• BrotherJohnF
About 1.24 million ounces of US coins were melted between 1966 and 1969. That's about 65% of every silver coin minted between 1916 and 1964.
Since 1969, 70% or so of the remaining common date silver has been melted.
"The Big Silver Melt" by Henry Merton
Junk Silver Totals:
http://brotherjohnf.com/2012/01/27/united-states-junk-silver-totals-thanks-will-and-dave/
AFTER THE MELTS: WHAT'S LEFT IN SILVER COINS?
http://www.pcgs.com/Articles/Detail/496
Melting of pre1965 U.S. silver coins:
https://www.kitcomm.com/archive/index.php?t-77148.html
National Debt Clock: http://www.usdebtclock.org/