All dimes, quarters, and half dollars minted in the United States before 1965 are made from 90% silver. Simply checking the date of your coin will tell you if it is silver or not.

The U.S. has been minting silver coins since 1794, but you will find that virtually all coin denominations stopped using silver after 1964. The half dollar and dollar coins were reduced from 90% silver to a 40% silver composition for a brief time until the U.S. Mint switched to using cheaper metals in the 1970s.

Today, the only U.S. coins currently in production that contain silver are commemorative coins, special collectibles, and American Silver Eagles. The best place to buy silver coins today is from a coin shop or bullion dealer like Gainesville Coins. Visit our website to browse our inventory of U.S. silver coins or call us at 813-482-9300 to place an order.

What follows is a complete list of regular-issue United States coins that are made with silver. The coins are listed in ascending order from the smallest silver weight to the largest. Within that order, they are also listed chronologically from oldest to newest. Photos of each coin type are found beneath the chart.

Coin Type
Dates Minted
Silver Weight (troy ounces)
Silver Weight (grams)
3-Cent trime 1851–1873 0.0217 oz 0.675 g
Flowing Hair half dime 1794–1795 0.03834 oz 1.1926 g
Bust half dime 1796–1837 0.03863 oz 1.2015 g
Liberty Seated half dime 1837–1873 0.03877 oz 1.206 g
Jefferson war nickel 1942–1945 0.05626 oz 1.75 g
Bust dime 1796–1837 0.07726 oz 2.4 g
Seated Liberty dime 1837–1891 0.07726 oz 2.4 g
Barber dime 1892–1916 0.07234 oz 2.25 g
Mercury dime 1916–1945 0.07234 oz 2.25 g
Roosevelt dime 1946–1964 0.07234 oz 2.25 g
20-Cent piece 1875–1878 0.14468 oz 4.5 g
Draped Bust quarter 1796–1838 0.19286 oz 5.99 g
Seated Liberty quarter 1838–1891 0.1933 oz 6 g
Barber quarter 1892–1916 0.18085 oz 5.625 g
Standing Liberty quarter 1916–1930 0.18085 oz 5.625 g
Washington quarter 1932–1964 0.18085 oz 5.625 g
Flowing Hair half dollar 1794–1795 0.38572 oz 11.99 g
Bust half dollar 1796–1839 0.38572 oz 11.99 g
Seated Liberty half dollar 1839–1891 0.38658 oz 12.024 g
Barber half dollar 1892–1915 0.3617 oz 11.25 g
Walking Liberty half dollar 1916–1947 0.3617 oz 11.25 g
Franklin half dollar 1948–1963 0.3617 oz 11.25 g
Kennedy half dollar (90%) 1964 0.3617 oz 11.25 g
Kennedy half dollar (40%) 1965–1970 0.14789 oz 4.6 g
Flowing Hair dollar 1794–1795 0.77144 oz 23.99 g
Bust dollar 1795–1804 0.77144 oz 23.99 g
Seated Liberty dollar 1840–1873 0.77345 oz 24.057 g
Trade dollar 1873–1885 0.78763 oz 24.498 g
Morgan dollar 1878–1921 0.77344 oz 24.06 g
Peace dollar 1921–1935 0.77344 oz 24.06 g
Eisenhower dollar 1971–1978 0.3161 oz 9.83 g
American Silver Eagle 1986–present 1 oz 31.1 g
Commemorative silver coins 1892–present varies varies

How to Calculate the Melt Value of Any U.S. Silver Coin

The actual silver weight (ASW) is included for each listing. The ASW is the amount of pure silver in each coin.

You can roughly calculate the silver content of any U.S. silver coin by using this formula:

silver spot price × 0.715 × face value of the coin

where the face value is a fraction of 1.0, so that the 10 cents of a dime equals 0.10, the 25 cents of a quarter equals 0.25, and so on.

