90% Silver US Coins

Junk Silver Coins

Junk Silver is a casual term that refers to any silver coin, in circulated condition, and that doesn't have any numismatic value above the market price of silver. In 1964 and before, the US minted its coins primarily using a metallic alloy of 90% silver and 10% copper. Collectors can determine if a coin contains silver by focusing on the coin's rim. If the rim is strictly silver-colored, then the coin contains 90% silver. If the rim has a copper tone, then the coin is considered a clad and does not have silver content. Since the Junk Silver coins' content is ranked higher than the coins' actual face value, taking comfort in these coins' intrinsic value can lead to a highly profitable investment.

90% Silver

90% silver is not only a fading remnant of American history but also has an influential role in the silver market today. Depending on personal investment goals, investors are drawn to the 90% silver coins since they contain a high percentage of silver and are duly recognized as US coinage. Some of the 90% silver coins include, but are not limited to the Morgan Silver Dollar, the Peace Silver Dollar, the Barber series (dime, quarter, and half dollar), the Franklin Half Dollar, the Washington Quarter, the Mercury and Roosevelt Dimes, and the 1964 Kennedy Half Dollar.

40% Silver

All good things come to an end, which was the case for the 90% silver coinage. In 1965, the US Mint strived to decrease production costs, exchanging out the beloved 90% silver for 40% silver. The main series this change affected most severely was the brand new Kennedy Half Dollars. The only Kennedy Half Dollars, that featured a 90% silver purity, were the ones minted in the first year of issue in 1964. From 1965-1969, the Kennedy Half Dollar's silver content decreased to 40% and the popularity for this history-making half dollar slowly decreased.

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