what us coins are solid silver

[DiArya]

Hey there! That's a great question, as the U.S. has produced different types of silver coins over the years.

When we talk about "solid silver" in the modern sense, you're typically looking at bullion coins made for collectors and investors, not for spending. The most prominent example is the American Silver Eagle. These coins are struck in one troy ounce of 99.9 percent pure silver, also known as .999 fine silver. Another fantastic example from the U.S. Mint is the America the Beautiful series of 5 oz silver coins, which are also 99.9 percent pure silver.

It's also good to know about the older U.S. coins that you might find. Before 1965, many circulating U.S. coins had a very high silver content. Dimes, quarters, half-dollars, and dollar coins minted in 1964 or earlier were made of 90% silver. While not pure silver like the American Eagle, this 90% composition is what most people are referring to when they talk about finding silver coins in old collections.

After that, from 1965 to 1970, Kennedy Half Dollars contained a lower amount of silver, at 40%. So, for the purest U.S. silver coins, you'll want to look for the modern bullion issues like the American Silver Eagle. For high-content silver from past circulation, pre-1965 coins are what you're after.