The short answer
The coin holds 31.0719 grams of fine silver, which is 0.998985 troy ounce. The law gives the weight of the coin (31.103 grams) and its fineness (.999). It gives no fine silver weight in grams. The fine silver is the weight times the fineness. The coin carries the words "1 Oz. Fine Silver" (§ 5112(e)(4)).
| Property | Figure |
|---|---|
| Fine silver content | 0.998985 troy oz (31.0719 g) |
| Purity | .999 fine (99.9%) |
| Gross weight | 31.103 g |
| Diameter | 40.6 mm |
| Face value inscription | "One Dollar" |
| Melt value at spot | $52.21 |
What the law says
The Silver Eagle is authorized by 31 U.S.C. § 5112(e), which directs the Secretary of the Treasury to mint and issue, in qualities and quantities that the Secretary determines are sufficient to meet public demand, coins which:
- "are 40.6 millimeters in diameter and weigh 31.103 grams";
- "contain .999 fine silver";
- have a design "symbolic of Liberty on the obverse side" and "of an eagle on the reverse side";
- carry the year of minting or issuance and the words "Liberty", "In God We Trust", "United States of America", "1 Oz. Fine Silver", "E Pluribus Unum", and "One Dollar";
- "have reeded edges".
The "1 Oz. Fine Silver" inscription is a legal requirement. Congress set these specifications in the Liberty Coin Act (Public Law 99-61, title II, § 202, July 9, 1985, 99 Stat. 115 to 116), which replaced subsections (e) and (f) of 31 U.S.C. § 5112. Section 205 of the Act made title II take effect on October 1, 1985, but no coins could be issued or sold under the new subsection (e) "before September 1, 1986, or before the date on which all coins minted under title I of this Act have been sold, whichever is earlier". Section 5112(f) requires the Secretary to sell the coins "at a price equal to the market value of the bullion at the time of sale, plus the cost of minting, marketing, and distributing such coins".
The math, once, in full
The melt value is the fine silver in troy ounces times the silver spot price.
melt = fine silver troy oz × silver spot
For the Silver Eagle, at the spot price from 2026-11-06 19:03 UTC:
0.998985 × $52.26 = $52.21
The fine silver comes from the statute: 31.103 g × 0.999 = 31.0719 g. Divide by 31.1034768 grams per troy ounce (NIST Handbook 44, Appendix C) to get 0.998985 troy ounce. The simple figure "1 oz times spot" is $52.26. That is $0.0531 per coin more than the melt value, or 0.10% of the simple figure. A troy ounce is heavier than the avoirdupois ounce of 28.35 grams (NIST Handbook 44, Appendix C).
Melt value is not the coin price
The Mint does not sell the coin at its melt value. The law sets the Mint sale price at "the market value of the bullion at the time of sale, plus the cost of minting, marketing, and distributing such coins" (31 U.S.C. § 5112(f)(1)). The law gives no premium percentage. The coin is legal tender (31 U.S.C. § 5112(h)) and carries the words "One Dollar" (§ 5112(e)(4)). An offer of one dollar for the coin is $51.21 below its melt value at the 2026-11-06 19:03 UTC spot.
Multi-coin melt value calculator
Enter how many Silver Eagles you have (whole number of coins). The tool multiplies your count by the melt value of one coin at the spot price from 2026-11-06 19:03 UTC.
Whole coins only; 0 to 1,000,000,000.
Melt value: $52.21
1 coin = 0.998985 troy oz of fine silver (31.0719 g). Spot $52.26 per troy oz at 2026-11-06 19:03 UTC. This is a melt value, not a price offer.
Where these numbers come from
- Coin weight, diameter, fineness, inscriptions, edge, sale price and legal tender: 31 U.S.C. § 5112(e), (f) and (h), govinfo.gov (31 U.S.C. § 5112), fetched 2026-10-29.
- Liberty Coin Act, Public Law 99-61, title II, §§ 202 and 205, July 9, 1985, 99 Stat. 115 to 117, govinfo.gov (Public Law 99-61), fetched 2026-10-29.
- Grams per troy ounce (31.1034768 g) and per avoirdupois ounce (28.349523125 g): NIST Handbook 44, 2026 edition, Appendix C, nist.gov (HB44 Appendix C), fetched 2026-10-29.
- Silver spot price: the site's price feed (metals.json, source gold-api.com), 2026-11-06 19:03 UTC.
Checkpoints before you buy or sell a Silver Eagle
- Price by the fine silver weight, not the gross weight. This coin holds 0.998985 troy ounce of fine silver.
- Compare each price with the melt value at the current spot price. The melt value on this page uses the spot price from 2026-11-06 19:03 UTC.
- The statute gives the coin as 31.103 grams and 40.6 millimeters. If your coin is far from these figures, ask an expert before you buy or sell.
- For U.S. 90% silver coins, use the junk silver melt value calculator.
Questions about Silver Eagle silver content
Does a Silver Eagle contain a full ounce of silver?
Almost. The statute sets the coin at 31.103 grams of .999 fine silver (31 U.S.C. § 5112(e)). That is 31.0719 grams, or 0.998985 troy ounce, of fine silver.
Is the Silver Eagle 100% pure silver?
No. The statute sets the fineness at .999, which is 99.9% silver (31 U.S.C. § 5112(e)(2)).
Is the face value related to the silver value?
No. The statute requires the words "One Dollar" on the coin (31 U.S.C. § 5112(e)(4)). The melt value of the coin is $52.21 at the spot price from 2026-11-06 19:03 UTC.
How do I verify the silver content?
Weight and diameter are a first check: compare them with the statute figures (31.103 grams, 40.6 millimeters). The inscription "1 Oz. Fine Silver" is required by law to appear on the coin. These figures do not by themselves prove authenticity. If you are not sure, ask an expert before you buy or sell. The statute itself is public record at govinfo.gov (31 U.S.C. § 5112).