Junk silver is a term for older U.S. coins—like dimes, quarters, and half dollars made in 1964 or earlier—that contain 35%-90% real silver. They’re not usually valuable to collectors, but they’re an affordable way to buy silver in bulk since their worth comes mainly from the silver content, not rarity.

To learn more, check out our Investing Guide articles on 90% Silver and 40% Silver.