THE COIN REFERENCE SHELF
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Then compare the value.
34 practical guides to the gold and silver profiles in our calculator. Find the right issue, check collector checkpoints, and avoid comparing two coins that only look alike.
Silver coins

Wartime Jefferson Nickel
1942–1945 · 35% silver
Silver alloy nickel
Identification, dates & value checks →
Barber Dime
1892–1916 · 90% silver
Liberty Head dime
Identification, dates & value checks →
Mercury Dime
1916–1945 · 90% silver
Winged Liberty Head
Identification, dates & value checks →
Silver Roosevelt Dime
1946–1964 · 90% silver
Pre-clad Roosevelt
Identification, dates & value checks →
Barber Quarter
1892–1916 · 90% silver
Liberty Head quarter
Identification, dates & value checks →
Standing Liberty Quarter
1916–1930 · 90% silver
Classic Liberty design
Identification, dates & value checks →
Silver Washington Quarter
1932–1964 · 90% silver
Pre-clad Washington
Identification, dates & value checks →
Barber Half Dollar
1892–1915 · 90% silver
Liberty Head half
Identification, dates & value checks →
Walking Liberty Half
1916–1947 · 90% silver
Walking Liberty design
Identification, dates & value checks →
Franklin Half Dollar
1948–1963 · 90% silver
Franklin and Liberty Bell
Identification, dates & value checks →
1964 Kennedy Half
1964 · 90% silver
First-year Kennedy
Identification, dates & value checks →
40% Kennedy Half
1965–1970 · 40% silver
Silver-clad Kennedy
Identification, dates & value checks →
Morgan Silver Dollar
1878–1921 · 90% silver
Classic U.S. silver dollar
Identification, dates & value checks →
Peace Silver Dollar
1921–1935 · 90% silver
Peace dollar series
Identification, dates & value checks →
Silver Eisenhower Dollar
1971–1976 silver issues · 40% silver
40% silver collector issue only
Identification, dates & value checks →
American Silver Eagle
1986–Date · .999 fine silver
One-ounce silver bullion coin
Identification, dates & value checks →
America the Beautiful 5 oz
2010–2021 · .999 fine silver
Five-ounce silver bullion coin
Identification, dates & value checks →Gold coins

Liberty Head Gold Dollar
1849–1854 · 90% gold
Type 1 · small Liberty portrait
Identification, dates & value checks →
Indian Princess Gold Dollar · Type 2
1854–1856 · 90% gold
Small Head
Identification, dates & value checks →
Indian Princess Gold Dollar · Type 3
1856–1889 · 90% gold
Large Head
Identification, dates & value checks →
Liberty Head $2.50
1840–1907 · 90% gold
Quarter eagle
Identification, dates & value checks →
Indian Head $2.50
1908–1915; 1925–1929 · 90% gold
Recessed-design quarter eagle
Identification, dates & value checks →
Indian Princess $3
1854–1889 · 90% gold
Three-dollar gold piece
Identification, dates & value checks →
Liberty Head $5
1839–1908 · 90% gold
Half eagle
Identification, dates & value checks →
Indian Head $5
1908–1916; 1929 · 90% gold
Recessed-design half eagle
Identification, dates & value checks →
Liberty Head $10
1838–1907 · 90% gold
Gold eagle
Identification, dates & value checks →
Indian Head $10
1907–1933 · 90% gold
Raised design · intermittent issues after 1916
Identification, dates & value checks →
Liberty Head $20
1850–1907 · 90% gold
Double eagle · circulation series
Identification, dates & value checks →
Saint-Gaudens $20
1907–1916; 1920–1933 · 90% gold
Historical double eagle · 1933 not regularly issued
Identification, dates & value checks →
American Gold Eagle · 1 oz
1986–Date · 91.67% gold · 22 karat
$50 · one fine ounce
Identification, dates & value checks →
American Gold Eagle · ½ oz
1986–Date · 91.67% gold · 22 karat
$25 · half fine ounce
Identification, dates & value checks →
American Gold Eagle · ¼ oz
1986–Date · 91.67% gold · 22 karat
$10 · quarter fine ounce
Identification, dates & value checks →
American Gold Eagle · ¹⁄₁₀ oz
1986–Date · 91.67% gold · 22 karat
$5 · tenth fine ounce
Identification, dates & value checks →
American Gold Buffalo · 1 oz
2006–Date · 99.99% gold · 24 karat
$50 only · excludes 2008 fractional sizes
Identification, dates & value checks →Reference-photo sources and licenses
These are representative examples, not inventory photographs. The half- and quarter-ounce Gold Eagle cards use the labeled one-ounce series obverse. Image derivatives retain their stated licenses.
