Are All Coins Before 1964 Silver?
Is every coin before 1964 silver? Get clear answers on US coinage composition and how to identify true silver content.
Not all US coins minted before 1964 contain silver. While this period marks a significant era for silver coinage, the reality is more nuanced. The presence of silver depends on the specific denomination and, in some cases, the exact year of mintage.
The Significance of 1964
The year 1964 serves as a cutoff for silver content in US coinage due to legislative changes. Rising silver prices and industrial demand made it economically unfeasible to produce high-silver coins. This led to a shortage of circulating coins, as people hoarded silver coins for their intrinsic metal value, which exceeded their face value.
The Coinage Act of 1965 was signed into law in 1965. This act altered the composition of most US circulating coinage. It eliminated silver from dimes and quarters and reduced the silver content in half dollars. Quarters and dimes without silver began circulating by the end of 1965.
US Coins with Silver Content (Pre-1965)
Before 1965, several US coin denominations contained silver. Dimes, quarters, and half dollars minted in 1964 and earlier are composed of 90% silver and 10% copper. These coins are often referred to as “junk silver” due to their value primarily from their silver content.
Specific examples of 90% silver coins include:
Dimes: Roosevelt Dime (1946-1964), Mercury Dime (1916-1945), Barber Dime (1892-1916)
Quarters: Washington Quarter (1932, 1934-1964), Standing Liberty Quarter (1916-1930), Barber Quarter (1892-1916)
Half Dollars: Kennedy Half Dollar (1964 only), Franklin Half Dollar (1948-1963), Walking Liberty Half Dollar (1916-1947)
Dollars: Morgan Dollars (1878-1904, 1921), Peace Dollars (1921-1928, 1934-1935)
It is important to note that while dimes and quarters had their silver removed entirely after 1964, half dollars continued to contain silver for a few more years. Kennedy Half Dollars minted from 1965 to 1970 contained 40% silver. These “silver-clad” half dollars have an outer layer of 80% silver and 20% copper, clad around a core of 79% copper and 21% silver. Eisenhower Dollars from 1971-1974 and 1976, particularly those with an “S” mintmark, also contained 40% silver and were primarily available in Mint or Proof sets.
Common Non-Silver US Coins of the Era
While many denominations contained silver before 1965, some common US coins from that era were never made of silver. Pennies, for example, were primarily composed of copper, later transitioning to copper-plated zinc. Nickels, with specific exceptions for wartime issues, were generally made of a copper-nickel alloy.
These non-silver compositions meant that pennies and standard nickels did not experience the same changes in metal content as dimes, quarters, and half dollars. Their intrinsic value remained tied to their face value, unlike their silver counterparts. This distinction is important when identifying the composition of older US currency.
Verifying Silver Content
Several practical methods can help determine if a coin contains silver without causing damage. The most straightforward approach involves checking the coin’s date and denomination against the known silver mintage years. For example, any US dime, quarter, or half dollar dated 1964 or earlier is 90% silver.
Examining the coin’s edge provides another visual clue. 90% silver coins will have a solid silver edge without any visible copper stripe. Clad coins, which replaced silver coins, typically show a distinct copper core along their edge. For 40% silver half dollars (1965-1970), the edge might show a more subdued silver stripe with faint traces of copper.
Beyond visual inspection, the “ping test” can be useful. Real silver coins, when gently tapped or dropped onto a hard surface, tend to produce a clear, high-pitched ringing sound, whereas non-silver coins often make a duller thud. This test relies on the unique acoustic properties of silver. Another method is the magnet test; silver is not magnetic, so a strong magnet will not stick to a genuine silver coin. However, a magnet test primarily rules out magnetic counterfeits and does not definitively confirm silver, as other non-magnetic metals exist.