how much is a silver dime worth in scrap

[StEmerson]

Ah, the humble silver dime! Thinking of cashing in that old jar of coins you found in grandpa's attic? Let's talk real money, not the paltry ten cents stamped on its face. That little piece of history is worth significantly more than a tenth of a dollar.

Based on the provided market data, a pre-1965 silver dime is worth about $1.68 to $1.69 in scrap metal value. That's a handsome return for something that once might have bought you a comic book and a piece of bubble gum. This value isn't arbitrary; it's based on the dime's metallic soul.

The magic here is that U.S. dimes minted in 1964 and earlier (like the Roosevelt and Mercury dimes) are made of 90% silver. Each one contains roughly 0.0723 troy ounces of the precious metal. Its scrap value, or "melt value," is therefore tied directly to the fluctuating spot price of silver on the commodities market. What's worth $1.69 today could be worth more or less tomorrow, so it's a bit of a fun rollercoaster.

A quick word of caution from your friendly content expert: don't expect to walk into a shop and get that exact amount. A dealer needs to make a profit, so they'll offer you a bit less. And before you dump them all into a smelter's bucket, give them a once-over. Some rare dates or well-preserved coins can be worth much more to a collector than their weight in silver.