United States Silver History

American silver history is the foundation of the modern stacking movement. For over 170 years, the United States struck circulating coinage with a 90% silver purity, establishing a standard that influenced neighbors like Canada, Mexico, and Panama. This era produced iconic designs such as the Morgan Dollar and the Walking Liberty Half Dollar. Perhaps most notably, the Winged Liberty Head dime is almost universally referred to by its nickname, the 'Mercury' dime, due to the resemblance of Liberty’s winged cap to the Roman god.

The transition to base metals began in 1965, following the Coinage Act. While Dimes and Quarters lost their silver entirely, the Kennedy Half Dollar maintained a 40% silver content until 1970. Today, "junk silver" bags consisting of pre-1965 Roosevelt Dimes and Washington Quarters remain the most liquid and trusted form of fractional silver for stackers in North America. In stacking circles, this 90% coinage is widely recognized as Constitutional Silver, emphasizing its status as legal tender minted under the Coinage Act.