what us coins are mostly silver

[RobertLee]

Well, if you're hoping to find a silver treasure in the change you got from your morning coffee, I have some bad news. But if you're raiding your grandpa's old coin jar, you might just be in luck! The real heavy hitters in the silver game are the old-timer U.S. coins.

Your best bet is to look for dimes, quarters, half-dollars, and dollar coins with a date of 1964 or earlier. These classic coins are the most common silver pieces you'll find, and they're composed of a respectable 90% silver. Collectors often call this "junk silver," but its value is anything but junky.

The U.S. Mint wasn't quite ready to let go of the precious metal after that. Kennedy half-dollars minted between 1965 and 1970 still contain 40% silver. And for a fun historical footnote, check out nickels made during World War II. To conserve nickel for the war effort, nickels from 1942 to 1945 were made with 35% silver. You can spot these "war nickels" by the large mint mark appearing above Monticello on the reverse.

Of course, if you want to skip the history lesson and go straight for the good stuff, modern American Silver Eagles are .999 fine silver, made specifically for people who appreciate pure bullion. Happy hunting