Pre-1965 U.S. silver coins-Circulated and Uncirculated
U.S. dimes, quarters, and half-dollars dated prior to 1965 were minted of 90% silver/10% copper. Large quantities in circulated condition are readily available. Common-date uncirculatedcoins are available but carry premiums over circulated coins. Numismatists (coin collectors) sometimes call circulated coins "junk coins" because they have no collector value.
Although silver dollars also were minted of 90% silver/10% copper, they are not called 90% U.S. coins. Half-dollars dated 1965-1969 contain only 40% silver and are traded as 40% clad half-dollars.
Because U.S. Mints originally shipped 90% coins in $1,000 face value bags, today "a bag" refers to $1,000 in face value. A bag of dimes contains 10,000 coins; a bag of quarters 4,000 coins; and a bag of half-dollars 2,000 coins. However, pre-1965 U.S. coins are often sold in quantities smaller than $1,000 face value.
When minted, a $1,000 face value bag contained 723.4 ounces of silver. Due to wear, however, a bag of circulated coins yields approximately 715 ounces when refined; therefore, to calculate an accurate price per ounce,divide the cost by 715. A bag weights a little under 55 pounds on a bathroom scale.
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Dimes
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Typically, a bag of 90% silver dimes consists mostly of Roosevelt dimes, with Mercury dimes making up the rest. Invariably, Mercury dimes (sometimes called Winged Head) show more wear than Roosevelt dimes due to the longer time they functioned as money. A bag of all Mercury dimes sells at a premium over a bag of circulated dimes.
Occasionally, a bag of dimes yields a few Barber coins. Rarely do the older Draped Bust (1796-1807), Capped Bust (1809-1837), or Seated Liberty (1837-1891) designs appear in circulated bags.
Quarters

<TABLE style="BACKGROUND-COLOR: rgb(255,255,255)" borderColor=#000000 cellSpacing=0 cellPadding=2 width="100%" bgColor=#000000 background=tan1.GIF border=1><TBODY><TR><TD borderColor=#000000>Washington Type 1932-1964<SMALL></SMALL></TD><TD borderColor=#000000 align=middle background=cmi-g.GIF></TD></TR><TR><TD borderColor=#000000>Standing Liberty 1916-1930 </TD><TD borderColor=#000000 align=middle background=cmi-g.GIF></TD></TR><TR><TD borderColor=#000000>Barber or Liberty Head 1892-1916 </TD><TD borderColor=#000000 align=middle background=cmi-g.GIF></TD></TR></TBODY></TABLE>

Bags of quarters contain mostly Washington type coins with a few Standing Liberty types and still fewer Barber types. Invariably, Standing Liberty and Barber coins will be quite worn, but sometimes a bag will contain a few of these older coins with readable dates. Rarely will a bag yield any Seated Liberty coins (1838-1891).
Half-dollars
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A bag of pre-1965 half-dollars normally contains equal amounts of Kennedy and Franklin types, with a smattering of Walking Liberty coins, and maybe a few Barber halves. Promotions, however, can cause one coin to rise in price relative to the other types. As with dimes and quarters, occasionally a Barber-designed half dollar will show up in a bag. Rarely will a bag contain the older Seated Liberty types (1839-1891).
Typically, half-dollars sell at higher prices than dimes and quarters. Orders for bags of all one type will boost the price still higher. Half-dollars carry a premium over dimes and quarters because fewer were minted and they are popular promotional pieces. Except for the Walking Liberty coins, half-dollars show less wear than do dimes and quarters.
Although a $1,000 face bag is a standard unit for circulated coins, smaller quantities, such as halfbags($500 face value), quarterbags($250 face), and 1/10th bags ($100 face), are commonly sold. ....
Because of their small sizes, circulated 90% coins offer convenience in selling; they can be liquidated as full bags, as fractional bags, or a few coins at a time. Additionally, pre-1965 coins were minted to serve as a circulating medium, a job they did very well until the 1960s. For those investors who fear the dangers of our present fiat paper money, pre-1965 coins make an appropriate investment for these coins could again function as money.
Uncirculated Pre-1965 U.S. 90% Silver Coins

<CENTER><TABLE height=250 cellPadding=4 width="100%" background=tan1.GIF border=1><CAPTION><MARQUEE style="FONT-WEIGHT: bold; FONT-SIZE: 10pt; COLOR: #000080; FONT-FAMILY: Arial" scrollAmount=5>Many people buy pre-'65 U.S. 90% silver coins because these coins once served as money and could do so again.</MARQUEE></CAPTION><TBODY><TR><TD width="100%"></TD></TR></TBODY></TABLE></CENTER>

Common-date pre-'65 silver coins in uncirculatedcondition carry premiums over circulated bags, sometimes $500-$700 a bag. Bags containing coins of only one date carry still higher premiums. The 1964 Kennedy half-dollar is the most popular uncirculated 90% coin.
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U.S. Silver Dollars-Minted 1878-1904 and 1921-1935
U.S. silver dollars are the most widely collected coins in the world. Additionally, thousands of people who do not consider themselves coin collectors have invested in bags of silver dollars, and countless millions more have small quantities of silver dollars stuck away in drawers and Mason jars.
Nicknamed cartwheels, silver dollars carry two designs. The ones minted 1878-1904 and in 1921 are called Morgans,after George T. Morgan who designed them. Peace dollars, struck 1921-1935, were so named to commemorate the end of World War I.
Silver dollars fall into three groups:
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Like dimes, quarters, and half-dollars, silver dollars were minted of an alloy of 90% silver and 10% copper with each coin containing a net silver content of .77344 ounce; therefore, 1,000 coins contained 773.44 ounces of silver when minted. By contrast, $1,000 face value of pre-1965 U.S. silver dimes, quarters, or half-dollars contained 723.4 ounces of silver, a difference of fifty ounces.
Because of their rarity, pre-21 Morgans command higher prices than either the '21 Morgans or the Peace coins. Although quantities of both '21 Morgans and Peace dollars are readily available, the '21 Morgans sell at slightly higher prices than Peace Dollars of comparable grades. The premium '21 Morgans carries over Peace dollars will probably increase further due to the popularity of the Morgan design.
Silver dollars carry big premiums over the value of their silver content. The pre-'21 Morgans carry larger premiums than the '21 Morgans and the Peace dollars. Obviously, better grade coins have the biggest premiums.
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Originally Posted by furious_pete (Post 375938)

A $1000 face value bag of 40% halves contains 296 troy ounces of silver. No allowance is made for wear since they circulated for such a small amount of time. There is roughly 0.148 troy ounces of silver in each coin. At todays spot price they are worth approximately $1.70 each. Seems like you can buy them all day long on eBay for about 40%-50% under spot.

Originally Posted by Anty Ep (Post 376432)

Fantastic replies men, your knowledge is appreciated.