A question about Canadian coinage . .

I am aware that sometime in 1968 Canada changed the alloy of their coins from silver to clad (TRY RESISTING) .. sorry could'nt resist. Anyways, is there a way to visually tell the difference that I am not aware of ? Or does someone know what the weight difference would be? Assuming that the silver varieties are heavier than the clad coins. I guess I could have investigated this more online myself, but I enjoy stimulating coin collectors brain stems occasionally.

 

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Aren't the non-silver coins magnetic? I'm not sure, maybe an expert in the field will come along.

 

I googled "canadian coins weight" and the first link to pop up...

http://www.coinscan.com/technical/canasp.html

 

Duh .. never mind. I just weighed them myself. A 1960 quarter weighs 5.6 grams and the 1968 I got in my change only weighs 4.5 grams. I don't believe that there is any way to tell just by looking at one. But the weight difference is quite obvious.

Thanks for the link too ..

 

The 1968's (circulated dimes and quarters) 50% silvers still have the appearance of a silver coin. As mentioned, you can use a magnet to determine the ones that contain silver.

 

Did you mean quarters instead of nickels?

 

Okay, kinda off subject/on subject, how do you determine the difference between a 1967 50% Silver dime from a 80% silver dime?

I recall reading they weigh the same while the quarters don't from that year.

 

Yes, quarters. Thanks for catching that. Correction made.

 

The only way to be sure is a specific gravity test.

 

:thumb:

 

Ok folks ... I was censored for a word that was'nt even remotely close to a swear. Better watch those potty mouths...

What I find amusing is that you have knowledgable, intelligent people in here who will rip a new member's head off and spit it out if they ask a simple question about something they are not familiar with. But I can't say a four-letter word that would'nt even offend the pope. Carry on I guess ... LOL !!