Pre ’65 Coinage
Pre ’65 coinage, often referred to as “junk silver,” refers to U.S. coins minted in 1964 and earlier that contain 90% silver. These coins were widely circulated and used for everyday transactions. The term “junk silver” does not imply that the coins are worthless; rather, it signifies that they are valued primarily for their silver content rather than their numismatic (collector) value. They are also considered legal tender, albeit only for the face value of the coin.
Types of Pre ’65 Silver Coins
The following are the common types of pre-1965 U.S. silver coins:
- Dimes:
- Mercury Dimes (1916–1945)
- Roosevelt Dimes (1946–1964)
- Quarters:
- Standing Liberty Quarters (1916–1930)
- Washington Quarters (1932, 1934–1964)
- Half Dollars:
- Walking Liberty Half Dollars (1916–1947)
- Franklin Half Dollars (1948–1963)
- Kennedy Half Dollars (1964 only)
- Dollars (less commonly referred to as junk silver):
- Morgan Dollars (1878–1921)
- Peace Dollars (1921–1935)
