"Melt value" is what a coin's metal alone is worth if it were melted down. For pre-1968 Canadian silver coins it's the floor price — no coin in this table should ever sell for less, and scarce dates or top condition sell for more, sometimes far more.
Silver content by denomination (1920–1967, 80% silver)
| Coin | Weight | Purity | Actual silver weight |
|---|---|---|---|
| Silver dollar | 23.33 g | .800 | 0.600 oz troy |
| Half dollar (50¢) | 11.66 g | .800 | 0.300 oz troy |
| Quarter (25¢) | 5.83 g | .800 | 0.150 oz troy |
| Dime (10¢) | 2.33 g | .800 | 0.060 oz troy |
Coins dated 1908–1919 are 92.5% sterling silver and slightly heavier in silver per coin. Silver content was reduced partway through 1967 and eliminated in 1968, so check 1967–68 coins individually — a magnet test helps: the nickel replacements are magnetic, the silver ones are not.
Calculate today's melt value
Melt value = silver weight (oz) × today's silver spot price
Example: with silver at US$57/oz, a pre-1968 silver dollar (0.600 oz of silver) has a melt value of about US$34 — roughly $47 Canadian. A quarter (0.150 oz) melts at about a quarter of that. Dealers typically pay a percentage under melt for common-date circulated coins, which is normal — but knowing the number keeps the percentage honest.
Before you sell at melt
Melt is the floor, not the price. Check your coins against the key dates list first — a 1948 silver dollar is worth many times its melt value even in worn condition — and read the selling guide before accepting any offer. And whatever you do, never clean a coin: cleaning destroys collector value instantly and permanently.