What country was the LAST country to use silver in normal circulating coins? I'm not taking about proofs, commens, etc. I'm talking about coins used in everyday transactions.
USA is the last country in the world that uses silver in normal circulating coins. 1965 Kennedy Half dollar is the last coin minted with silver content in it.
The mint made 130 million 1969-D Kennedy half dollars with 40% silver. It seems to me that some of them had to be circulated.
Canada had silver into 1968 for quarters and dimes. Switzerland had silver till 1967 or 1968. USA 1969 half would be the last "circulating" silver coin. The 1970 half was mint sets only.
Here is an interesting thread on circulating coins. According to the link, the Swiss made a 90% silver coin until 1967. The US stopped making circulating silver coins at 90% in 1964 and 40% Kennedy's in 1969. The Canadians stopped making 80% silver coins in 1967. The 1970 Kennedy D & S coins were 40% silver but were only found in the mint or proof sets. http://uk.answers.yahoo.com/question/index?qid=20090515075517AA7G0dJ
I was thinking that myself, is this right? I am only thinking of the 1/2 franc coin but there are other coins. Was the 1970 US half minted for circulation? Wasn't that a collector coin?
German used silver in 5 Marks up to 1974, and Mexico used silver in bimetallic coin in the 90's and some in 2000s but those didn't last very long, but can still be found in circulation.
Mexico, 10 New Peso coin, .925 silver, .1667 Oz (1/6th Oz) released for circulation, 98 million minted between 1992-95, because it was hoarded the Mexican Mint changed the composition to a base metal in 1997
I find it interesting to see how many times so many "experts" have been proven wrong in only 14 posts. I also think this is a very good question. Good job Detecto!
I believe Chip has the correct answer, Mexico. They also made 20 and 50 new pesos with silver centers as well. I don't know if the 50 circulated, mintage was only about 5 million from 1993 to 95, but the 20 did circulate, mintage of 35 million 1993 to 95.
Wow, so much misinformation in this thread. Readers beware. But yeah, it sounds like it must be Mexico.