Junk Silver Calculator (Pre-1947 UK)

Free melt-value calculator for pre-1947 UK silver. Enter quantities of each coin type (or total weight if you're buying bag-style). Live silver spot. No premium added — pure melt value floor.

Live silver spot: £55.57 per troy ounce (£1.787/g, as of 2 May 2026)
By coin count
Crown (pre-1920 sterling) (5/-, 26.16g Ag)
Crown (1920-1946 .500) (5/-, 14.14g Ag)
Half crown (pre-1920 sterling) (2/6, 13.08g Ag)
Half crown (1920-1946 .500) (2/6, 7.07g Ag)
Florin (pre-1920 sterling) (2/-, 10.46g Ag)
Florin (1920-1946 .500) (2/-, 5.66g Ag)
Shilling (pre-1920 sterling) (1/-, 5.23g Ag)
Shilling (1920-1946 .500) (1/-, 2.83g Ag)
Sixpence (pre-1920 sterling) (6d, 2.62g Ag)
Sixpence (1920-1946 .500) (6d, 1.41g Ag)
Threepence silver (pre-1920) (3d, 1.31g Ag)
Threepence silver (1920-44) (3d, 0.71g Ag)

What is junk silver?

“Junk silver” is collector slang for circulated pre-1947 UK silver coins traded for melt content rather than numismatic value. Most are worn, damaged, or low-grade examples of common dates that carry no premium above silver content. Bulk bags of 500g, 1kg or 1oz of mixed silver coins are a popular way to buy silver at low premium over spot.

Why pre-1947?

UK circulating silver coins were sterling silver (.925) until 1919, then .500 silver from 1920-1946. From 1947 onwards, all UK circulating silver was replaced with cupronickel — zero silver content. So “pre-1947 UK silver” means anything in the .925 or .500 alloy era. See our pre-1947 vs post-1947 silver guide for the full breakdown.

Where this melt floor matters

Any pre-1947 UK silver coin will sell for at least its melt value — below that, no rational seller would let it go. The numismatic premium (rare date, key date, high grade, special design) sits on top. For circulated common-date pre-1947 silver, melt value is the floor and ceiling. For high-grade or scarce dates, melt is just the starting point.

Related