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Silver Coin Specifications

Since the 1790s, the U.S. Mint has produced many varieties of silver coins in several denominations. The composition and dimensions for certain denominations changed little over the years as the Mint tried to keep a standard for each coin. Many older silver coins are prized by numismatists for their metal content and rarity. The Mint phased silver out of general circulation coin production in 1965 due to the increased value of the metal.

Wartime Nickel
- Nickel proved to be a valuable metal during World War II so silver was substituted during coin production between 1942 and 1945. This coin, which weighed 5 g and had a diameter of 21 mm, was 56 percent copper, 35 percent silver and 9 percent manganese.
Dimes
- The smallest American coin has changed little over the years. It weighs about 2.5 g and has a diameter of 18 mm. The dime has been 90 percent silver and 10 percent copper since the Liberty Seated design of 1837. That design was used until 1892, when the Mint began striking the Barber dime. The "Mercury" or Winged Liberty Head was used from 1916 to 1945 when the Roosevelt dime came into existence.
Quarters
- As with the dime, the quarter comprised of 90 percent silver and 10 percent copper for much of its existence. Silver quarters weigh nearly 7 g with a diameter of 24 mm. The Liberty Seated design was also used for the quarter from 1838 to 1891. It gave way to the Barber design from 1892 to 1916, then the Standing Liberty design, which was used from 1916 to 1930. The Washington quarter became the standard in 1932.
Half Dollars
- Silver also comprises 90 percent of half dollars - -the other 10 percent is copper. These coins weigh slightly more than 13 g and have a diameter of 30 mm. The Mint also used the Liberty Seated and Barber designs for the half dollar before the Liberty Walking design was struck from 1916 to 1947. Benjamin Franklin was used in profile on the coin from 1948 to 1963 before the Mint switched to John F. Kennedy in 1964. Half dollars produced from 1965 to 1970 comprised about 20 percent silver.
Dollars
- The hefty dollar coin weighs almost 27 g with a diameter of 38 mm. The silver versions are 90 percent silver and 10 percent copper, giving the coin a net weight of .77 oz of silver. The Mint struck the coin with the Liberty Seated design from 1840 to 1873 and the Morgan design from 1878 to 1921. The Peace dollar design was used from 1921 to 1935 before the Mint stopped production on the dollar coin for four decades.

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