One troy ounce of 99.9% silver, which makes the melt arithmetic trivial. Everything interesting about this coin is in the premium sitting on top of it.
Silver spot
$53.44 a troy ounce.
Spot price as of 10 November 2026.
Each coin is 31.1346 g at 999 fine,
a US Mint specification.
This is metal value only. Most coins are worth more than their metal to a collector,
and some are worth very much more, so check the date and mint mark before selling
anything here for its melt value.
What one American Silver Eagle is worth in silver
One American Silver Eagle contains 1.0000 troy ounces of pure silver, from a coin
weighing 31.1346 grams at 999 parts per thousand. At the
current benchmark that metal is worth
$53.44.
The benchmark behind it was set on
, and every figure on this
page moves with it.
Melt value by quantity, at the current benchmark.
How many
Pure silver
Melt value
1
1.0000 ozt
$53.44
10
10.0000 ozt
$534.43
20
20.00 ozt
$1,068
50
50.00 ozt
$2,672
100
100.00 ozt
$5,344
What the coin is
The American Silver Eagle contains exactly one troy ounce of fine silver, which is 31.103 grams of actual silver. Because the coin is 999 fine rather than pure, the blank it is struck on weighs a fraction more, about 31.13 grams, and that last 0.1% is copper. The law is written around the silver content rather than the coin weight, so the melt value is the silver benchmark itself and the figure at the top of this page tracks spot directly.
It has been struck since 1986, carries a nominal face value of one dollar that has nothing to do with what it is worth, and is the official silver bullion coin of the United States. The obverse is Weinman’s Walking Liberty design from the 1916 half dollar, and the reverse changed in 2021 from the heraldic eagle to a flying eagle, splitting the series into Type 1 and Type 2.
The one ounce of silver is guaranteed by the US government as to weight and purity, which is the whole point of a sovereign bullion coin. That guarantee is what lets a dealer buy one without assaying it, and it is the reason the coin trades differently from an unmarked bar of the same weight.
Is it worth more than its metal?
A Silver Eagle never sells for melt. The premium over spot has historically run from a couple of dollars to well above ten in periods of tight supply, and it exists because the mint charges a premium to authorised purchasers before the coin reaches the market at all. Anyone quoting you exactly spot for one is quoting you badly.
Certain dates carry premiums far beyond bullion. The 1995-W proof, issued only inside a gold anniversary set, is the key of the series and worth thousands. The 2008 reverse of 2007 variety, the 2011 25th anniversary set and low mintage burnished and proof issues all trade well above metal.
Condition is unusually important for a modern coin. These are collected in certified high grades, and a coin graded MS70 can be worth a large multiple of the same date in MS69, which is a distinction invisible to the naked eye. A raw coin from a tube is a bullion coin regardless of how perfect it looks.
Selling it
Sell Silver Eagles to a bullion dealer and expect an offer quoted as spot plus a premium, not as a percentage of melt like scrap jewellery. That is the normal market for them, the spread is narrow, and a dealer who offers you a scrap percentage for a sealed tube of Eagles is not the right buyer.
Keep them in their tubes or original packaging. Unlike jewellery, where condition is irrelevant to metal value, a scratched or fingerprinted Eagle loses its grading potential and drops to plain bullion, and handling the surfaces is how that happens.
Exactly one troy ounce of fine silver, which is 31.103 grams of silver. The coin itself weighs slightly more, about 31.13 grams, because it is 999 fine rather than pure. Its melt value tracks the silver spot price directly.
Why do Silver Eagles cost more than spot?+
The US Mint sells them to authorised purchasers at a premium over the metal, and every buyer down the chain adds to it. Minting, distribution and dealer margin mean the coin has never traded at plain melt value.
What is the rarest American Silver Eagle?+
The 1995-W proof, issued only within a gold anniversary set and struck in very small numbers, is the key date and worth thousands. The 2008 reverse of 2007 variety and several low mintage burnished issues also trade far above bullion.
Should I sell Silver Eagles as scrap?+
No. Take them to a bullion dealer who will quote spot plus a premium. A scrap buyer paying a percentage of melt is the wrong market and will cost you both the premium and part of the metal value.
Recommended Gold Testing & Smelting Equipment
Laboratory-grade scales, non-destructive electronic testers, and digital melting furnaces for accurate scrap valuation and refining.
Digital Electric Gold & Silver Melting Furnace (1kg to 3kg, 1150°C / 2100°F)
Commercial digital smelting furnace with high-density graphite crucible, insulated heating chamber, and heavy-duty crucible tongs. Heats up to 2100°F (1150°C) with precise digital PID temperature control to cleanly melt scrap gold jewelry, sterling silver, and brass into tradeable bullion bars in under 45 minutes.
Laboratory-grade electronic gold analyzer that instantly determines karat purity from 10K to 24K and verifies platinum without messy acid drops or destructive scratching. Rapid self-calibration ensures quick, reliable scrap valuation without damaging collectible jewelry.
0.001g High-Precision Analytical Milligram Jewelry Scale (50g x 0.001g)
Laboratory-grade analytical milligram balance measuring down to 0.001 grams, 0.005 carats, and 0.0001 troy ounces (ozt). Features a clear protective draft shield, tare function, and stainless steel calibration weights to catch fine weight fractions before smelting.
Multi-Cavity High-Density Graphite Ingot Mold for Bar Casting
Machined high-purity fine-grain graphite mold designed for pouring clean 1 oz, 2 oz, 5 oz, and 10 oz gold and silver bars. Delivers high thermal stability, rapid heat dissipation, and a smooth cavity finish for effortless ingot release.
Master Gold & Silver Chemical Acid Scratch Assay Kit with Touchstone & Loupe
Complete precious metal appraisal kit featuring 10K, 14K, 18K, and 22K gold testing acids, silver testing solution, a genuine dense testing touchstone, and an illuminated triplet jeweler loupe to distinguish solid karat gold from heavy plating.
Kevlar-reinforced split-cowhide foundry gloves rated for temperatures up to 2000°F with extended gauntlet forearm protection, paired with a high-impact anti-glare face shield designed for safe scrap metal handling and pouring.
Compare essential equipment specifications for establishing an efficient scrap gold testing and melting workstation:
Equipment Type
Primary Purpose
Capacity / Accuracy
Key Advantage
Electric Smelting Furnace
Melting scrap jewelry, dental gold, and coins into bullion
1 kg to 3 kg crucible capacity
Clean flameless PID temperature control up to 2100°F
Electronic Karat Tester
Instant purity check on intact jewelry and high-end watches
10K to 24K gold and platinum ranges
Non-destructive testing with no acid stains or scratches
Analytical Milligram Scale
Precise scrap weight measurement before refining
50g capacity at 0.001g (0.0001 ozt)
Catches fine weight margins standard kitchen scales miss
Multi-Cavity Ingot Mold
Casting molten scrap metal into tradeable bullion bars
1 oz, 2 oz, 5 oz, 10 oz bar cavities
High-density graphite prevents sticking and oxidation
Acid Touchstone Assay Kit
Distinguishing solid karat alloy from heavy vermeil or plate
10K, 14K, 18K, 22K acid standards
Time-tested chemical confirmation for scrap buyers
Scrap Valuation Pro Tip: Melt Loss & Non-Destructive Testing
When melting scrap jewelry lots, expect an average 1% to 3% melt loss due to burn-off of non-precious solder joints, skin oils, and enamel. Before melting high-value items, verify karat content using a non-destructive electronic tester. Acid scratch testing can leave noticeable etch marks and may read false positive on heavy gold-filled or rolled gold plate items (such as 1/10 10K RGP or vermeil).
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