What is melt value?

Some coins, especially older ones, are composed of metals that are considered valuable. These metals include silver and gold, long valued for their rarity, and to a lesser extent, copper, nickel, and zinc. Coins with these metals in them take on a value separate from the face value written on them, due to the value of the metals they are composed of. This value is known as the melt value of a coin, so named because if the coin were to be melted down, the metals produced would still hold value.

The melt value of a coin can fluctuate as the market values of silver, gold, and other metals increase and decrease. In general, expect silver and gold coins to be worth far more than face value. Nickel, copper, or zinc coins will not be worth as much, and sometimes the melt value is less than the monetary face value of the coin. Most modern coins are made of inexpensive metals such as steel. These coins are not listed on this page because their melt value is negligible.

Finally, a disclaimer: don't actually melt your coins for precious metals. In Canada and the U.S., this is illegal.

Using this calculator

This calculator lists a variety of U.S. and Canadian coins, providing their weight and metal composition. Their melt value is displayed next to the coin's description. Enter a number in the quantity ("Qty") box to indicate how many of each type of coin you have, and the total melt value will be displayed.

If you click the round info icons, you will see a breakdown of metals inside the coins and their value. This will show you more detail about the coins chosen.