⚖️ Coin Melt Value Calculator
Enter a coin's weight, purity, and metal to estimate the value of the precious metal it contains at today's spot price — with an editable, dated default price you can override.
🪙 Estimate Your Coin's Metal Value
Default silver spot price shown as of 2026-08-15 — edit it if you have a more current quote.
⚖️ Melt Value Estimate
Estimate only, not an appraisal — melt value reflects raw metal content at today's spot price. A coin's numismatic (collector) value is often higher than its melt value, and defacing or melting coinage may be restricted where you live. Verify before acting on this figure.
How Melt Value Is Calculated
Melt value starts with a coin's total weight, multiplied by its purity (or fineness) to get the pure precious-metal content. That figure is converted from grams to troy ounces — the unit spot prices quote against, at 31.1034768 grams per troy ounce — and priced at the current spot rate for that metal.
A .999 fine 1-ounce silver round at $30/oz spot melts for close to $30. A pre-1965 U.S. quarter, which is only 90% silver and weighs 6.25 grams, contains far less silver and melts for a fraction of that. This is an estimate of metal content only, not an appraisal — it doesn't account for any collector premium.
❓ Frequently Asked Questions
What is melt value?
Melt value is what the precious metal in a coin would be worth if melted down and sold as raw bullion — its weight times its purity (fineness), priced at the current spot price for that metal. It's the metal floor under a coin's price, separate from any collector premium.
Is melt value the same as what my coin is worth?
Not necessarily. Many coins — especially rare dates, low mintages, or high grades — carry a numismatic (collector) premium well above melt value. Melt value is a floor, not an appraisal; check rarity and grade before assuming a coin is only worth its metal.
Where does the default spot price come from?
This tool ships with a reference spot price per metal that we update periodically (the date is shown next to the field). Spot prices move throughout the trading day, so for anything beyond a rough estimate, type in a current quote from a bullion dealer or market source.
Can I melt a coin down?
In some places, melting or defacing circulating coinage is restricted or illegal, and doing so destroys any numismatic value the coin had. This calculator is for estimating metal content, not a recommendation to melt anything — check local rules and consider a coin's collector value first.