I know that pre-1964 Dimes, Quarters and Halves are said to be 90% silver, but I have recently heard some disagreement with this. A few have told me that these coins are "pure" silver (however I'll admit that these are the same who have told me that pre-1964 nickels are also pure silver). And just today, a long time coin collector that I know told me that, when melted down, these coins actually only come to roughly 83% silver. So what is the actual percentage?
I've been collecting for 4 or 5 years and I've never heard any disagreement about the fineness of silver US coins. Pre 1964 quarters, dimes, halves, and silver dollars are coin silver, ie 90% silver or .9000 fine. Jefferson nickels were 35% silver from 1942 to 45. Halves from 65-70 are 40 percent.
The composition of pre-1965 dimes, quarters, halves, and dollars is .900 silver and .100 copper. They are 90% silver (older coins pre-1837-1838 have a slightly lower silver content)
The Red Book is an excellent resource for this type of information and I would imagine most every collector could benefit somehow by owning or using a copy.
A little off-topic, but when I was just starting out I always found it confusing when people wrote or said pre-1964 when they meant 1964 and prior or pre-1965 when referring to silver coins. The same with 95% copper pennies... which people usually say are those from the pre-1982 years, which should be 1982 and prior or pre-1983. UNLESS, of course, we're assuming that it's pre-1982 inclusive, where inclusive means that it includes 1982. And obviously I know what people mean now, so maybe pre-1982 and pre-1964 is just shorthand, truncating the word inclusive or similar at the end... otherwise it's technically incorrect.
The weight and fineness of coins was mandated by law. The Red Book does an excellent job of summarizing the specs for each coin. I suggest every collector buy a copy.
If you collect coins you should own a Red Book. You don't have to update the book each year, but I would think people should have one that is at least published within the past 10-12 years. Lots of great info in there!
