Silver Coins
The coins below are NOT the only silver coins made. They are, however, the most common silver coins we see. If you have questions, stop by or give us a call at 877-GOLD-195 (877-465-3195).
War Nickel (1942-1945) Coin description: Weight: 5 grams Purity: 35% silver (excluding 1942 without mint mark and 1942 D) Diameter: 21.21mm Obverse (front): left facing profile of Jefferson. "IN GOD WE TRUST" inscribed on left and "LIBERTY" followed by the date is inscribed on the right. Reverse (back): Monticello is displayed in the center of the coin with the building title directly underneath it. At the top is the inscription "E PLURIBUS UNUM" with the mint mark (if provided) directly under it. Under the building name is inscribed "FIVE CENTS" with the inscription "UNITED STATES OF AMERICA" along the bottom. Coin History: The Mint's greatest concern, with them now having permission to mint coins with variation of copper and silver, was in finding an alloy that would use no nickel, but still satisfy counterfeit detectors in vending machines. An alloy of 56% copper, 35% silver and 9% manganese proved suitable, and this alloy began to be coined into nickels from October 1942. In the hope of making them easy to sort out and withdraw after the war, the Mint struck all "war nickels" with a large mint mark appearing above Monticello. The mint mark P for Philadelphia was the first time that mint's mark had appeared on a US coin. The mint in Delaware did not produce these coins. The only coins that were made with this composition have a mint mark over Monticello with D being the exception to that rule.
War Nickel (1942-1945)
Barber Dime (1892-1916) Coin description: Weight: 2.5 grams Purity: 90% silver Diameter: 17.91mm Obverse (front): Liberty head profile facing the right. Beneath the profile is the date. Circling the profile is the inscription "UNITED STATES OF AMERICA". Reverse (back): In the center, the value is spelled out as "ONE DIME". The value is circled by a wreath. Coin History: Designed by the United States Bureau of the Mint Chief Engraver Charles E. Barber, the barber dime was minted beginning in January 1892. The Mint Director at the time, Edward O. Leech, held a competition to find a new design for the dime, quarter and half dollar coinage but was unable to find any design that was appealing. He then assigned the task to Charles E. Barber. Public and artistic opinion of the new pieces was, and remains, mixed.
Barber Dime (1892-1916)
Mercury Dime (1916-1945) Coin description: Weight: 2.5 grams Purity: 90% silver Diameter: 17.91mm Obverse (front): Displays a young Liberty wearing a winged cap. "LIBERTY" is in an arc above her. Below her profile and slightly to the right is the date. "IN GOD WE TRUST" is displayed on the lower left side of the coin. Reverse (back): Displays and olive branch in a bundle. "UNITED STATES OF AMERICA" is in an arc above the bundle and "ONE DIME" is spelled out on the bottom with the two words divided by the bottom of the bundle. Coin History: The Mercury dime was designed by Adolph Weinman and is also referred to as the Winged Liberty dime. Although this coin design was admired for its beauty, the Mint made changes/modifications when they learned that vending machine manufacturers were having trouble making the new dime work in their devices.This continued to be the design of the dime until the Treasury ordered that a new design, featuring the recently deceased Franklin Roosevelt, was to take its place.
Mercury Dime (1916-1945)
Roosevelt Dime (1946-1964) Coin description: Weight: 2.68 grams Purity: 90% silver Diameter: 17.91mm Obverse (front): Roosevelt's left facing profile is displayed in the center with "LIBERTY" inscribed arcing in the upper left side of the coin. Under Roosevelt's chin is "IN GOD WE TRUST". The date is placed on the lower right side of the coin. Reverse (back): In the center is displayed an olive branch, torch and an oak branch. Arcing above them is the inscription "UNITED STATES OF AMERICA" and below is the inscription "ONE DIME". "E PLURIBUS UNUM" is inscribed between each of the lower portions of the three "center-pieces" of the coin. Coin History: Soon after the death of President Franklin D. Roosevelt in 1945, legislation was introduced that called for the replacement of the Mercury dime with one bearing Roosevelt's image. The dime chosen was to honor Roosevelt partly due to his efforts in the founding of the National Foundation for Infantile Paralysis (later enamed the March of the Dimes). Due to the limited amount of time available to design the new coin, the Roosevelt dime was the first US coin designed by a Mint employee in over 40 years. This dime was released to the public on what would have been Roosevelt's 64th birthday, January 30th, 1946. This coin has been minted is all three Mints (Philidelphia, Denver and San Fracisco).
