What Dimes Contain Silver and How to Identify Them

A dime is a ten-cent coin, one-tenth of a United States dollar. These small, reeded-edge coins are a common part of daily transactions within the U.S. monetary system. Historically, dimes were minted with significant silver content, a practice that changed. Understanding which dimes contain silver and how to identify them can be helpful for those interested in their intrinsic metal value.

Dimes with Silver Content

Dimes produced for circulation in the United States up to and including 1964 contain 90% silver and 10% copper. This composition provided both intrinsic value and durability. Many refer to these pre-1965 silver dimes as “junk silver” to emphasize their value based primarily on precious metal content, rather than numismatic rarity.

The transition away from silver coinage occurred due to the Coinage Act of 1965. Rising silver prices meant the metal content was approaching or exceeding face value, leading to hoarding and a shortage of circulating currency. Beginning in 1965, dimes were minted with a copper-nickel clad composition: a pure copper core bonded between two layers of 75% copper and 25% nickel alloy. This change made new dimes more cost-effective to produce and ensured they remained in circulation. While regular circulating dimes after 1964 no longer contain silver, the U.S. Mint has produced special silver proof sets for collectors, not intended for general circulation.

Identifying Silver Dimes

The most straightforward method to identify a silver dime is to check its minting date. Dimes dated 1964 or earlier are silver. Dimes dated 1965 and later, with the exception of specific collector’s proof issues, are copper-nickel clad and do not contain silver.

A visual examination of the coin’s edge provides another reliable indicator. Silver dimes from 1964 and prior years display a solid, uniform silver color across their entire edge. In contrast, modern copper-nickel clad dimes reveal a distinct copper-colored stripe running through the middle, sandwiched between outer silver-colored layers.

Another technique involves the “ring test,” which relies on silver’s distinct acoustic properties. When a silver dime is gently dropped onto a hard surface, it produces a clear, higher-pitched, and sustained ringing sound. Conversely, copper-nickel clad dimes typically produce a duller thud or a much shorter, less resonant sound. Silver dimes also weigh approximately 2.5 grams, while their clad counterparts weigh slightly less at about 2.27 grams, a difference discernible with a precise scale.