How to Tell if a Coin Is Silver
UPDATED 2026-10-28
The short answer. For US coins, look at the date first. A dime, quarter or half dollar dated 1964 or earlier is 90% silver. That one check settles most coins you will find in a jar or an inherited box.
1. Check the date and the type
| Coin | Silver? | Silver content |
|---|---|---|
| Dime, quarter, half dollar, 1964 and earlier | Yes, 90% | dime 0.0723 oz, quarter 0.1808 oz, half 0.3617 oz |
| Kennedy half dollar, 1964 | Yes, 90% | 0.3617 oz |
| Kennedy half dollar, 1965 to 1970 | Yes, 40% | 0.1479 oz |
| Jefferson “war nickel”, 1942 to 1945 | Yes, 35% | 0.0563 oz |
| Morgan and Peace dollars | Yes, 90% | 0.7734 oz |
| American Silver Eagle | Yes, 99.9% | 1 oz |
| Dimes, quarters, halves, 1971 and later | No (copper-nickel), except collector sets | none |
| Cents and other nickels | No | none |
Weights are in troy ounces of pure silver. You can look up any date and mint mark on the coin pages.
2. Look at the edge
Hold the coin on its side. Pre-1965 silver coins show a solid silver-coloured edge. Newer clad coins show a copper-coloured stripe between two silver-coloured layers. A 1965 to 1970 Kennedy half shows a faint stripe, because its outer layers are 80% silver bonded to a copper core.
3. Weigh it
A kitchen or jewellery scale that reads to 0.01 g is enough. Silver coins weigh a little more than the clad coins that replaced them.
| Coin | 90% silver | Clad (1965 and later) |
|---|---|---|
| Dime | 2.50 g | 2.27 g |
| Quarter | 6.25 g | 5.67 g |
| Half dollar | 12.50 g | 11.34 g |
Worn silver coins can weigh a bit less than the table, so a small shortfall does not rule one out. A coin well under the weight, or well over it, is a warning sign.
4. Listen to it
Balance the coin on a fingertip and tap it with another coin, or drop it on a hard table. Silver tends to give a long, clear ring. Clad coins sound short and dull. This is a hint only.
5. Know what a magnet can and cannot tell you
Silver is not magnetic, so a coin that sticks to a magnet is not silver. The reverse is not true: many non-silver coins do not stick either. Use the magnet to rule out steel and iron, such as the 1943 zinc-coated steel cent.
If you think it is silver, what next?
Put the coin into the melt calculator to see what its silver is worth today, or add it to My Stack. If the date is a key date, the coin may be worth far more than its silver; read melt value vs collector value before you sell.
If a coin looks silver but the weight, size or design is off, it may be a copy. Do not clean a coin you think is rare.
Quick answers
Are all old US coins silver?
No. US dimes, quarters and half dollars dated 1964 or earlier are 90% silver. Kennedy half dollars from 1965 to 1970 are 40% silver. Nickels and cents are not silver, apart from war nickels dated 1942 to 1945, which are 35% silver. Coins from 1971 on are copper-nickel, apart from collector sets and bullion.
Does a magnet tell me if a coin is silver?
Not by itself. Silver is not magnetic, but neither are copper, nickel, brass or zinc. A magnet only rules out steel and iron, such as the 1943 steel cent.
What is the easiest check?
The date and the edge. A dime, quarter or half dollar dated 1964 or earlier is silver. A newer one with a copper-coloured stripe on its edge is not.
Is the ring test reliable?
It is a rough guide only. Silver coins tend to ring for longer when dropped on a hard surface, and clad coins sound dull. Wear and cracks change the sound, so use it as a hint, not proof.
Try it on your coins
Melt value calculator My Stack Look up a date and mint mark
More guides: Junk silver, Melt vs collector value, Where to sell.