- Photo: Bruxton ↗CC0 1.0. Resized reference photograph; not current inventory.
- Photo: Anemonemma, Generalissima, and 3df ↗CC BY-SA 4.0. Resized for display; image derivative retains this license.
- Photo: Gage Skidmore ↗CC BY-SA 3.0. Resized for display; this image derivative retains the same license.
- Photo: Bruxton ↗CC BY-SA 4.0. Resized for display; image derivative retains this license.
- Photo: Jaclyn Nash / National Numismatic Collection, National Museum of American History, Smithsonian Institution ↗Public domain. Resized obverse and reverse photograph.
- Wartime Jefferson NickelPhoto: Wehwalt ↗CC BY-SA 3.0. Resized for display; this image derivative retains the same license.
- Peace Silver DollarPhoto: Bobby131313 / CCF Numismatics ↗CC BY-SA 3.0. Resized for display; this image derivative retains the same license.
- Morgan Silver DollarPhoto: Jaclyn Nash / Smithsonian Institution ↗Public domain. Cropped and resized reference photograph.
- American Silver EaglePhoto: United States Mint ↗Public domain. Cropped and resized reference photograph.
- Barber Half DollarPhoto: BnF / Gallica ↗Public domain. Cropped and resized reference photograph.
- Liberty Head Gold DollarPhoto: Jaclyn Nash, National Numismatic Collection, National Museum of American History, Smithsonian Institution ↗Public domain. Full-rim obverse crop or resized reference photograph.
- Indian Princess Gold Dollar · Type 2Photo: Jaclyn Nash, National Numismatic Collection, National Museum of American History, Smithsonian Institution ↗Public domain. Full-rim obverse crop or resized reference photograph.
- Indian Princess Gold Dollar · Type 3Photo: Jaclyn Nash, National Numismatic Collection, National Museum of American History, Smithsonian Institution ↗Public domain. Full-rim obverse crop or resized reference photograph.
- Liberty Head $2.50Photo: Jaclyn Nash, National Numismatic Collection, National Museum of American History, Smithsonian Institution ↗Public domain. Full-rim obverse crop or resized reference photograph.
- Indian Head $2.50Photo: Jaclyn Nash, National Numismatic Collection, National Museum of American History, Smithsonian Institution ↗Public domain. Full-rim obverse crop or resized reference photograph.
- Indian Princess $3Photo: Jaclyn Nash, National Numismatic Collection, National Museum of American History, Smithsonian Institution ↗Public domain. Full-rim obverse crop or resized reference photograph.
- Liberty Head $5Photo: Jaclyn Nash, National Numismatic Collection, National Museum of American History, Smithsonian Institution ↗Public domain. Full-rim obverse crop or resized reference photograph.
- Indian Head $5Photo: Jaclyn Nash, National Numismatic Collection, National Museum of American History, Smithsonian Institution ↗Public domain. Full-rim obverse crop or resized reference photograph.
- Liberty Head $10Photo: Jaclyn Nash, National Numismatic Collection, National Museum of American History, Smithsonian Institution ↗Public domain. Full-rim obverse crop or resized reference photograph.
