I'm a bit confused about the metal composition of dimes, quarters, halves and dollars in the proof sets from 1968 through 1985. And the Red Book is just vague enough to cause me to ask some questions. (I got myself in trouble once before because of something like this.) IF I read the Red Book correctly all of the dimes, quarters and halves in the proof sets from 1968 through 1985 are 40% silver. Is this correct? BUT none of the dollar coins are. The dollar coins in the proof sets are all copper clad. 40% silver proof Ikes only came in the brown box, and SBA's were all copper clad in the proof sets. Is this correct?
NO. YES This is a bit complicated but here goes Proof sets for 1968 through 1970, dimes and quarters copper nickel clad, half dollars 40% silver Proof sets 1971 through 1992, dime, quarter, and half dollar are copper nickel clad Since 1992 there have been two types of proof set the clad proof set where all three coins are copper nickel clad, and the silver proof sets were all three coins are 90% silver. The dollar coins in both sets, if any, are manganese bronze clad. (The 1999 P proof SBA did not come in the set.) There were also Prestige proof sets that contained the 90% silver proof commemorative dollar for some years, but the dime, quarter, and half in those are also copper nickel clad. In 1976 the mint made a special three coin proof set for the Bicentennial with just the quarter, half, and dollar in it. All three coins in these are 40% silver. (Actually they were all made in 1975 and all have Type I dollars.) The proof Ike dollars in the big brown box holders for 1971 through 1974 are 40% silver OK, I don't think I missed anything. Summary Dimes silver ONLY in the silver proof sets 1992 to date and they are 90% silver Quarters 40% silver in the Bicentennial three coin proof set. 90% silver in the silver proof sets 1992 to date. (Since 2004 they have also made a special 90% silver proof set of just the quarters.) Half dollars 40% silver 1968 - 1970 proof sets, 1976 three coin proof set, 90% silver in the silver proof sets 1992 to date. Dollars 40% silver in the 1971-74 brown Ike boxes and the 1976 three coin proof set.
Your second point is almost correct. Your second point is almost correct but the first is not. Only the halves in proof and mint sets 1968 thru 1970 are 40% silver. None of the minor coinage is except the bicentennial quarters were for 1976 until 90% 1992-S Silver Proof sets. None of the Ikes were in regular proof sets, (like you said) except the single set 40% proof and mint set coins except the 3-piece set of 1976 Silver mint set. So in summary: Kennedy halves 40% silver 1968 thru 1970 mint and proof sets plus 1976. Washington quarter 40% silver only 1976. Ike dollars 1971 thru 1974 40% mint and proof singles plus 1976 3-piece mint set including Ike 40%.
Thanks. I would never have gotten that from the Red Book. Considering the significance of the Red Book, particularly to new collectors, I believe this to a major information gap.
Let me look at it this afternoon and see what you are talking about. Let me look at it this afternoon and see what you are talking about. You may be right I never noticed that but if it's not clear your right, it should be.
By reading and re-reading the section on Kennedy halves I finally figured out what the Red Book was doing. For the "1971 to present" halves unless they specifically say silver, then the coin is a CuNi clad. Since my interest only went to 1985 I missed seeing the label "silver" which didn't start until 1992. Although I haven't looked at the dimes and quarter I assume the same notation holds. I think a simple statement added at the "1971 to Date" heading would save a lot of misunderstanding (I know it would have saved me an hour trying to figure this out). Something like "Unless a coin is labeled silver it is CuNi clad."
umm, actually bhp, conder101 was exactly right. He then goes on to summarize: Everything he said was 100% factual. I don't understand what you're saying is incorrect.
I have no problems with what he said. My contention is that the Red Book is a bit ambiguous about what is silver and what is CuNi. The real kicker is the statement right after "Eagle Reverse Resumed (1977)" in the Kennedy half section. It says: "Copper-nickel clad coinage. Silver Proofs are of pre-1965 standards." Until I looked down past my years of interest I was under the assumption that all the proofs were silver, and 90% at that. Actually the values for the proofs should have been a clue. Way too low for a silver coin; below melt.
Mike, I belive bhp3rd was referring to the first and second statements in the original posting, not my response to it. If you assume he was talking about the original post then his comments are accurate.
you may want to start a NEW thread for your potentially environmentally damaged nickel instead of a thread that hasn't seen the light of day for 9 years and has nothing to do with your nickel.
