I don't get it. Everyone thinks they stopped production of silver coins in '64. Seriously! It was 1976!
They're still making silver coins, they're called American Silver Eagles, Silver Proof sets, Silver Commemorative's, etc.
My response was sarcasm, hence the smiley. I knew what you meant but the majority of collectors deem '64 as the end of the silver coin era because the 40% clad Kennedy's and Ike's are not as desirable like their 90% counterparts were.
I hope you didn't take offense to my comment. It's just that you have to be more careful how you choose your words. Chris
It stopped at 1970 theoretically. They intended 1970 Half Dollars for circulation. In 1976 silver coins were made for proof coins.
There can be so many ways to look at this. Actually the last coin minted for circulation with silver was the 1969 half. The 1970 was only issued in mint sets, even though it was produces in circulation grade just like its predecessors.
"Dated" 1964. 1964 Kennedy Half's were minted into 1966 since Congress removed the date freeze on coinage due to a coin shortage.
what about 1971-76 silver clad Ike dollars? (made for circulation) in 1975 and 1976 they made silver clad Washington 1/4s, Kennedy 1/2s and Ike dollars in San Francisco for general circulation, not just for proofs. And actually 1970 1/2 dollars were only available in Mint sets.
Those were never intended for circulation. They were for special mint sets. Ikes were made of the same composition as dimes and quarters of the time/today, copper-nickel clad. No silver.
None of those 40% silver Ikes were made for circulation. They were all made for sale to collectors at a premium.