- Indian Head $10Photo: Jaclyn Nash, National Numismatic Collection, National Museum of American History, Smithsonian Institution ↗Public domain. Full-rim obverse crop or resized reference photograph.
- Liberty Head $20Photo: Jaclyn Nash, National Numismatic Collection, National Museum of American History, Smithsonian Institution ↗Public domain. Full-rim obverse crop or resized reference photograph.
- Saint-Gaudens $20Photo: Jaclyn Nash, National Numismatic Collection, National Museum of American History, Smithsonian Institution ↗Public domain. Full-rim obverse crop or resized reference photograph.
- American Gold Eagle · 1 ozPhoto: United States Mint ↗Public domain. Full-rim obverse crop or resized reference photograph.
- American Gold Eagle · ½ ozPhoto: United States Mint ↗Public domain. Full-rim obverse crop or resized reference photograph.
- American Gold Eagle · ¼ ozPhoto: United States Mint ↗Public domain. Full-rim obverse crop or resized reference photograph.
- American Gold Eagle · ¹⁄₁₀ ozPhoto: United States Mint ↗Public domain. Full-rim obverse crop or resized reference photograph.
- American Gold Buffalo · 1 ozPhoto: United States Mint ↗Public domain. Full-rim obverse crop or resized reference photograph.
- Barber Half DollarPhoto: BnF / Gallica ↗Public domain. Cropped and resized reference photograph.
- Wartime Jefferson NickelPhoto: Wehwalt ↗CC BY-SA 3.0. Resized for display; this image derivative retains the same license.
- Barber DimePhoto: United States Mint; scan released to the public domain ↗Public domain. Cropped or resized representative reference photograph; not sale inventory.
- Mercury DimePhoto: United States Mint; photograph released to the public domain ↗Public domain. Cropped or resized representative reference photograph; not sale inventory.
- Silver Roosevelt DimePhoto: United States Mint; photograph released to the public domain ↗Public domain. Cropped or resized representative reference photograph; not sale inventory.
- Barber QuarterPhoto: United States Mint; photograph released to the public domain ↗Public domain. Cropped or resized representative reference photograph; not sale inventory.
- Standing Liberty QuarterPhoto: United States Mint; photograph released to the public domain ↗Public domain. Cropped or resized representative reference photograph; not sale inventory.
- Silver Washington QuarterPhoto: United States Mint; photograph released to the public domain ↗Public domain. Cropped or resized representative reference photograph; not sale inventory.
- Photo: Brandon Grossardt ↗CC BY-SA 4.0. Cropped or resized representative reference photograph; not sale inventory.
- Walking Liberty HalfPhoto: United States Mint; photograph released to the public domain ↗Public domain. Cropped or resized representative reference photograph; not sale inventory.
- Franklin Half DollarPhoto: United States Mint; photograph released to the public domain ↗Public domain. Cropped or resized representative reference photograph; not sale inventory.
- 1964 Kennedy HalfPhoto: Olando / DE.MOLAI ↗Public domain. Cropped or resized representative reference photograph; not sale inventory.
- 40% Kennedy HalfPhoto: Ricce ↗Public domain. Cropped or resized representative reference photograph; not sale inventory.
- Morgan Silver DollarPhoto: Jaclyn Nash / Smithsonian Institution ↗Public domain. Cropped and resized reference photograph.
- Peace Silver DollarPhoto: Bobby131313 / CCF Numismatics ↗CC BY-SA 3.0. Resized for display; this image derivative retains the same license.
- Silver Eisenhower DollarPhoto: Windrain ↗CC0 1.0. Cropped or resized representative reference photograph; not sale inventory.
- American Silver EaglePhoto: United States Mint ↗Public domain. Cropped and resized reference photograph.
- America the Beautiful 5 ozPhoto: United States Mint ↗Public domain. Cropped or resized representative reference photograph; not sale inventory.
