How to Identify 90% Silver Coins
Many people have jars of old change or a coin collection from a parent and wonder which coins contain silver. US coins made for circulation before 1965 are mostly 90% silver, and spotting them is easier than you might think. This guide explains the dates, the edge check and the common look-alikes that fool beginners.
The basic rule: 1964 and earlier
US dimes, quarters and half dollars dated 1964 or earlier were struck in 90% silver and 10% copper. Starting in 1965, dimes and quarters switched to copper-nickel clad metal with no silver. Collectors often call these older coins "junk silver" or "constitutional silver" when they are common dates valued mostly for their metal.
Coins in this group include:
- Dimes: Barber, Mercury and Roosevelt dimes dated 1964 or earlier.
- Quarters: Barber, Standing Liberty and Washington quarters dated 1964 or earlier.
- Half dollars: Barber, Walking Liberty, Franklin, and the 1964 Kennedy half dollar.
- Dollars: Morgan and Peace silver dollars, which are also 90% silver.
The exceptions to know
A few coins break the simple date rule, and they come up often.
- Kennedy halves from 1965 to 1970 are 40% silver, not 90%. Later circulation Kennedy halves contain no silver.
- Jefferson "war nickels" from 1942 to 1945 contain 35% silver. Look for a large mint mark (P, D or S) above Monticello on the back.
- Eisenhower dollars made for circulation contain no silver. Some collector versions from the 1970s were 40% silver, usually sold in special packaging.
- Proof and special silver sets from later years may contain silver coins with modern dates. Check the packaging and the edge.
Check the edge
The fastest way to sort a pile of change is to look at the edge of each coin. Modern clad dimes, quarters and halves show a stripe of copper color sandwiched between silvery layers. A 90% silver coin has a solid silver-colored edge with no copper stripe.
Stack coins and look at the edges in good light. The copper stripe on clad coins is easy to see once you know to look for it.
Listen and look
Silver coins often have a slightly different, softer gray tone than clad coins, and older ones may show toning in shades of gold, blue or brown. Some people can hear a difference when a silver coin is dropped on a hard surface, but this is not reliable for beginners and risks damage. Rely on dates and edges instead.
Watch out for look-alikes
- Silver-colored dollar coins such as the Susan B. Anthony dollar are copper-nickel, not silver.
- Golden dollars (Sacagawea and Presidential) contain no gold or silver.
- Foreign coins may look like old US silver but contain different amounts of silver or none. Research them separately.
- Silver-plated or fake coins exist, especially Morgan and Trade dollars. A coin that sticks to a magnet is not silver.
Don't overlook collector value
Most worn, common-date silver coins trade on their silver content. But some dates and mint marks are scarce, and coins in high grades can be worth far more than their silver. Before selling a group of older coins, check dates and mint marks against a current price guide, or have a coin dealer look through them. Pull out anything in unusually nice condition.
How 90% silver is bought and sold
Dealers usually price common 90% silver coins by face value, because each dollar of face value contains about the same amount of silver regardless of which coins make it up. Ask a dealer how their buy price relates to the day's silver spot price, and compare a couple of quotes before selling a larger amount.
Keep in mind that worn coins have lost a small amount of metal over decades of circulation, and dealers generally account for that in their pricing.
Quick checklist
- Pull dimes, quarters and halves dated 1964 or earlier.
- Look for a solid silver edge with no copper stripe.
- Set aside 1965-1970 Kennedy halves (40%) and 1942-1945 war nickels (35%).
- Don't assume dollar coins are silver unless they are Morgan or Peace dollars or special issues.
- Check dates and mint marks for collector value before selling for silver.