Pre-1965 U.S. dimes and quarters were composed of 90% silver and 10% copper. These coins are often referred to as "junk silver," not for their quality but because they've been removed from circulation.

Junk silver is typically sold in $1,000 face value bags. Despite variations in coin composition within a bag, each $1,000 bag contains approximately 715 troy ounces of silver. Smaller denominations like $500 and $100 bags are also available. While less common, 40% silver half dollars might be included in some bags.