Roosevelt Dime (1946-1964)
Barber Quarter (1892-1916) Coin Description: Weight: 6.25 grams Purity: 90% silver Diameter: 24.3mm Obverse (front): Liberty head profile facing the right. Beneath the profile is the date. Circling the profile is the inscription "UNITED STATES OF AMERICA". Reverse (back): Displays a heraldic eagle that was based from the design from the Great Seal of the United States. In the eagle's beak is a banner that reads "E PLURIBUS UNUM" and above the banner is 13 stars. In the eagle's feet are an olive branch (on the left) and arrows (on the right). Coin History: Designed by the United States Bureau of the Mint Chief Engraver Charles E. Barber, the barber quarter was minted beginning in 1892. The Mint Director at the time, Edward O. Leech, held a competition to find a new design for the dime, quarter and half dollar coinage but was unable to find any design that was appealing. He then assigned the task to Charles E. Barber. Public and artistic opinion of the new pieces was, and remains, mixed.
Barber Quarter (1892-1916)
Standing Liberty (1916-1930) Coin description: Weight: 6.25 grams Purity: 90% silver Diameter: 24.3mm Obverse (front): depicts Lady Liberty standing between two pillars with an olive branch in her right hand and a shield in her left. Inscribed on the pillars is "IN GOD WE TRVST" and below Liberty's feet is the date. "LIBERTY" forms an arc at the top of the coin Reverse (back): Displayed is a flying eagle. Centered at the top of the coin is "UNITED STATES OF AMERICA" and "E PLURIBUS UNUM". At the bottom of the coin is the value, displayed as "QUARTER DOLLAR". Starting in 1917, 3 starts were added directly under the eagle's belly to go with the stars on either side of the coin. Coin History: The Standing Liberty quarter was struck from 1916 to 1930 at the Philidelphia Mint, with the exception of the year 1922 when no quarters were minted at any of the mints. It was produced at the Denver and San Francisco mints beginning in 1917 but production wasn't as regular. This is the only 20th-century, regular issue United States coin that never had a proof coin struck.
Standing Liberty (1916-1930)
Washington Quarter (1932-1964) Coin description: Weight: 6.25 grams Purity: 90% silver Diameter: 24.3mm Obverse (front): Washington's left facing profile is displayed with "LIBERTY" above the profile and the date below it. "IN GOD WE TRUST" is inscribed under Washington's chin. Reverse (back): Front facing perched eagle with wings spread. Top of coin displays "UNITED STATES OF AMERICA" and "E PLURIBUS UNUM". The coin value is displayed at the bottom of the coin as "QUARTER DOLLAR". Coin History: Designed by sculptor John Flanagan and issued by the United States Mint, this coin was first struck in 1932. The new silver quarters were put into circulation on August 1st, 1932 and were struck in silver until 1965 when the Mint transitioned to copper-nickel clad coinage.
Washington Quarter (1932-1964)
Barber Half Dollar (1892-1915) Coin description: Weight: 12.5 grams Purity: 90% silver Diameter: 30.6mm Obverse (front): Liberty head profile facing the right. Beneath the profile is the date. Circling the profile is the inscription "UNITED STATES OF AMERICA". Reverse (back): Displays a heraldic eagle that was based from the design from the Great Seal of the United States. In the eagle's beak is a banner that reads "E PLURIBUS UNUM" and above the banner is 13 stars. In the eagle's feet are an olive branch (on the left) and arrows (on the right). Coin History: Designed by the United States Bureau of the Mint Chief Engraver Charles E. Barber, the barber half dollar was minted beginning in 1892. The Mint Director at the time, Edward O. Leech, held a competition to find a new design for the dime, quarter and half dollar coinage but was unable to find any design that was appealing. He then assigned the task to Charles E. Barber. Public and artistic opinion of the new pieces was, and remains, mixed.
