If you have been thinking about trying to sell silver in Burbank, this may be the best moment in years to go through the drawers, jars and boxes at home. Silver is trading near $61 an ounce, which means the old coins, sterling flatware and silver jewelry that have sat untouched for decades could be worth far more than you expect. At Paul Albanian and Associates LLC, we have been helping Burbank and San Fernando Valley families turn forgotten silver into cash for more than 30 years. Here is how to figure out what you have and what it might bring.
Why Silver Is Getting So Much Attention
Silver has had a dramatic year. It climbed above $120 an ounce in late January before pulling back, and on the morning of October 2 it was trading around $61.50, according to Fortune’s daily silver price report. That is still roughly 30 percent higher than a year ago. Gold, meanwhile, is holding above $4,100 an ounce. Prices move every day, so no article can promise what your silver will be worth tomorrow, but the bigger point stands: when metal prices are elevated, old silver is no longer just sentimental clutter. It is a real asset, and a good reason to find a trustworthy silver buyer in Burbank.
Start With the Coins in Your Coin Jar
The silver people most often overlook is hiding in coin jars, dresser drawers and inherited collections. U.S. dimes, quarters and half dollars dated 1964 or earlier are 90 percent silver, and so are silver dollars such as Morgan and Peace dollars. Half dollars from 1965 through 1970 contain 40 percent silver. Anything newer has no silver at all.
You can sort most coins without any tools. Check the date first, then look at the edge. Modern coins show a copper-colored stripe around the rim, while a 90 percent silver coin has a solid, uniform silver-gray edge. If you want to sell silver coins, that quick check will tell you which ones are worth bringing in.
What Silver Coins Are Worth at Today’s Prices
Common-date silver coins are usually priced by their silver content, often called melt value. Every $1 of face value in 90 percent silver coins holds about 0.7234 troy ounces of pure silver. At roughly $61 an ounce, here is what that looks like:
- Silver dime (1964 or earlier): about 0.0723 oz of silver, or roughly $4.40
- Silver quarter (1964 or earlier): about 0.1808 oz, or roughly $11
- Silver half dollar (1964 or earlier): about 0.3617 oz, or roughly $22
- Morgan or Peace silver dollar: about 0.7734 oz, or roughly $47
- Kennedy half dollar (1965 to 1970, 40 percent silver): about 0.1479 oz, or roughly $9
- $1 face value of 90 percent silver coins: about 0.7234 oz, or roughly $44
These are melt-value estimates, not offers. What a dealer actually pays depends on condition, quantity and the market that day. Still, a roll of 40 silver quarters carries about $440 worth of silver, which is a long way from the $10 printed on the coins.
Sterling Silver Flatware, Jewelry and Hollowware
Coins are only part of the story. Sterling silver is 92.5 percent pure and is usually stamped “925” or “Sterling.” Flatware, candlesticks, tea sets, serving trays, bracelets and charms can all carry real silver value, and a dealer prices most of them by weight. As a rough example, 100 grams of sterling holds nearly three troy ounces of pure silver, which is about $180 at today’s prices. If you want to sell sterling silver from a parents’ or grandparents’ estate, bring the whole set, including the odd serving pieces.
Be careful with items marked “silver plate” or EPNS. They have only a thin coating of silver and very little scrap value. And if a piece comes from a well-known maker or a sought-after pattern, it may be worth more intact than melted, so have it looked at before assuming it is scrap.
Don’t Melt a Treasure: When Coins Are Worth More Than Their Silver
Not every old coin should be priced by weight. Mercury dimes, Walking Liberty half dollars, Morgan dollars and certain key dates and mint marks can bring a premium over melt value, sometimes a large one. A buyer who simply puts everything on a scale may pay you for the metal and miss the collectible. An experienced coin dealer checks dates, mint marks and condition first. Please do not clean or polish old coins before selling them, since cleaning can reduce collector value.
Watch: How Junk Silver Value Is Calculated
For a quick visual walk-through, this video explains how silver dimes, quarters and half dollars are valued and how spot price, premiums and demand fit together.
Sell Silver in Burbank to a Dealer, Not a Pawn Shop
When people search for a “pawn shop near me,” they are often really looking for fast cash. But a pawn shop’s business is built around loans and general merchandise, so knowledge of metals and coins can vary widely from one counter to the next. A dedicated precious metal dealer buys silver, gold and platinum as its core business and understands both melt value and collector value.
Paul Albanian and Associates LLC has operated in Burbank for more than 30 years, buying gold, silver, platinum, coins and jewelry from people across the San Fernando Valley. Whether you are the owner of a small coin collection or the person responsible for a loved one’s estate, a local Burbank silver dealer can look at everything in one visit and give you a clear, straightforward offer.
Tips Before You Sell Your Silver
- Sort by type: coins, sterling flatware and serving pieces, and silver jewelry.
- Check coin dates and look for hallmarks such as “925” or “Sterling” on other items.
- Do not clean, polish or separate coins from their original rolls, folders or albums.
- Bring everything you are unsure about, including items that look worn, tarnished or damaged.
- If you are handling an estate, check every room, closet and safe-deposit box for silver, jewelry and coins.
Whether you inherited your parents’ coin collection, are clearing out a home after an estate sale, or simply found an old jar of dimes, now is a great time to find out what you really have. If you are ready to sell silver in Burbank, stop by Paul Albanian and Associates LLC and talk to a buyer who has been doing this for more than three decades.