The short list
- Dimes, quarters, half dollars, dollars dated 1964 and earlier for circulation: 90% silver.
- Kennedy halves 1965–1970: 40% silver.
- Nickels 1942–1945 with the large reverse mintmark: 35% silver. No other nickel.
- Cents are never silver. Pre-1982 cents are copper.
- Silver Eagles (1986–date): one troy ounce of silver, not 90% junk.
Open a type to see today’s melt: 1964 quarter, Morgan dollar, war nickel, Silver Eagle, $1 face of 90%.
Why 1964 is the line
The Mint switched circulating dimes and quarters to copper-nickel clad in 1965. Halves kept 40% silver through 1970, then went clad. If your quarter says 1965 or later and it is a normal business strike, it is not a silver melt.
Silver proof sets in later years are collector strikes. They can contain silver, but they are not “junk silver” bags. Weigh or read the packaging; do not mix them into a $1-face count.