Silver Coinage

            New collectors of United States money sometimes get confused on which coins are silver, and which are  not.  This page will discuss the different types of coinage, their purity, as well as how to tell them apart from  non-silver coins (called "clad").  I will start with the lowest denomination first.

 Nickels

            If you read the article on wartime coinage, than you know the only time nickels were made with silver was  from 1942 until 1945.  These were 35% silver.  Circulated examples may look slightly different (sometimes they  turn a darker color), as pictured  below.  Also, another way to tell is the large mint mark on the reverse above the  Monticello.

 Dimes

            Until 1964, coins (with exception to cents and nickels) were minted with silver planchets that were .900  (90% silver 10% copper).  The easiest way to determine whether your coin is silver or not, is the date.  If it has a  date of 1964 or prior, then it's silver.  Additionally, one way many people tell is the sound.  If you have a silver  dime, drop it on a table.  Then drop a clad dime on a table; the ring of the silver is distinct.  However, there IS  another way to tell, and this is something that many non-collectors do not know.  If you look at the edge of the  coin where it's reeded you will see a layer of nickel and copper - on newer clad  coinage.  But, if your coin is silver, the edge will be solid.  This is pictured below.

On the left, a silver dime, on the right, a clad dime

 Quarters  

            Same as dimes.

 Half Dollars 

            Half Dollars follow the same rule as dimes and quarters: they are 90% silver if 1964 or prior.  However,  half dollars do differ slightly.  From 1965-1970 they were not minted as clad, but rather, as 40% silver. In 1971,  they were minted in the same way as quarters and dimes.  40% silver halves will also have the same signs of a  solid edge and a different sound.