Barber Half Dollar (1892-1915)
Walking Liberty Half Dollar (1916-1947) Coin description: Weight: 12.5 grams Purity: 90% silver Diameter: 30.6mm Obverse (front): depicts Liberty striding towards the Sun with "LIBERTY" arcing above her and "IN GOD WE TRUST" on the lower right side and the date at the bottom. Reverse (back): depicts a bald eagle who is rising from a mountaintop perch. Forming an arc at the top is "UNITED STATES OF AMERICA" with "HALF DOLLAR" shown as the value at the bottom. "E PLURIBUS UNUM" is on the left center of the coin. Coin History: Minted from 1916 to 1947, this coin was designed by Adolph A. Weinman. This coin was considered, by art historian Cornelius Vermeule, to be among the most beautiful US coins, despite the fact that it was difficult to perfect and never struck very well. This coin's lack of good striking may have been a factor in its replacement by the Franklin half dollar beginning in 1948.
Walking Liberty Half Dollar (1916-1947)
Franklin Half Dollar (1948-1963) Coin description: Weight: 12.5 grams Purity: 90% silver Diameter: 30.61mm Obverse (front): Founding Father Benjamin Franklin's right facing profile with "LIBERTY" above him and "IN GOD WE TRUST" below him. The date is under his chin. Reverse (back): The Liberty Bell is in the center with "UNITED STATES OF AMERICA" above and the value displayed as "HALF DOLLAR" below. "E PLURIBUS UNUM" is inscribed to the lefet of the bell and and eagle with spread wings in to the right. Coin History: This coin was designed by John R. Sinnock, in the beginning, and then completed by Gilroy Roberts, John's successor, at the instruction of Nellie Tayloe Ross, the Mint director at the time. The Franklin half dollar was minted from 1948 to 1963. Accusations were made, after the coin's release in April 1948, that Sinnock's initials "JRS" on the cuttoff at Franklin's shoulder were a tribute to Soviet dictator Joseph Stalin. However, no changes were made and the Mint responded that the letters were simply the artist's initials.
Franklin Half Dollar (1948-1963)
Kennedy Half Dollar (1964) Coin description: Weight: 11.34 grams Purity: 90% silver Diameter: 30.6mm Obverse (front): Kennedy's left facing profile. "LIBERTY" forms an arc above the profile and the date is at the bottom. "IN GOD WE TRUST" is located just under the profile. Reverse (back): The Great Seal of the United States with "UNITED STATES OF AMERICA" forming an arc above it and "HALF DOLLAR" at the bottom. Coin History: This coin was originally minted as a memorial to the assassinated President John F. Kennedy and was authorized by Congress just over a month after his death. Existing works by Mint sculptors Gilroy Roberts and Frank Gasparro allowed dies to be prepared quickly. Striking began in 1964.
Kennedy Half Dollar (1964)
Kennedy Half dollar (1965-1970) Coin description: Weight: 11.34 grams Purity: 40% silver Diameter: 30.6mm Obverse (front): Kennedy's left facing profile. "LIBERTY" forms an arc above the profile and the date is at the bottom. "IN GOD WE TRUST" is located just under the profile. Reverse (back): The Great Seal of the United States with "UNITED STATES OF AMERICA" forming an arc above it and "HALF DOLLAR" at the bottom. Coin History: This coin was originally minted as a memorial to the assassinated President John F. Kennedy and was authorized by Congress just over a month after his death. Existing works by Mint sculptors Gilroy Roberts and Frank Gasparro allowed dies to be prepared quickly. Striking began in 1964. However, starting in 1965, the percentage of fine silver was reduced to 40%. This was in effort to restore the coin to circulation since so many people hoarded the 1964. Despite these efforts, this change failed to restore the coin to circulation.
