Short answer
For United States dimes and quarters, 1964 is the last year of 90% silver. Half dollars stayed partly silver for a few more years, at 40% silver from 1965 through 1970. Other countries ended silver coinage in different years, mostly between the 1940s and the late 1960s.
US cutoff years by denomination
| Denomination | Silver content | Last year |
|---|---|---|
| Dime | 90% | 1964 |
| Quarter | 90% | 1964 |
| Half dollar | 90% | 1964 |
| Half dollar (Kennedy) | 40% | 1965 to 1970 |
| Silver dollar (Morgan, Peace) | 90% | Last struck for circulation in 1935 |
| War nickel | 35% | 1942 to 1945 |
| Eisenhower dollar | 40% (collector issues only) | 1971 to 1974 and 1976 |
Cents and standard nickels were never silver for regular circulation. Dimes and quarters dated 1965 and later are copper-nickel clad. A silver coin’s edge looks solid and light, while a clad coin shows a copper-colored stripe.
Why the US stopped
By the early 1960s, the market price of silver was rising to the point where the metal in some coins was worth more than their face value, and coins were being hoarded and melted. Congress passed the Coinage Act of 1965, which removed silver from dimes and quarters and reduced the half dollar to 40%. Dimes and quarters dated 1965 through 1967 were struck without mint marks and are all clad, and some 1964-dated coins continued to be produced after the change, which is why a 1964 date is still the safe cutoff for silver.
Silver dimes, quarters, halves and dollars
- Dimes: the last year for silver dimes is 1964. Roosevelt dimes from 1946 to 1964 are silver, as are earlier Mercury and Barber dimes.
- Quarters: the last silver quarter was dated 1964. A 1964 quarter holds about 0.18 troy ounces of silver.
- Half dollars: 90% silver through 1964, 40% from 1965 to 1970, and clad from 1971.
- Dollars: Morgan dollars (1878 to 1904 and 1921) and Peace dollars (1921 to 1935) were 90% silver. Dollar coins from 1971 onward were mostly clad, except the 40% collector versions.
For what a bag of these is worth by weight, see our junk silver explainer.
Later silver issues
After 1970, silver reappeared mainly in collector products. The San Francisco Mint struck 40% silver Eisenhower dollars for collectors, covered in our 1971 Eisenhower dollar page. Since 1986 the US Mint has also issued the American Silver Eagle, a .999 fine bullion coin that was never meant for pocket change.
A question that comes up is what makes a 1972 silver dollar rare. A 1972 Eisenhower with an S mint mark is a 40% silver collector coin, but whether it is scarce or valuable beyond its silver depends on the specific variety and condition.
Other countries
- United Kingdom: sterling silver (92.5%) until 1919, 50% silver from 1920 to 1946, and cupro-nickel from 1947.
- Canada: 80% silver from 1920 to 1966, with 1967 and 1968 a mixed transition (some 50% silver) before nickel.
- Australia: silver or part-silver coinage continued until the mid-1960s, before the switch to decimal currency.
More detail is in our country-by-country guide to silver coins.
Ancient origins
Silver coins are much older than any of the modern cutoffs. The earliest coins from Lydia, around the 7th century BC, were made of electrum, a natural gold and silver alloy, and pure silver coins spread through Greek city-states soon after.
Frequently asked questions
What was the last year for silver quarters?
1964 for the standard 90% silver Washington quarter. Special 1976 bicentennial collector sets also included a 40% silver quarter.
What year did they stop making silver dimes?
Circulating silver dimes ended with the 1964 date.
How much silver is in a 1964 quarter?
About 0.18 troy ounces of silver, from a 90% silver coin that weighs 6.25 grams.