What Coins Are Silver in the United States?
Uncover the silver content in US coins. Learn to identify valuable silver denominations and distinguish them from common non-silver issues.
Finding a silver coin in everyday change sparks curiosity about its origins and value. Understanding which United States coins contain silver involves their historical composition, which has changed significantly over time due to economic factors and fluctuating precious metal prices. The intrinsic metal value of these coins often surpasses their face value, making them a point of interest for collectors and those curious about their pocket change.
US Coins with 90% Silver Content
Before 1965, circulating United States coinage contained a significant amount of silver. Dimes, quarters, half dollars, and silver dollars minted in 1964 or earlier are composed of 90% silver and 10% copper.
Specifically, all Roosevelt and Mercury dimes, Washington and Standing Liberty quarters, and Walking Liberty, Franklin, and Kennedy half dollars dated 1964 or prior are made of 90% silver. Older silver dollars, such as the Morgan and Peace dollars, also fall into this 90% silver category. The year 1964 marks a cutoff, as the United States Mint transitioned away from this high silver content in most circulating coinage due to rising silver prices.
US Coins with 40% Silver Content
Following the widespread removal of 90% silver from most coinage, a transitional period introduced coins with a lower, yet still notable, silver percentage. Kennedy Half Dollars minted between 1965 and 1970 contain 40% silver. This reduced silver content was a response to the continuing increase in silver prices, allowing the Mint to retain some silver in the half dollar denomination for a few more years.
Additionally, certain Eisenhower Dollars issued between 1971 and 1976 for collectors were also struck with 40% silver. These special issue Eisenhower Dollars are distinct from their circulating counterparts, which contained no silver. The 40% silver composition in these coins typically consisted of an outer layer that was 80% silver and 20% copper, clad around a core of 79% copper and 21% silver, giving them a silvery appearance despite the lower overall silver content.
Common Non-Silver US Coins
Most United States dimes, quarters, and half dollars minted after 1964 are “clad” coinage and do not contain silver. These coins are constructed with a pure copper core bonded between outer layers of a copper-nickel alloy, giving them a silvery appearance. The visible copper stripe on the edge of these coins indicates their clad composition.
Modern dollar coins, including the circulating versions of the Eisenhower, Susan B. Anthony, Sacagawea, and Presidential Dollars, also contain no silver. Pennies, made primarily of copper-plated zinc since 1982, and nickels, composed of 75% copper and 25% nickel, are similarly non-silver, with the exception of wartime nickels minted from 1942-1945 which had a 35% silver content.
Identifying Silver Coins
Identifying silver coins primarily involves checking their mint date. Dimes, quarters, and half dollars dated 1964 or earlier are 90% silver, while Kennedy half dollars from 1965 to 1970 are 40% silver. This date-based check is the most straightforward method for determining silver content.
Another method involves examining the coin’s edge. Silver coins typically have a solid silver-colored edge, whereas clad coins usually reveal a distinct copper stripe. A sound test can also be helpful; when gently dropped on a hard surface, silver coins often produce a clear, high-pitched ring, while clad coins tend to make a duller thud. Additionally, silver is not magnetic, so a magnet will not stick to a genuine silver coin.