In 1968 Canada issued dimes in two different silver compositions, .800 silver and .500 silver. Both coins are the exact same gross weight. Both coins look exactly the same. How can a person tell which is which between the two?
Weren't the 1968's 50% silver and nickel, told apart by using a magnet? "For the first half of the year 1967 10 cent coins were struck to the 800 fine purity standard, and then they switched to the 500 fine purity standard. There is no simple way to determine which purity a particular example was struck at, as they look exactly the same. 1968 saw a return to the standard reverse of the Bluenose schooner. These 1968 silver 10 cent cons were struck to the 50% silver purity standard. Note that both silver and nickel ten cent coins were struck in 1968. A magnet will pick up those made from nickel, but not from silver. Proof-like strikings only occur in nickel." http://www.calgarycoin.com/modern/cd10cent.htm
Found this, too. Evidently the OP means the 1967 dime is the 80/50. *** The Canadian Mint issued two compositions of the dime and quarter in 1967 and again in 1968. In 1967, there is the standard 80% silver/20% copper variety and the 50% silver/50% copper type. In mid-year 1968, they changed the quarter and dime from 50% silver/50% copper to a 99% nickel composition. http://www.coinflation.com/canada/
OK now for a stupid question . If both coins are the same size and weight , wouldn't the specific gravity be the same .
Right, 1967 was the year of the .800 and .500 dimes and quarters. I have a 1968 and it definitely is the silver type. I got $3.38 face value in Canadian coins for $3.00 and in this lot was one $2 coin which is not very common in my part of California. The best of the lot were the 1942, 1945, 1948, 1949 nickels VF/XF, two silver dimes 1960 and 1968, and two silver quarters 1944 and 1963. The rest were all post 1968 minor coinage. No half dollars or dollar coins.
ok thank you my 1967 is nickel. a magnet did attract to it. thanks for posting that great website on Canadian coins too.
