what coins are made of silver in canada

[Walter]

Hello there! That's a great question. When it comes to Canadian coins, whether one is made of silver really depends on the year it was minted. For the coins you'd typically find in circulation, the key cutoff years are in the late 1960s.

Generally, Canadian dimes, quarters, half-dollars, and dollar coins minted in 1966 or earlier are made of 80% silver. These are often what collectors refer to when they talk about Canadian "junk silver."

The years 1967 and 1968 were a transition period, which can be a bit tricky. In 1967, the silver content for dimes and quarters was reduced from 80% to 50% partway through the year, so a coin from that year could be either. For 1968, some dimes and quarters were still made with 50% silver, while others were made entirely of nickel. After 1968, silver was removed from all circulating Canadian coins.

Beyond those older circulation coins, the Royal Canadian Mint also produces modern silver bullion coins for investors and collectors. The most famous of these is the Canadian Silver Maple Leaf, which is made of very pure .9999 fine silver and isn't intended for everyday use.