American silver coinage is the backbone of the "Junk Silver" market. From 1892 until 1964, dimes, quarters, and half dollars were composed of 90% fine silver. As the price of silver rose in the early 1960s, these coins began to vanish from circulation as people hoarded them—a classic example of Gresham’s Law.
The Coinage Act of 1965 officially removed silver from dimes and quarters, while the Half Dollar was reduced to 40% silver until 1970. Today, these coins remain highly liquid and are the most recognizable form of fractional silver in the world.
| Coin Type | Purity | ASW (oz) |
|---|---|---|
| Dime (1892-1964) | 90.0% | 0.0723 |
| Quarter (1892-1964) | 90.0% | 0.1808 |
| Half Dollar (1892-1964) | 90.0% | 0.3617 |
| Kennedy Half (1965-70) | 40.0% | 0.1479 |
| Morgan/Peace Dollar | 90.0% | 0.7734 |
| War Nickel (1942-45) | 35.0% | 0.0563 |
| Ike Dollar (Silver) | 40.0% | 0.3161 |