Often considered the gold standard for survivalists, "junk" silver refers to U.S. dimes, quarters, and half dollars minted in 1964 or earlier.

: 90% silver Roosevelt or Mercury dimes, Washington quarters, and Franklin or Kennedy half dollars. 2. American Silver Eagles

: Because they were once circulating currency, they are universally recognized and trusted by the general public.

: Dimes are particularly valuable for small transactions (e.g., buying a loaf of bread or a gallon of milk) where a full ounce of silver might be too much.

: These coins typically carry some of the lowest markups over the "spot" price of silver.