Kennedy Half dollar (1965-1970)
Morgan Dollar (1878-1904, 1921) Coin Description: Weight: 26.73 grams Purity: 90% silver Diameter: 38.1mm Obverse (front): Left facing profile of Lady Liberty. "E PLURIBUS UNUM" forms the arc of letters above the profile. The date is below the profile and stars are located between the numbers and lettering on both sides of the coin. Reverse (back): The eagle clasping arrows and an olive branch with wings spread. Circling the coin from left center around to right center is the inscription "UNITED STATES OF AMERICA" with the coin value at the bottom, displayed as "ONE DOLLAR". "IN GOD WE TRUST" is above the eagle's head and a wreath is under (and circling) the eagle. Coin History: The Morgan dollar was the first standard silver dollar created since the passage of the Coinage Act of 1873. The coin received its name after its designer,George T. Morgan. It was minted from 1878 to 1904 when production of the Morgan dollar stopped. In 1921, for a short time, Morgan dollars were again produced and released into circulation.
Morgan Dollar (1878-1904, 1921)
Peace Dollar (1921-1928, 1934-1935) Coin description: Weight: 26.73 grams Purity: 90% silver Diameter: 38.1mm Obverse (front): Lady Liberty's left facing profile wearing a high pointed crown. "LIBERTY" is arcing above the profile, "IN GOD WE TRVST" is inscribed close to the bottom, and the date is on the bottom. Reverse (back): A perched bald eagle. Two arcs are created above the eagle by the inscriptions "UNITED STATES OF AMERICA" and "E PLURIBUS UNUM". At the bottom of the coin is the inscription "PEACE". The coin value, displayed as "ONE DOLLAR", is two-thirds of the way down from the top. Coin History: The result of a competition to find designs emblematic of peace, this coin was designed by Anthony de Francisci. This coin was made to meet the requirement of passed legislation and upon completion of meeting these requirements, production ceased in 1928. Due to legislation passed later, more were struck in 1934 and 1935. It was the last United States dollar coin to be struck for circulation in silver.
Peace Dollar (1921-1928, 1934-1935)
Eisenhower, Silver (1971-1976) Coin description: Weight: 24.59 grams Purity: 40% silver Diameter: 38.1mm Obverse (front): General/President Ike Eisenhower's profile with "LIBERTY" ingraved above the profile, the date inscribed below the profile, and "IN GOD WE TRUST" inscribed under the General's chin. Reverse (back): Depicted is the Liberty bell in front of the moon with "UNITED STATES OF AMERICA" arcing above the moon, "ONE DOLLAR" at the bottom, and "E PLURIBUS UNUM" below the moon and to the right of the bell. Coin History: The Eisenhower dollar was struck with a copper-nickel composition for circulation and was the first United States dollar coin to not be struck in a precious metal. While the circulated copper-nickel coins contained no silver, they were often incorrectly referred to as "silver dollars" by the general public. The only Eisenhower dollars to actually contain silver came from special collectors' issues struck at the San Francisco Mint in a silver-copper composition (silver clad).
Eisenhower, Silver (1971-1976)
Bullion American Silver Eagle 1 Ounce Silver (1986-Date) Coin description: Weight: 31.10 grams Purity: 99.9% silver Diameter: 40.6mm Obverse (front): depicts Liberty striding towards the Sun with "LIBERTY" arcing above her and "IN GOD WE TRUST" on the lower right side and the date at the bottom. Reverse (back): Heraldic eagle with shield, and thirteen five-point stars above the eagle. A ribbon is held in the eagle's beak with the inscription "E PLURIBUS UNUM". Above the eagle is "UNITED STATES OF AMERICA" and below the eagle is "1 OZ. FINE SILVER ~ ONE DOLLAR". Coin History: The official silver bullion coin of the United States, it was first released by the US Mint on November 24, 1986. Struck only in the one-troy ounce size, with a nominal face value of one dollar, it is guaranteed to contain one troy ounce of 99.9% pure silver. Its content, wieght, and purity are certified by the US Mint. In addition to the bullion version, the US Mint has produced a proof version and an uncirculated version for coin collectors. The Silver Eagle has been produced in three mints, Philidelphia, San Francisco, and West Point, and is still being produced today.
Bullion American Silver Eagle 1 Ounce Silver (1986-Date)
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