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 Replies: 22 / Views: 1,346 |
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Valued Member
United States
61 Posts |
First, should I be melting junk silver in poor condition in the first place? Second, what percentage of melt value should I expect to get paid? Third, how would I go about melting these coins?
Any input is appreciated!
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Pillar of the Community
Canada
5238 Posts |
No, don't melt it. In its current form, there is no doubt about the authenticity and purity. It would make it very difficult to sell as a home-made bar; there would be an added assay cost at least.
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Pillar of the Community
United States
2213 Posts |
There's Youtube videos of guys that have their own equipment to melt silver and gold to make things out of them. But do you have the ability to separate the 90% silver from the 10% copper? If not there's no reason to just melt it into 90% bars which would need to be tested to sell. Just take the junk silver to a local coin store to sell. They will either resell them or send them to a refiner. Recently refiners have not been accepting 90% or sterling silver which takes more to process than 100% silver. This will change eventually. Please don't melt good quality somewhat circulated 90% coins, people like to stack and collect them, will pay a higher premium than just bars if they are in descent condition. For prices you can check ebay sold listings or some online dealers show their sell to us prices like JM Bullion, Bullion Exchanges. Edited by livingwater
01/22/2026 8:29 pm
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Moderator
 Australia
16805 Posts |
There's plenty of uses (and therefore high demand) for pieces of .999 silver, but nobody can use a lump of congealed 90% silver for anything - it will need to be refined first. You almost certainly won't have the equipment you'd need to actually any purifying and refining of molten 90% silver to anything anywhere near .999 fine, so unless you're curious as to the process of melting metals and enjoy fooling around with high-temperature furnaces, you're probably better off, financially, to have a stack of 90% silver coinage that doesn't really need verification than a lump of unidentifiable silver which you claim to be melted 90% coins but which will need to be tested first (and the assaying fee is going to eat into your profits).
When people say things like "these coins are melt", they usually mean "I'm going to sell these to a scrap metal merchant, who will probably melt them down" rather than "I'm going to melt these coins down myself".
Don't say "infinitely" when you mean "very"; otherwise, you'll have no word left when you want to talk about something really infinite. - C. S. Lewis
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Bedrock of the Community
Australia
21786 Posts |
For Americans, the junk silver was most probably bought at
'X' times face.
That is also the way to sell it.
Good luck !
Post your experiences here in this thread.
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Valued Member
United States
311 Posts |
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Bedrock of the Community
United States
10471 Posts |
Silver melts at around 1800° F - but Copper melts at around 2000° F - so you'll need equipment that can generate and function with those high temperatures.
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Moderator
United States
187446 Posts |
If anything needs the DO NOT TRY THIS AT HOME warning, it is this.  Leave melting to skilled professionals. Stacking is safer.  |
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Pillar of the Community
 United States
1887 Posts |
melting silver and/or copper is not all that difficult. any ordinary good quality pottery kiln can handle these relatively soft metals. of course a crucible is needed, plus other handling tools easily obtainable from Amazon or ebay. home smelting has its dangers but is accomplished safely all the time by metal casting hobbyists looking to make custom belt buckles or sculptures. smelting can even be done in a home crafted wood fired brick oven with proper air flow. of course those scared of their own shadow should not try 'anything' at home involving fire or high heat. just eat your juicy steaks and hamburgers raw.  |
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Moderator
United States
187446 Posts |
You think smelting is as safe as cooking meat? Have you seen how some of the people cook their meat?  Okay, do not try this at home unless you know what you are doing. Ideally, you learned it live from a real person and did not just watch some videos on YouTube.  If you must risk it, then put your fire brigade on speed dial.  |
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Bedrock of the Community
United States
36415 Posts |
Not something I would try unless I was in the refining business.
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Valued Member
 United States
61 Posts |
Out of curiosity, is there a way that I could deal directly with a refiner rather than going through a coin shop? It seems like if the coin shop is making money, it would have to buy the coins cheaper than they would sell them to a refiner.
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Moderator
United States
187446 Posts |
Perhaps, if you can find a refiner near you.  |
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Pillar of the Community
United States
6514 Posts |
I had always kind of wondered the original poster's question as well. As usual you guys make some fantastic points and give solid advice.
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Bedrock of the Community
United States
10471 Posts |
Quote:
You think smelting is as safe as cooking meat? Have you seen how some of the people cook their meat? How'd that deep fried turkey turn out for Thanksgiving?   |
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Moderator
United States
187446 Posts |
 Prime example! |
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Replies: 22 / Views: 1,346 |
Posted 01/22/2026 8:19 pm
