Best Place to Buy Junk Silver Online

Constitutional Silver: What You Are Buying

"Junk silver" refers to pre-1965 US coins that contain 90% silver. The term is misleading: these coins have no numismatic premium and are valued purely for their silver content, but calling them "junk" undersells what are, in fact, recognizable, divisible, counterfeit-resistant silver assets.

The standard denominations are Roosevelt dimes, Washington quarters, and Kennedy/Walking Liberty/Franklin half dollars. All share the same 90% silver, 10% copper composition. A $1 face value of any denomination contains approximately 0.715 troy ounces of pure silver. At $30/oz silver, that means $1 FV has roughly $21.45 in melt value.

Dealers price junk silver per dollar of face value. A listing of "$1 FV 90% Silver Dimes" at $24.50 means you pay $24.50 for enough dimes to add up to $1 in face value (10 dimes). The premium over melt in this example would be $3.05 per $1 FV. Bags come in standard sizes: $100 FV (roughly 71.5 oz silver), $50 FV, $10 FV, and sometimes $5 FV or $1 FV increments.

Morgan and Peace silver dollars are sometimes categorized as junk silver, but they carry higher premiums due to collector demand. These dollars contain 0.7734 troy ounces of silver each. For pure silver accumulation, 90% dimes and quarters offer better value per ounce.

#1: SD Bullion

SD Bullion consistently offers the lowest junk silver premiums among major online dealers. Premiums on 90% silver coins run $2-4 per $1 FV over melt for wire/check payment. On a $100 FV bag (roughly 71.5 oz of silver), that premium advantage versus higher-priced dealers can save $100-200 on a single purchase.

SD Bullion carries dimes, quarters, and half dollars in standard bag sizes. The inventory rotates based on availability, so specific denominations may come and go. The price match guarantee applies: if another authorized dealer offers lower junk silver pricing, SD Bullion matches it.

Sorting options are functional but basic. You can filter by denomination and bag size, but the interface is not as refined as APMEX or JM Bullion for browsing junk silver subcategories. For buyers who know they want "$100 FV of the cheapest 90% silver available," SD Bullion delivers. For those who want to browse by denomination and year, the website falls short.

#2: APMEX

APMEX earns the #2 position not on price (premiums run $3-6 per $1 FV over melt, above the discount dealers) but on selection and sorting capability. APMEX carries the widest junk silver inventory by far: Mercury dimes, Roosevelt dimes, Washington quarters, Walking Liberty halves, Franklin halves, 1964 Kennedy halves, Morgan dollars, Peace dollars, and Barber coins across multiple bag sizes.

The sorting and filtering on APMEX's website allows buyers to shop by denomination, condition, year range, and bag size. This matters for junk silver buyers who have specific preferences. Some buyers prefer Mercury dimes for their recognizability and smaller unit size. Others prefer Walking Liberty halves for the design appeal. APMEX lets you choose with granularity that other dealers do not match.

The premium gap versus SD Bullion is $1-2 per $1 FV, which on a $100 FV bag totals $100-200. That is significant for pure cost-focused buyers. For buyers with denomination preferences or those building specific sets, APMEX's selection depth justifies the premium.

#3: JM Bullion

JM Bullion prices junk silver at $2.50-5 per $1 FV over melt, splitting the difference between discount and premium dealers. The website organizes junk silver clearly by denomination, and the product pages include educational content about silver content calculations, making it accessible for first-time junk silver buyers.

Inventory covers standard 90% denominations in common bag sizes. PayPal acceptance is valuable for junk silver purchases, which tend to be smaller-dollar transactions where buyer protection matters. The $499 free shipping threshold is relevant here: a $100 FV bag typically exceeds $2,000, but smaller $10-20 FV purchases may not clear the threshold.

JM Bullion's promotional offers (free silver with qualifying purchases) can partially offset the premium gap. Check current promotions before ordering, as the added value from a free silver round effectively reduces the per-ounce cost of the junk silver purchase.

#4: Monument Metals

Monument Metals prices junk silver competitively at $2.50-5 per $1 FV over melt (wire/check). The no-minimum-order policy is particularly relevant for junk silver, where buyers often start with small face value amounts ($5-10 FV) to test the product category. Monument Metals allows this without requiring a $199 minimum order.

The junk silver catalog is focused: standard denominations in commonly requested bag sizes. What Monument Metals lacks in breadth it makes up for in service. Phone support can discuss the differences between denominations, explain the face value pricing model to first-time buyers, and help with sizing decisions.

For buyers making their first junk silver purchase with a small amount to learn the product, Monument Metals' combination of competitive pricing, no minimum, and helpful support makes it an excellent starting point.

#5: Hero Bullion

Hero Bullion carries junk silver at premiums of $2.50-5 per $1 FV over melt, in line with Monument Metals and JM Bullion. The educational content on the site helps newer buyers understand the 90% silver market, face value calculations, and the practical differences between denominations.

The $149 free shipping threshold is the lowest among these dealers and is relevant for smaller junk silver purchases. A $10 FV purchase (roughly $200-250) qualifies for free shipping at Hero Bullion but would incur shipping charges at dealers with $199 or $499 thresholds. For buyers building a junk silver position gradually with small, frequent purchases, this threshold advantage adds up.

Junk silver inventory at Hero Bullion is more limited than at APMEX or JM Bullion. Standard denominations are available, but specific denomination selection and bag size options may be narrower. For buyers who simply want the lowest-premium 90% silver available, this limitation rarely matters.

How to Get the Most Silver per Dollar

Buy the cheapest denomination available. All 90% silver coins contain the same silver content per $1 face value regardless of denomination. If dimes are $0.50/FV cheaper than half dollars, buy dimes. Premium differences between denominations fluctuate based on supply and demand.

Buy in larger bag sizes. A $100 FV bag carries a lower per-FV premium than buying ten $10 FV increments. The volume discount typically saves $0.25-1.00 per $1 FV. On a $100 FV bag, that saves $25-100. At current silver prices, $100 FV represents roughly $2,000-2,500.

Pay by wire or check. Credit card surcharges add 3-4% to junk silver purchases. On a $2,000 bag, that surcharge is $60-80, equivalent to buying nearly $3 FV of additional junk silver. Wire transfer eliminates this cost.

Compare across multiple dealers. Junk silver premiums fluctuate based on inventory levels at each dealer. A dealer that is overstocked on dimes may temporarily offer lower dime premiums than a competitor. Check SD Bullion, Monument Metals, and Hero Bullion before each purchase.

For a deeper guide to constitutional silver, read our junk silver guide. Track premiums in real time with the premium tracker.

Frequently Asked Questions