In reality, each $1 of face value of old U.S. silver coins should have about 0.7234 troy ounce of actual silver weight. In practice, however, we use 0.715 to account for the fact that most of these silver coins will have had some of their metal content worn away due to circulation (being handled, rubbing against other coins, etc.).

You can also skip the math by consulting a great resource called Coinflation that lists the approximate melt values of all North American silver coinage.

If you have any of the coins on this list and want to sell your silver coins, follow the link to sell them to Gainesville Coins.

Comprehensive List of U.S. Silver Coins

Three Cent Silvers – 1851–1873

ASW: From 1851 to 1853, 0.0193 troy ounce (0.6 gram). From 1854 to 1873, 0.0217 troy ounce (0.675 gram).

silver trime

The small three-cent silver pieces were also known as "trimes."

Flowing Hair Half Dimes – 1794–1795

ASW: 0.03834 troy ounce (1.1926 grams)

flowing hair dime

These half dimes were among the first coins ever struck at the United States Mint.

Bust Half Dimes – 1796–1837

ASW: 0.03863 troy ounce (1.2015 grams)

draped bust half dime

Both the Draped Bust and Capped Bust half dimes were 89% silver.

Liberty Seated Half Dimes – 1837–1873

ASW: 0.03877 troy ounce (1.206 grams)

seated liberty half dime

Seated Liberty half dimes were the first to use the 90% silver standard.

Wartime Jefferson “Nickels” – 1942–1945

ASW: 0.05626 troy ounce (1.75 grams)

1943 s wartime jefferson nickel

You can distinguish 35% silver "war nickels" by the large mintmark on the reverse.

Bust Dimes – 1796–1837

ASW: 0.07726 troy ounce (2.4 grams)

capped bust dime

Although the diameter of the dime was reduced in 1828, its silver content remained the same.

Seated Liberty Dimes – 1837–1891

ASW: 0.07726 troy ounce (2.4 grams)

1871 cc seated liberty dime (1)

The Seated Liberty design was used across many denominations in the 1800s.

Barber Dimes – 1892–1916

ASW: 0.07234 troy ounce (2.25 grams)

barber dime

The Barber dime exemplifies the common design theme seen across U.S. silver coins after 1892.

Mercury Dimes – 1916–1945

ASW: 0.07234 troy ounce (2.25 grams)

1942 d mercury dime

The Mercury dime was officially known as the "Winged Liberty" dime, but the nickname stuck.

Roosevelt Dimes – 1946–1964

ASW: 0.07234 troy ounce (2.25 grams)

silver roosevelt dime

The coin's design commemorated the late president Franklin D. Roosevelt.

Twenty Cents – 1875–1878

ASW: 0.14468 troy ounce (4.5 grams)

20 cent piece

This short-lived denomination was not popular, and was often confused with the quarter dollar.

Draped Bust Quarters – 1796–1838

ASW: 0.19286 troy ounce (5.99 grams)

1804 draped bust quarter heraldic eagle

The Draped Bust quarter remains an iconic U.S. coin to this day.

Seated Liberty Quarters – 1838–1891

ASW: 0.1933 troy ounce (6 grams)

seated liberty quarter type 1 no motto no drapery

The Seated Liberty quarter contained slightly more silver content than its successors.

Barber Quarters – 1892–1916

ASW: 0.18085 troy ounce (5.625 grams)

1901 s barber quarter

The various Barber coinage is named for its designer, Charles E. Barber.

Standing Liberty Quarters – 1916–1930

ASW: 0.18085 troy ounce (5.625 grams)

standing liberty quarter type 2

Many consider the Standing Liberty design to be among the best in the history of American coins.

Washington Quarters – 1932–1964

ASW: 0.18085 troy ounce (5.625 grams)

1940 p quarter

The Washington quarter was originally supposed to be a one-year commemorative, but ultimately the design was kept.

Flowing Hair Half Dollars – 1794–1795

ASW: 0.38572 troy ounce (11.99 grams)

flowing hair half dollar

The Flowing Hair half dollar only saw two years of production, much like the silver dollar that shares its design.