- Liberty Head Gold DollarPhoto: Jaclyn Nash, National Numismatic Collection, National Museum of American History, Smithsonian Institution ↗Public domain. Full-rim obverse crop or resized reference photograph.
- Indian Princess Gold Dollar · Type 2Photo: Jaclyn Nash, National Numismatic Collection, National Museum of American History, Smithsonian Institution ↗Public domain. Full-rim obverse crop or resized reference photograph.
- Indian Princess Gold Dollar · Type 3Photo: Jaclyn Nash, National Numismatic Collection, National Museum of American History, Smithsonian Institution ↗Public domain. Full-rim obverse crop or resized reference photograph.
- Liberty Head $2.50Photo: Jaclyn Nash, National Numismatic Collection, National Museum of American History, Smithsonian Institution ↗Public domain. Full-rim obverse crop or resized reference photograph.
- Indian Head $2.50Photo: Jaclyn Nash, National Numismatic Collection, National Museum of American History, Smithsonian Institution ↗Public domain. Full-rim obverse crop or resized reference photograph.
- Indian Princess $3Photo: Jaclyn Nash, National Numismatic Collection, National Museum of American History, Smithsonian Institution ↗Public domain. Full-rim obverse crop or resized reference photograph.
- Liberty Head $5Photo: Jaclyn Nash, National Numismatic Collection, National Museum of American History, Smithsonian Institution ↗Public domain. Full-rim obverse crop or resized reference photograph.
- Indian Head $5Photo: Jaclyn Nash, National Numismatic Collection, National Museum of American History, Smithsonian Institution ↗Public domain. Full-rim obverse crop or resized reference photograph.
- Liberty Head $10Photo: Jaclyn Nash, National Numismatic Collection, National Museum of American History, Smithsonian Institution ↗Public domain. Full-rim obverse crop or resized reference photograph.
- Indian Head $10Photo: Jaclyn Nash, National Numismatic Collection, National Museum of American History, Smithsonian Institution ↗Public domain. Full-rim obverse crop or resized reference photograph.
- Liberty Head $20Photo: Jaclyn Nash, National Numismatic Collection, National Museum of American History, Smithsonian Institution ↗Public domain. Full-rim obverse crop or resized reference photograph.
- Saint-Gaudens $20Photo: Jaclyn Nash, National Numismatic Collection, National Museum of American History, Smithsonian Institution ↗Public domain. Full-rim obverse crop or resized reference photograph.
- American Gold Eagle · 1 ozPhoto: United States Mint ↗Public domain. Full-rim obverse crop or resized reference photograph.
- American Gold Eagle · ½ ozPhoto: United States Mint ↗Public domain. Full-rim obverse crop or resized reference photograph.
- American Gold Eagle · ¼ ozPhoto: United States Mint ↗Public domain. Full-rim obverse crop or resized reference photograph.
- American Gold Eagle · ¹⁄₁₀ ozPhoto: United States Mint ↗Public domain. Full-rim obverse crop or resized reference photograph.
- American Gold Buffalo · 1 ozPhoto: United States Mint ↗Public domain. Full-rim obverse crop or resized reference photograph.
- Seated Liberty Half Dime · Reduced WeightPhoto: US Mint (coin); National Numismatic Collection, photograph by Jaclyn Nash ↗Public domain — PD-US-SI. Cropped to the documented coin face and resized with the full rim preserved. No coin details retouched.
- Seated Liberty Dime · Reduced WeightPhoto: US Mint (coin); National Numismatic Collection, photograph by Jaclyn Nash ↗Public domain — PD-US-SI. Cropped to the documented coin face and resized with the full rim preserved. No coin details retouched.
- Seated Liberty Dime · 1873 StandardPhoto: US Mint (coin); National Numismatic Collection, photograph by Jaclyn Nash ↗Public domain — PD-US-SI. Cropped to the documented coin face and resized with the full rim preserved. No coin details retouched.
