01 / IDENTIFY BEFORE YOU CALCULATE
Which common U.S. coins contain silver?
A visual starting point for sorting familiar coins by date and silver content. Real reference photos, with the exceptions that are easy to miss.
For coin-club handouts, beginner lessons and collector articles.
Read the text versionThe quick answer
| Coin | Date or issue | Silver |
|---|---|---|
| Roosevelt dime | 1946–1964 | 90% |
| Washington quarter | 1932–1964 | 90% |
| Kennedy half dollar | 1964 | 90% |
| Kennedy half dollar | 1965–1970 | 40% |
| Eisenhower dollar | Selected 1971-S–1974-S and 1776–1976-S collector issues | 40% |
| Wartime Jefferson nickel | 1942–1945 silver-alloy issues | 35% |
- Nickels: check the reverse. The silver-alloy issues have a large P, D or S above Monticello. Some 1942 nickels are not silver; the 1942 silver issues have P or S.
- Eisenhower dollars: S is not enough. Confirm the actual silver collector issue. For example, 1973-S proofs exist in both clad and silver.
- A starter guide, not every issue. Later silver collector editions and proofs need their own identification. Photographs show representative coins, not sale inventory.
