Selling gold and coins from Mission Viejo
The first families moved into Mission Viejo in 1966, the year after the Mint took silver out of dimes and quarters. A box that has been in a Mission Viejo home since the early days may hold coins from that changeover: the last 90% silver coins, the 40% silver Kennedy halves of 1965 to 1970, and the silver Eisenhower dollars sold to collectors in the 1970s.
What we pay, before you drive
Today's prices follow the metals market. Add what you have to the slip for your estimated total, or see every coin and bar on what we pay.
The drive to our store
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From Mission Viejo: 33 min without traffic
I-5 north, then SR-22 west
The 5 and the 22 are slower at rush hour; a midday trip is usually closest to this time.
Estimated amount we pay
| Item | We pay |
|---|---|
| Today, per coin | |
| 40% silver Kennedy half dollars (1965–1970) .400 fine · 30.6 mm · 0.1479 oz of fine silver each | $6.68 |
| 40% silver Eisenhower dollars (S-mint collector issues) .400 fine · 38.1 mm · 0.3161 oz of fine silver each | $14.28 |
| 90% silver half dollars (1964 and earlier) .900 fine · 30.6 mm · 0.3575 oz of fine silver each | $16.15 |
| 90% silver dimes, quarters and halves by face value .900 fine · per $1 of face value | $32.30 |
| Your items | |
| Add what you have, and each line prints here with what we would pay for it. | |
Silver from the changeover years
- Dimes, quarters and half dollars dated 1964 or earlier: 90% silver.
- Kennedy half dollars dated 1965 to 1970: 40% silver. Those made for circulation from 1971 on have none.
- Eisenhower dollars from the Mint’s silver collector issues of 1971 to 1976: 40% silver. Ikes made for circulation have none, so keep the Mint packaging with the coin.
Leave proof and mint sets sealed in their original packaging. The packaging shows what the coins are, and opening it can’t be undone.
From the Mission Viejo Company to a city
The Mission Viejo Company was formed in 1963, the county approved its master plan in 1965, and the first homes were offered for sale that year, before they were built. Lake Mission Viejo opened in 1978, and the city incorporated on March 31, 1988. Its name comes from Rancho Mission Viejo, the old land grant it was built on.
If you are downsizing, or clearing a home a parent bought in those early years, go through drawers and closets slowly. Coins from the 1960s and 1970s can turn up in Mint packaging, bank rolls and coffee cans.
A roll, or a real lot
For a roll of halves or a single proof set, a buyer nearer to Mission Viejo is fine. For a real lot, such as a box of rolls, several sets or a bag of old silver, call with your estimate first. Our guide to selling silver coins for melt value explains how the silver in each coin is counted.
What to bring, and what happens
Bring
- Your items, just as they are. Don't clean coins: it lowers what they are worth.
- A valid government photo ID, such as a driver's license, state ID or passport.
- You must be 18 or older to sell.
We weigh and test
Each piece goes on the scale and is tested in front of you. You see what we see.
We write it up
Every item gets its own line and its own amount, like the ticket above, so you can check each one.
You decide
Take the offer, or keep anything you'd rather hold on to. Either way is fine with us.
Questions from Mission Viejo
Are 1965 to 1970 Kennedy halves silver?
Yes, they are 40% silver. Kennedy halves dated 1964 are 90% silver, and those made for circulation from 1971 on have no silver.
How can I tell a silver Eisenhower dollar from a plain one?
The silver ones were sold to collectors from 1971 to 1976, most in Mint packaging such as the blue envelopes and brown boxes of the early 1970s. The Ikes made for circulation have no silver. Bring them in their packaging and we look at each one.
Are the clad coins from 1965 on worth bringing?
Dimes and quarters made for circulation from 1965 on, and halves from 1971 on, have no silver, so most of them are ordinary change. If you’re unsure about one, bring it with the rest.
How long is the drive from Mission Viejo?
About 33 minutes without traffic: north on the 5, then west on the 22. Rush hour on the 5 adds time.