Quick answer
US dimes, quarters and half dollars dated 1964 or earlier are 90% silver. Kennedy halves from 1965 to 1970 are 40% silver.
Check the date first
| Coin | Silver years | Silver content |
|---|---|---|
| Dimes | 1964 and earlier | 90% |
| Quarters | 1964 and earlier | 90% |
| Half dollars | 1964 and earlier | 90% |
| Kennedy half dollars | 1965–1970 | 40% |
| Dollars (Morgan, Peace) | All | 90% |
| Jefferson nickels | Mid-1942–1945 | 35% |
Wartime silver nickels have a large mint mark (P, D or S) above Monticello on the back.
Look at the edge
Modern clad coins show a copper stripe on the edge. Silver coins from 1964 and earlier have a solid silver-gray edge.
Listen to it
Balanced on a fingertip and gently tapped with another coin, a silver coin gives a longer, higher ring than a clad coin. It’s a handy check, not a proof.
Find its value
Look up your coin in the coin melt values list to see what its silver is worth today.
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