What United States Coins Have Silver?

Historically, United States coinage incorporated silver for many years. This practice changed significantly in the mid-20th century due to rising silver prices, making high precious metal content unsustainable for circulating coins. Knowing which coins contain silver and their purities is relevant for collectors, investors, and those interested in American monetary history.

90% Silver US Coins

A significant portion of older United States coinage contains a high silver content, specifically dimes, quarters, and half dollars minted in 1964 and earlier. These coins are composed of 90% silver and 10% copper, a standard alloy for circulating silver coinage of that era. This composition means their intrinsic value is often tied to the fluctuating market price of silver, rather than solely their face value.

Many common denominations fall into this category, including Roosevelt Dimes (1946-1964), Mercury Dimes (1916-1945), Washington Quarters (1932-1964), Franklin Half Dollars (1948-1963), and Walking Liberty Half Dollars (1916-1947). The 1964 Kennedy Half Dollar is also part of this 90% silver group, being the only year of its circulation strike to contain such a high silver percentage.

These 90% silver coins are sometimes colloquially referred to as “junk silver” in the numismatic industry. This term does not imply they are without value, but rather that their worth is predominantly derived from their silver bullion content, as opposed to any significant numismatic rarity or collector grade condition. For many, they represent an accessible way to invest in physical silver due to their widespread availability and recognizable forms.

40% Silver US Half Dollars

Following the change in coinage composition in 1965, a unique category of half dollars emerged with a reduced silver content. Only specific Kennedy Half Dollars, those minted between 1965 and 1970, contain 40% silver. This composition features an outer layer of 80% silver and 20% copper, bonded to an inner core, resulting in an overall 40% silver purity and 60% copper.

This silver-clad composition was a transitional measure, designed to retain some silver in circulating coinage while reducing the overall precious metal expenditure due to rising silver prices. These 40% silver Kennedy Half Dollars are distinct from both the earlier 90% silver issues and the later copper-nickel clad coins introduced in 1971. As with the 90% silver coins, the primary method for identifying these is to check the date on the coin.

Their appearance might differ slightly from fully clad coins, sometimes exhibiting a faint copper line along the reeded edge, but the mint date remains the most reliable indicator of their silver content. While they contain less silver than their 1964 counterparts, these 1965-1970 Kennedy Half Dollars still hold intrinsic value above their face value due to their precious metal content.

Silver Dollar Coins

United States dollar coins also include historical issues with significant silver content. The Morgan Dollar, minted from 1878 to 1904 and again in 1921, contains 90% silver and 10% copper. Similarly, the Peace Dollar, produced from 1921 to 1928 and then from 1934 to 1935, also features a 90% silver and 10% copper composition. These older silver dollars are considerably larger than modern circulating dollar coins and are generally not found in everyday circulation due to their age, historical significance, and inherent metal value.

Their designs and historical contexts make them popular among collectors and precious metals investors. While these classic silver dollars are highly sought after, most modern circulating dollar coins, such as the Sacagawea, Presidential, and American Innovation dollars, are copper-nickel clad and do not contain any silver.

However, the U.S. Mint has produced modern silver dollar coins, typically for commemorative purposes or as part of special proof sets, which do contain silver. For instance, in 2021, the U.S. Mint released new Morgan and Peace Dollars to mark the centennial of the transition between the two designs, struck in .999 fine silver. These modern silver dollars are not intended for general circulation and are usually acquired directly from the U.S. Mint or through secondary markets.