How can you tell if a US dime is silver?

Ok I know all pre 1965 ones are silver but what if the year isn't clear how can I tell?

 

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First welcome to the Forum--Now as the old saying goes, pictures (usually) are 1000 words--I do hope this pic shows what I want you to see--If not I will try again. Obviously it is difficult to take macro pics of the edge of any coin, here you have the 1964, 1977 & a 2004--My question to you is the 1964 on the far right? or far left??

 

umm....far left???

 

Class,316,you could compare the pre-1965's with a current dime.The clearest indicator is the colour.
If it is a slight white-grey colour,then it is a silver coin.

Aidan.

 

Excellent!!

What you will see with a "non-pure-silver" dime is a wafer type sandwitch if you will like on the middle 1977 and the 2004--The pure dimes since its pure silver-- there is no line thru the middle of it those are pure silver---the others since those are called clads--copper/nickel mix-- you will see the sandwich line thru the center of it--it's fool proof by the way---hope that helps--

 

Ciscokid,they are actually not pure silver.They are .900 fine silver.

Aidan.

 

comparing some of my dimes I think I see it.

So the non-silver ones have like "chocolate on top of milk" and the silver ones are one color!

 

Yes,Class316,that is correct.Without cheating by looking at the edge of the coin,the clearest indicator is the colour of the coin.The same rule applies to $1/4,$1/2,& Eisenhower $1.

 

Very well, I stand corrected, from 1946 to 1964 weight is 2.50 grams, .900 silver, .100 copper, with a diameter of 17.9mm with a reeded edge total weight is .07234 oz. of pure silver--OK? From 1965 to date composition of outer layers of copper-nickel (.750 copper, .250 nickel) bonded to inner core of pure copper: diameter 17.9mm reeded edge no silver content at all--unless they are silver proof editions--Next time I'll give the "pure" details''''

 

Well, I never have heard it been described that way--but on my dimes here I don't see any chocolate--hmm--the final test of these guys is drop it on a table---silver makes a different sound than clads coins--of course only do this with a Non-valuable silver dime--the sound of silver is very profound--you will know it is silver vs clad-- the sound is unique to silver--IMHO-silver coins have a "diinnng to it clad coins do not--clads just flop if u will

 

Silver has a ring.
Clad just thuds.