Real silver coins in the U.S. are generally those minted before 1964 for dimes, quarters, and half dollars (90% silver), with some exceptions like 1942-1945 War Nickels (35% silver), and 1965-1970 Kennedy Half Dollars (40% silver); many older U.S. dollars and various international coins also contain silver, with purity varying by country and era.
The United States began producing silver coins in 1794 and for a period of 170 years minted all dimes, quarters, and half dollars with 90% silver content. The last year U.S. coins contained 90% silver was in 1964. Dimes and quarters minted after 1964, unless part of a silver proof set, don't contain any silver content.
From 1794 to 1964, most circulating U.S. dimes, quarters, half dollars, and dollars were struck using 90% silver and 10% copper—a composition prized for both durability and intrinsic value.
Edge Inspection: Examine the edge of the coin for a solid silver appearance, which indicates pure silver. If a copper stripe is visible, the coin is clad. Some coins with faint copper traces may be partially silver, such as U.S. Kennedy half dollars minted from 1965 to 1970, which are 40% silver.
Pre-1920 Shillings are made of sterling silver (92.5% pure silver). Shillings issued between 1920 and 1946 contain 50% silver. However, if your Shilling was minted from 1947 onwards it is made of cupronickel and is therefore less valuable. How many Pennies are in a pre-decimal Pound?
89–81, 79 Stat. 254, enacted July 23, 1965, eliminated silver from the circulating United States dime (ten-cent piece) and quarter dollar coins. It also reduced the silver content of the half dollar from 90 percent to 40 percent; silver in the half dollar was subsequently eliminated by a 1970 law.
The Ice Test
Silver has the highest thermal conductivity of any metal. If the object is silver, the cold will rapidly transfer from the ice to the silver – causing it to melt much faster than ice placed on a base metal like aluminum or steel.
Silver is not magnetic, not even with the strongest magnet. However, silver is diamagnetic. Take a silver coin, hold it at 45 degrees, a suitable magnet will slide down it slowly.
To test silver with vinegar, mix equal parts of white vinegar and baking soda in a bowl and stir until the baking soda is dissolved. Then, dip a clean cloth or cotton swab into the mixture and apply it to the silver object. If the object is real silver, the mixture will cause a reaction that will bubble and fizz.
The 1965 Washington quarter was the first US quarter not made of 90% pure silver. This transition from silver "hard money" to copper coinage resulted in the rare and valuable 1965 silver quarter—one of the most sought-after transitional error coins in American numismatics.
Junk Silver refers to circulated US Silver Coinage struck in 1964 and prior. Bags typically consist of all dimes or all quarters which have a 90% overall silver content.
If you are looking to acquire silver in the form of U.S. quarters, you need to look for quarters minted in 1964 or earlier. These coins were struck in 90% silver and have a melt value significantly higher than their face value.
Most circulated 1964 quarters trade based on their silver content, often slightly above melt value, typically in the range of $4 to $6 depending on current silver prices. In contrast, uncirculated or proof-grade coins can command prices from $15 upwards, reflecting their pristine condition and scarcity.
Silver tarnishes quickly, turning black, when in contact with bleach. A small spot of bleach can therefore be used to identify silver. The tarnish can easily be polished away, and silver items should leave the cloth slightly blackened by the tarnish being removed.
Use A Magnet
See if the metal reacts to a magnet. Precious metals such as silver, gold, and copper are not magnetic. If a magnet is strongly attracted to the metal, it is not pure silver. Plated silver has a metal base of nickel or pewter, which is magnetic.
That being said, you can use common household items to get a good idea if a metal isn't sterling silver...
Silver turning black is not a defect – it is a natural property of silver. If your jewellery is made of sterling silver (925/1000) and does not have a protective surface treatment such as rhodium plating, platinum plating, or another finish, it will naturally react with its environment.
The short answer is simple: don't clean your old coins. Even well-intentioned cleaning can permanently reduce their value, strip away historical patina, and leave invisible damage.
An unworn sixpence dated prior to 1920 contains 0.0841 oz of silver, and this gives a bullion value of about £3.12 or US$4.11. Sixpence from the period 1920 to 1946 contain 0.0454 oz of silver and thus had a bullion value of £1.68 or US$2.22. Please note that the silver price and exchange rates fluctuate.
By upcycling unloved silver cutlery, it is possible to create a beautiful piece of jewellery and with care preserve its original history and provenance. The act of crafting jewellery from a piece of silver flatware (knives, forks and spoons) is thought to date back to the 1600s.