- Seated Liberty Quarter · Reduced WeightPhoto: Bobby131313 ↗CC BY-SA 3.0. Cropped to the documented coin face and resized with the full rim preserved. No coin details retouched. This derivative retains the source ShareAlike license.
- Seated Liberty Quarter · 1873 StandardPhoto: Christian Gobrecht (coin); National Numismatic Collection, photograph by Jaclyn Nash ↗Public domain — PD-US-SI. Cropped to the documented coin face and resized with the full rim preserved. No coin details retouched.
- Twenty-Cent PiecePhoto: Heritage Auctions (photograph); U.S. Mint (coin) ↗CC BY 4.0. Cropped to the documented coin face and resized with the full rim preserved. No coin details retouched.
- Seated Liberty Half Dollar · Reduced WeightPhoto: Lost Dutchman Rare Coins (photograph); Christian Gobrecht (coin) ↗CC BY-SA 3.0 US. Cropped to the documented coin face and resized with the full rim preserved. No coin details retouched. This derivative retains the source ShareAlike license.
- Seated Liberty Half Dollar · 1873 StandardPhoto: Lost Dutchman Rare Coins (photograph); Christian Gobrecht (coin) ↗CC BY-SA 3.0 US. Cropped to the documented coin face and resized with the full rim preserved. No coin details retouched. This derivative retains the source ShareAlike license.
- Seated Liberty Silver DollarPhoto: US Mint (coin); National Numismatic Collection, photograph by Jaclyn Nash ↗Public domain — PD-US-SI. Cropped to the documented coin face and resized with the full rim preserved. No coin details retouched.
- Trade DollarPhoto: Christian Gobrecht (coin); National Numismatic Collection, photograph by Jaclyn Nash ↗Public domain — PD-US-SI. Cropped to the documented coin face and resized with the full rim preserved. No coin details retouched.
- 1982 George Washington Silver HalfPhoto: United States Mint ↗Public domain — U.S. Department of the Treasury work. Cropped to the documented coin face and resized with the full rim preserved. No coin details retouched.
- Modern Commemorative Silver Dollar · 90%Photo: United States Mint ↗Public domain — U.S. Department of the Treasury work. Cropped to the documented coin face and resized with the full rim preserved. No coin details retouched.
- Modern Commemorative Silver Dollar · .999Photo: Photograph: Jill Westeyn, U.S. Mint; reverse design and engraving: Phebe Hemphill, U.S. Mint; underlying Apollo photograph: Neil Armstrong, NASA ↗Public domain — U.S. Treasury and U.S. government works; reverse only. Cropped to the documented coin face and resized with the full rim preserved. No coin details retouched.
- Modern Morgan Silver DollarPhoto: United States Mint ↗Public domain — U.S. currency / U.S. government work, per Commons file record. Cropped to the documented coin face and resized with the full rim preserved. No coin details retouched.
- Modern Peace Silver DollarPhoto: United States Mint ↗Public domain — U.S. currency / U.S. government work, per Commons file record. Cropped to the documented coin face and resized with the full rim preserved. No coin details retouched.
- Silver Proof Roosevelt Dime · .999Photo: United States Mint ↗Public domain mark — U.S. federal government work, per Commons file record. Cropped to the documented coin face and resized with the full rim preserved. No coin details retouched.
- Silver Proof Quarter · .999Photo: United States Mint ↗Public domain mark — U.S. federal government work, per Commons file record. Cropped to the documented coin face and resized with the full rim preserved. No coin details retouched.
- Silver Proof Kennedy Half · .999Photo: United States Mint ↗Public domain mark — U.S. federal government work, per Commons file record. Cropped to the documented coin face and resized with the full rim preserved. No coin details retouched.
- Bicentennial Silver QuarterPhoto: United States Mint ↗Public domain — U.S. federal government work and U.S. currency design, per Commons file record. Cropped to the documented coin face and resized with the full rim preserved. No coin details retouched.
