Ah, so you're hoping that loose change in your piggy bank is actually a secret treasure trove? Let's sift through the common metals to find the silver lining. The golden rule, or rather the silver rule, for most U.S. coins is to look for the date 1964.
Generally speaking, dimes, quarters, half-dollars, and dollar coins minted in 1964 or earlier are the ones you're looking for. These coins were made of 90% silver, making them significantly more valuable than their face value suggests. This includes iconic coins like the Morgan and Peace dollars, Walking Liberty half-dollars, and Mercury dimes.
But, like any good treasure hunt, there are a few plot twists. The U.S. Mint didn't just quit silver cold turkey. Kennedy half-dollars made between 1965 and 1970 contain 40% silver, so they're still worth checking. And for a truly sneaky bit of history, look at nickels from World War II. To save nickel for the war effort, nickels minted between 1942 and 1945 were made with 35% silver. You can spot these "War Nickels" by the large mint mark (P, D, or S) located above Monticello on the reverse.
Finally, if you're not into rummaging through old coin jars, the U.S. Mint still produces American Silver Eagle coins. These are modern bullion coins made specifically for collectors and investors and contain one troy ounce of 99.9% pure silver, though you probably shouldn't use one to buy a soda.
