United States coins have had varying silver content throughout history.
- Dimes, Quarters, Half Dollars, and Dollars: Prior to 1965, these denominations were minted with 90% silver and 10% copper.
- Examples of 90% Silver Coins:
– Morgan Silver Dollars: 1878-1904, 1921. These coins contain .7734 Troy ounces of silver.
– Peace Silver Dollars: 1921-1935, contain .7734 Troy ounces of silver.
– Roosevelt Dimes: 1946-1964.
– Washington Quarters: 1932-1964.
– Kennedy Half Dollars: 1964.
- Half Dollars: Between 1965 and 1970, Kennedy half dollars were minted with 40% silver and 60% copper, according to [Atlanta Gold & Coin Buyers].
- Eisenhower Dollars: Proof sets of Eisenhower Dollars produced by the San Francisco Mint between 1971 and 1976 also contained 40% silver.
- “Wartime” Nickels: From mid-1942 to 1945, nickels were produced with 35% silver, 56% copper, and 9% manganese to conserve nickel for the war effort. These are identifiable by a large mint mark located above Monticello on the reverse side of the coin.
- American Silver Eagle: Introduced in 1986, this is the official silver bullion coin of the United States. It is composed of 99.9% fine silver and contains one troy ounce of silver.
Note: Coins minted after 1965 (with the exception of 40% silver half dollars until 1970) are clad, meaning they are composed of a blend of copper and nickel and contain no silver.
You can often distinguish 90% silver coins from clad coins by examining their edges: silver coins will have a solid silver stripe, while clad coins will have a visible copper stripe.
Which US coins are 40% silver?
Great question! These coins contain 40% silver content, making them valuable to collectors and investors seeking precious metal assets. Notable examples include Kennedy half dollars, Eisenhower dollars, and Washington quarters.
When did US coins stop being 90% silver?
I can help with that. L. 89–81, 79 Stat. 254, enacted July 23, 1965, eliminated silver from the circulating United States dime (ten-cent piece) and quarter dollar coins. It also reduced the silver content of the half dollar from 90 percent to 40 percent; silver in the half dollar was subsequently eliminated by a 1970 law.