- Bicentennial Silver Kennedy HalfPhoto: RHM22 (photograph); U.S. Mint (coin design) ↗CC BY-SA 3.0 / GFDL photograph; public-domain U.S. coin design. Cropped to the documented coin face and resized with the full rim preserved. No coin details retouched. This derivative retains the source ShareAlike license.
- 2019 Apollo 11 Five-Ounce Silver DollarPhoto: Mysterymanblue (photograph); Phebe Hemphill, U.S. Mint (reverse design); Neil Armstrong, NASA (underlying Apollo photograph) ↗CC0 1.0 photograph; public-domain U.S. Mint reverse design and NASA source photograph. Cropped to the documented coin face and resized with the full rim preserved. No coin details retouched.
- Classic Head $2.50 · 1834–1836Photo: National Numismatic Collection, National Museum of American History; photograph by Jaclyn Nash ↗Public domain in the United States; Smithsonian/NNC credit requested. Cropped to the documented coin face and resized with the full rim preserved. No coin details retouched.
- Classic Head $5 · 1834–1836Photo: National Numismatic Collection, National Museum of American History; photograph by Jaclyn Nash ↗Public domain in the United States; Smithsonian/NNC credit requested. Cropped to the documented coin face and resized with the full rim preserved. No coin details retouched.
- First Spouse Gold Coin · ½ ozPhoto: United States Mint ↗Public domain in the United States (Mint employee design and Mint source image; Commons PD-US-money record). Cropped to the documented coin face and resized with the full rim preserved. No coin details retouched.
- Modern Commemorative Gold $5Photo: United States Mint; design/engraving by Elizabeth Jones ↗Public domain in the United States (1986 Mint coin; Commons PD-US-money record). Cropped to the documented coin face and resized with the full rim preserved. No coin details retouched.
- 2009 Ultra High Relief Double EaglePhoto: Professional Coin Grading Service; Augustus Saint-Gaudens coin design ↗Public domain in the United States per Wikimedia Commons PD-US-money record. Cropped to the documented coin face and resized with the full rim preserved. No coin details retouched.
- 2014 Kennedy Gold Half DollarPhoto: Michel Curi ↗Creative Commons Attribution 2.0 Generic. Cropped to the documented coin face and resized with the full rim preserved. No coin details retouched.
- 2016 Mercury Dime Centennial GoldPhoto: Professional Coin Grading Service; Adolph A. Weinman coin design ↗Public domain in the United States per Wikimedia Commons PD-US-money record. Cropped to the documented coin face and resized with the full rim preserved. No coin details retouched.
- 2016 Standing Liberty Centennial GoldPhoto: Professional Coin Grading Service; Hermon A. MacNeil coin design ↗Public domain in the United States per Wikimedia Commons PD-US-money record. Cropped to the documented coin face and resized with the full rim preserved. No coin details retouched.
- 2016 Walking Liberty Centennial GoldPhoto: Professional Coin Grading Service; Adolph A. Weinman coin design ↗Public domain in the United States per Wikimedia Commons PD-US-money record. Cropped to the documented coin face and resized with the full rim preserved. No coin details retouched.
- American Gold Buffalo · ½ ozPhoto: Professional Coin Grading Service; James Earle Fraser coin design ↗Public domain in the United States per Wikimedia Commons PD-US-money record. Cropped to the documented coin face and resized with the full rim preserved. No coin details retouched.
- American Gold Buffalo · ¼ ozPhoto: Professional Coin Grading Service; James Earle Fraser coin design ↗Public domain in the United States per Wikimedia Commons PD-US-money record. Cropped to the documented coin face and resized with the full rim preserved. No coin details retouched.
- American Gold Buffalo · ¹⁄₁₀ ozPhoto: Professional Coin Grading Service; James Earle Fraser coin design ↗Public domain in the United States per Wikimedia Commons PD-US-money record. Cropped to the documented coin face and resized with the full rim preserved. No coin details retouched.
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