90% US Silver Coins

90% US Silver Coins Available from JM Bullion

When considering US minted coins, it’s important to know about 90% silver coins. The US Mint produced them for generations, and because of that, their market value has increased. These silver coins are no longer produced by the United States mint, making them a sought-after commodity by collectors.

What are 90% Silver Coins?

In the early days of the country, the United States government produced coins that contained 90% silver. These coins were used in normal circulation. They were, and still are, assigned a legal tender status. Each has a face value, its own design, and in most cases a specific mintmark. Depending on these factors, as well as the current value of silver, the coins are generally worth more than their face value today.

When Were These Coins Produced?

Some circulating coins minted in the United States before 1965 consisted of 90% silver. In 1965, however, Public Law 88-36 was passed which reduced the amount of silver in most of these coins to 40%, making them less valuable to collectors and investors. In addition, in 1970, most coins were then reduced to include no silver at all.

These coins were minted with 90% silver for a number of reasons. At the time, this was an economical option for the government. There was more than enough silver to go around and the face value of the coins was higher than the price of the silver used.

What Types of Coins Were Made With 90% Silver?

In the United States, most of the coins minted before 1965 were produced with 90% silver (with the exception of the Penny and Nickel). From 1878-1935, silver dollars were produced, as well. These included the Morgan Dollar design from 1878-1921 and the Peace Dollar design from 1921-1928, as well as 1934-1935.

Half dollars were 90% silver from 1892-1964. The designs on these included the Liberty Head “Barber,” the Walking Liberty, the Franklin, and the Kennedy. On top of this, from 1965-1970, the Kennedy silver half dollar remained in circulation but was reduced from 90% to 40% silver.

From 1892-1964, quarters were minted with 90% silver, as well. The Liberty Head “Barber,” the Standing Liberty, and the Washington were all minted during this time period.

Dimes were also created with the 90% silver. The designs included the Liberty Head “Barber” from 1892-1916, the Winged Liberty Head “Mercury” from 1916-1945, and the Roosevelt from 1946-1964.

Even nickels were created using silver at one point in time. These did not come into production until 1942 during World War II. At this stage of the war the United States needed to conserve its supply of Nickel for use in Armor Plating and therefore removed the metal from the US 5 cent piece. The US Nickel included silver until 1945; however, the coins were only made with 35% silver. These coins are known as “War” or “Wartime” Nickels today and are fairly collectible due to their historical value.

When Was Production Stopped?

In 1965, production of silver coins with 90% silver stopped. This was due to the rising cost of the metal. The coins simply became too expensive to produce. The silver half dollar was the longest-running silver coin produced, though the amount of silver dropped from 90% to 40% in 1965. After 1970, the coins no longer included silver at all.

The silver market jumped about 10% almost immediately, as the government started discussing the discontinuation of silver in the coins. Not long after this, by 1962, the market had increased by another 30%. At this point, the government determined it would be impossible to continue producing the coins the way it had previously.

Today, the biggest driving factor for collectors and investors, when it comes to these coins, is the investment opportunity. The coins not only offer a piece of the country’s history, they also have a high percentage of pure silver. This makes them flexible in the precious metals market.

Availability Today

Today these coins can be purchased in a number of ways. You can find them individually if you are looking for a specific coin, mint, or year. However, they can also be purchased in bags and rolls. The pricing of these coins vary. This is because the value of 90% silver coins comes from the current market value of silver. Since the market always is changing, the prices change, as well.

If you’re looking for a way to get into the precious metals market, 90% silver coins are a great option. Many collectors feel these are good entry-level coins that can help diversify a portfolio. If you’re interested in collecting these coins, be sure to browse our wide selection which includes 90% silver coins in a number of sizes from $1 to $1,000 face value bags.