Buying Silver Coins? Here's What To Look For And What You Can Expect To Pay

A lot of people who are interested in obtaining silver coins are curious which ones are the best to collect.

While further involvement in the hobby will expose you to new coins that you may find quite appealing, let's consider 12 very popular and generally inexpensive U.S. silver coins that can, in their lowest grades, be had for a relatively inexpensive price -- often for little more than the coin's bullion value.


Jefferson Wartime Silver Nickels

Produced during the years of 1942-1945 to preserve nickel for the war effort, silver nickels are popular with collectors and represent an easy, affordable set to build. Low-grade wartime nickels can often be had for less than $1.50 apiece when silver is below $15-17 per ounce.


Barber Dimes

Struck during the period f 1892-1916, Barber dimes (also called Liberty Head dimes, but widely dubbed "Barber" for the namesake of the coin's designer, Charles Barber), are a nice piece of Americana whose common dates in the lower circulated grades can be usually had for $3-7 apiece.

Mercury Dimes

Very popular coins that many new and seasoned collectors alike love are Mercury dimes, which were produced from 1916 to 1945. Many dates in the Mercury dime series are considered common and, in the lower grades, can often be had for as little as $2-3.

Roosevelt Dimes

Produced in silver from 1946 to 1964, Roosevelt dimes represent a set of coins which are relatively easy to collect and among the least expensive series to complete. Even the silver Roosevelt dimes are very inexpensive to obtain, with most costing less than $5-7, even in uncirculated grades. Well-worn examples can sometimes be had for only pennies more than the current spot price.

Barber Quarters

With the same obverse design as the Barber dime, the Barber quarter is another 1892-1916 series which has many dates yielding low prices any collector can afford. Common-date, well-worn Barber quarters can be found ranging from $10-12 each.

Standing Liberty Quarters

Standing Liberty quarters replaced the Barber design in 1916 and lasted through 1930. While most issues are considered "common," the lowest-priced Standing Liberty quarters can be found among the last five years of the coin's production, 1925-1930. In the lower-grades, these common-date coins typically sell for between $7-10.

Washington Quarters

When Washington's image made it to the quarter in 1932, the coin was being produced from a silver composition -- which lasted through 1964. The bulk of these early Washington quarters are considered common-dates, and most of the moderate-to-heavily worn silver Washingtons can be had for $3-5.

Barber Half Dollars

Barber half dollars bear the same obverse design as the Barber dime and quarter. Barber half dollars were struck from 1892 to 1915. Barber half dollars, even in their lowest grades, have seen rising price tags in recent years. "Good" quality Barber half dollars were selling for as little as $5 during the mid-to-late 1990s. Many of these same common-date coins today start at $20-25.

Walking Liberty Half Dollars

Considered one of the most beautiful coins the U.S. Mint ever struck, Walking Liberty half dollars graced our nations pocket change during the coin's production years of 1916-1947. While earlier Walking Liberty half dollars can cost more than $20 in the lower grades, those struck during the 1940s can be had for only $5-8 in well-worn condition.

Franklin Half Dollars

Never a president (though some people seem to think he was), the great Benjamin Franklin earned a spot on our nation's half-dollar from 1948 through 1963. The vast majority of dates in the Franklin half-dollar series are very common and can cost the collector less than $7 to buy, even in the middle to high-level circulated grades.

Morgan Dollars

There are few coins as well loved and as well advertised on television and in magazines as the Morgan dollar -- so called by millions for its designer, George T. Morgan. First struck in 1878, running through 1904, and again produced one last year, in 1921, Morgan dollars hearken back to a different era of this nation's economy and society.

There are several "common-date" Morgan dollars that can be found among the 19th century issues. Most examples from the 20th century are very common. Most common-date Morgan dollars can be purchased in the circulated grades for $20-40, depending on the mint mark and date combination, as well as the condition of the coin. That same money can buy a nice uncirculated example of a some early 1900s issues as well as any one of the three 1921 Morgan dollars, struck at Philadelphia, Denver, and San Francisco.

Peace Dollars

As the nation came out of World War I, the U.S. Mint began striking "Peace" dollars, a design by Anthony De Francisci bearing an obverse design strikingly evocative of the head of the Statue of Liberty.  1921 issues are expensive, as are many of the strikes produced during the 1930s. However, beautiful examples of the Peace dollar can be had among those produced from 1922-1926 for less than $25.

To learn more about the current prices of U.S. silver coins, visit the Professional Coin Grading Service (PCGS) coin pricing guide.