Bust Half Dollars – 1796–1839

ASW: 0.38572 troy ounce (11.99 grams)

1838 o capped bust half dollar

Unlike the Draped Bust type, the Capped Bust designs were the first to consistently list the denomination.

Seated Liberty Half Dollars – 1839–1891

ASW: 0.38658 troy ounce (12.024 grams)

seated liberty half dollar type 2 arrows at date with rays

The Seated Liberty theme appeared across U.S. coinage, including the half dollar.

Barber Half Dollars – 1892–1915

ASW: 0.3617 troy ounce (11.25 grams)

barber half dollar

Barber half dollars are highly collectible in part due to their widespread circulation.

Walking Liberty Half Dollars – 1916–1947

ASW: 0.3617 troy ounce (11.25 grams)

1942 walking liberty ddr

The Walking Liberty design is often considered one of the most beautiful ever to appear on an American coin.

Franklin Half Dollars – 1948–1963

ASW: 0.3617 troy ounce (11.25 grams)

1948 franklin half dollar

Franklin half dollars had an unusually short run of just 16 years.

Kennedy Half Dollars – 1964–1970

ASW: In 1964, 0.3617 troy ounce (11.25 grams). From 1965 to 1970, 0.14789 troy ounce (4.6 grams).

1964 kennedy half

Only the first year of issue in 1964 featured a 90% silver composition for the Kennedy half.

Flowing Hair Dollars – 1794–1795

ASW: 0.77144 troy ounce (23.99 grams)

flowing hair dollar

The first-ever silver dollar in the U.S. remains highly sought-after by collectors.

Bust Dollars – 1795–1804

ASW: 0.77144 troy ounce (23.99 grams)

draped bust dollar

Several reverse varieties of the Draped Bust dollar are known, featuring different eagle designs.

Seated Liberty Dollars – 1840–1873

ASW: 0.77345 troy ounce (24.057 grams)

seated liberty silver dollar no motto

The Seated Liberty silver dollar came in two varieties, adding the motto "IN GOD WE TRUST" beginning in 1866.

Trade Dollars – 1873–1885

ASW: 0.78763 troy ounce (24.498 grams)

trade dollar

The Trade dollar was specifically minted for export demand, particularly in Asia.

Commemorative Coins (quarters, half dollars, and silver dollars) – 1892–Present

ASW: Varies by denomination, but is consistent with all other coins on the list with the same face value.

oregon trail commem

The Oregon Trail commemorative half dollar is a classic example.

Morgan Dollars – 1878–1921

ASW: 0.77344 troy ounce (24.06 grams)

1921 morgan silver dollar

The Morgan dollar is still one of the best-known American coins.

Peace Dollars – 1921–1935

ASW: 0.77344 troy ounce (24.06 grams)

1923 d peace silver dollar

The issuing of the Peace dollar beginning in 1921 was partly to honor the end of World War I.

Eisenhower Dollars – 1971–1978

ASW: 0.3161 troy ounce (9.83 grams)

1973 s eisenhower dollar

Only collector's Eisenhower dollars made by the San Francisco Mint contained 40% silver.

American Silver Eagles – 1986–Present

ASW: 1 troy ounce (31.1 grams)

american silver eagle dollar bullion

The American Silver Eagle is the only coin on the list that is 99.9% pure silver.

Buy Silver Coins at Gainesville Coins

Browse the product listings below for some of the U.S. silver coins available for sale at Gainesville Coins:

 

Joshua McMorrow-Hernandez is a journalist, editor, and blogger who has won multiple awards from the Numismatic Literary Guild. He has also authored numerous books, including works profiling the history of the United States Mint and United States coinage.

More information about where to buy precious metals from the authors at Gainesville Coins:

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How Much Is a Gold Bar Worth Today?

Silver Coins vs. Silver Rounds: What's the Difference?

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