value Table

This table does not reflect U.S. Mint production costs, but the pure base metal value that composes the coin. Calculations are based on coin weight, metal composition, and base metal prices. The "Metal % of Denomination" column represents the percentage of metal that comprises the denomination's purchasing power. A coin that is over 100% in this category has more base metal value than purchasing power.

Table based on May 08, 2008 closing base metal prices:

Copper $3.8436/lb

0.0479

Zinc $0.9878/lb

0.0211

Nickel $12.4042/lb

0.4158

Description		Denomination	Metal Value	Metal % of Denomination
	1909-1982 Cent (95% copper) *	$0.01	$0.0253738	253.73%
	1946-2008 Nickel	$0.05	$0.0659587	131.91%
	1982-2008 Cent (97.5% zinc) *	$0.01	$0.0058375	58.37%
	1965-2008 Dime	$0.10	$0.0227820	22.78%
	1965-2008 Quarter	$0.25	$0.0569577	22.78%
	1971-2008 Half Dollar	$0.50	$0.1139166	22.78%
	1971-1978 Eisenhower	$1.00	$0.2278345	22.78%
	1979-1981, 1999 SBA Dollar	$1.00	$0.0813684	8.13%
	2000-2008 Sacagawea Dollar	$1.00	$0.0673790	6.73%
	2007-2008 Presidential Dollar	$1.00	$0.0673790	6.73%
* The U.S. Mint issued both compositions in 1982; they can be differentiated by weight (3.11 g copper, 2.5 g zinc). The 1943 steel cent is not included in the table above. Also, a tin alloy is used in one cent pieces from 1864 until 1962, but that value isn't significant enough to calculate.

United States Circulated Silver Coinage Intrinsic Value Table

These coins were in standard circulation until silver was removed from all coinage in 1965 and 1970 (40% silver half-dollars). I recognize that the silver Eisenhower dollar was issued as a collectible only, but I'm still categorizing it with this group. This table illustrates how far the metal value has progressed compared to the denomination's purchasing power after the debasement.

*** Check out our easy-to-print Silver Coin Value Guide including Canadian silver coins (you can also type SilverCoinValues.com to access this page directly).

Table based on May 08, 2008 1:30 PM EST precious metal prices (after-hour prices not reflected):
Silver $16.81/oz

0.21

Description		Denomination	Silver Value	Silver % of Denomination
	1942-1945 Nickel **	$0.05	$.9457	1891.58%
	1916-1945 Mercury Dime	$0.10	$1.2160	1216.02%
	1946-1964 Roosevelt Dime	$0.10	$1.2160	1216.02%
	1932-1964 Quarter	$0.25	$3.0400	1216.02%
	1916-1947 Half Dollar	$0.50	$6.0801	1216.02%
	1948-1963 Half Dollar	$0.50	$6.0801	1216.02%
	1964 Kennedy Half Dollar	$0.50	$6.0801	1216.02%
	1965-1970 Half Dollar (40% silver)	$0.50	$2.4860	497.21%
	1878-1921 Morgan Dollar	$1.00	$13.0017	1300.17%
	1921-1935 Peace Dollar	$1.00	$13.0017	1300.17%
	1971-1976 Eisenhower Dollar (40% silver)	$1.00	$5.3159	531.59%
** The U.S. Mint issued two compositions of the nickel in 1942. The standard copper-nickel composition used today and the 35% silver composition listed here.

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