All U.S. silver dimes, quarters and half dollars minted in 1964 or earlier contain 90% silver content. These coins are commonly referred to as “junk silver.”
Australian pre-decimal silver coins minted between 1910 and 1945 comprise 92.5% pure silver (aka sterling silver). Later dates contain 50% silver.
US dimes, quarters, half dollars and dollars were minted in 90% silver until 1964. Produced to save nickel for the war effort, war nickels 1942-1945 are 35% silver (silver nickel production started part way into 1942). Half-dollar coins minted between 1965 and 1970 are 40% silver, but from 1971 on, contain no silver.
The term “90% silver” is a short way for investors, collectors, and buyers to refer to pre-1965 dimes, quarters, half dollars, and dollar coins, as a group. The term also serves to differentiate these coins from post 1964 coinage.
Junk silver coins are typically referred to as 90% silver dimes, quarters and half dollars minted in 1964 or earlier, but technically they can refer to any government issued silver coins for general circulation that are primarily bought and sold for their silver content.
U.S. 40% Silver Coin
From 1965 through 1969, the U.S. Mint issued a circulating Half Dollar with a 40% Silver content to maintain the appearance that the U.S. Dollar had some backing in precious metals.
The Silver Eagle is the only silver bullion coin with a weight, purity, and silver content guaranteed by the U.S. government. These coins have a . 999 purity and contain a troy ounce of silver. The United States Mint produced the first American Silver Eagle coins in 1986.
1. American Silver Eagles. The American Silver Eagle is the official investment-grade Silver bullion coin of the United States Mint, making it one of the few Silver bullion coins guaranteed for weight, content and purity by the U.S. government.
The smallest denomination that you can find silver coins in is the 5 cents or nickel denomination. This is the silver coin that most people don't know about and therefore don't search for, making the fairly easy to find (even in pocket change).
A list of valuable 50c Australian coins is fairly short - most are only worth their face value unless they are in premium grade. One of the first 50 cent piece designs that many people notice in their change are the fifty cent coins struck for the Centenary of Federation - there is one for each state and territory.
And the silver crisis of 1945 and 1946 and the 1945 Penny, Australia's rarest penny. And this 1946 cupro nickel florin, an experimental strike in an alternative metal and the the only example held by a private collector. The Melbourne Mint produced four florins in cupro nickel.
Invest in American History. Most coins minted in the United States before 1965 were 90% silver and 10% copper. Silver at the time was a cost-effective way to produce coins that were both durable and attractive. All other U.S. denominations other than pennies and nickels at one time were struck using 90% silver.
1794 Flowing Hair Silver Dollar: $13,311,850
But over two centuries later, this rare coin has achieved the status as the most expensive coin in the world. The Flowing Hair Silver Dollar was the first US silver dollar coin, minted from 1794 to 1795.
Older Silver Coins Tend to Be More Valuable
Today's “silver” coins contain far less silver if we're talking about quarters, dimes, and nickels. Some older silver coins of this nature are worth far more than their face value if they're rare or have unique design features.
Older 90 Percent Silver Coins Are Worth at Least Their Face Value. All silver half-dollars, quarters, and dimes made between the 1830s and just prior to 1965 are, at a minimum, 90 percent silver. These coins are often referred to as “junk silver,” but they're hardly junk when it comes to their value.
American Eagle Silver Bullion Coins are coins whose weight and purity are guaranteed by the United States Government. They're also allowed in an IRA. Each coin contains a minimum of one troy ounce of 99.9% pure silver. The obverse design of the American Eagle Silver Bullion Coins is based on Adolph A.
Silver coins offer several advantages over investing in silver bars, such as easier selling of smaller quantities at once, higher resale value due to collectible value and rarity factors, and better protection against counterfeiting or fraudulent products.
Of those Australian coins, the threepence, sixpence, shilling, crown and florin were all minted in silver. Some of these pre-decimal coins are exceptionally rare and valuable, although ironically the most valuable pre-decimal coins of all tend to be pennies.
Roosevelt and Mercury Dimes, Washington Quarters, and Walking Liberty Franklin and Kennedy Half-Dollars minted in 1964 and earlier are 90% silver. The value of most circulated coins minted in the 1920′s through 1964 is primarily from their silver content.
The price could grow within the range of 500%-2500% in ten years. We have a track record supporting this prediction; between 1970-1979, the price grew from $1.70 an ounce to about $50, a 3000% growth in 10 years. Another instance is the surprising move of the price of Silver from $5 to $30 an ounce (600%+).
A drachma was approximately a day's pay for a skilled laborer. So 30 pieces of silver (30 tetradrachm), at four drachmas each, would roughly be comparable to four months' (120 days) wages.
According to the latest long-term forecast, Silver price will hit $40 by the end of 2024 and then $50 by the middle of 2026. Silver will rise to $60 within the year of 2027, $70 in 2029, $80 in 2031, $90 in 2032 and $100 in 2034.