Are Your Canadian Coins Silver? Here’s a list of Canadian Silver Coins with their silver content and the dates they were made. I hope this post helps you all figure out if your old coins are silver or not.
In addition to their silver content. Old Canadian Silver coins have collector value far above their silver content. Of course, this depends on the year and condition of the coin.
Canadian Silver Dollar Silver Content 1935 to 1967
All Canadian Silver Dollars from 1935 to 1967 have 80% silver content (20% copper).
In 1968 Canada’s so-called “silver dollars” were made from nickel until 1987 when the Loonie replaced silver dollars as circulation coinage.
The Royal Canadian Mint (RCM) made special collector sets that did feature Silver dollars that had actual silver content in them in varying purities from 50% to pure silver. The table below shows dates these were made and the silver content of the coins.
Canadian Fifty Cent Coin (half dollar) Silver Content 1870 to 1967
Until 1935, the largest Canadian coin with the most silver content was the fifty-cent or (Half Dollar) coin. From 1870 until 1919, fifty cent coins were Sterling Silver (0.925 silver content and 0.0750 copper).
From 1920 until 1967, Canadian fifty cent coins were 80% silver content and 20% copper. Thereafter, you will only find Silver fifty cent coins in special Proof sets from the RCM.
The Table below shows Canadian fifty cent coins composition from 1870 to present.
Canadian Quarter Silver Content 1870 to 1968
From 1870 until 1919 Canadian Quarters were made of Sterling Silver (0.925 silver content and 0.0750 copper).
From 1920 until 1967, Canadian Quarters were struck in 80% silver content and 20% copper. Some 1967 and 1968 Quarters were struck in 50% silver and 50% copper.
Other 1968 Quarters were made of nickel until 2001.
From 2001 until present Quarters are made from mostly steel with a small amount of copper nickel plating.
The Table below shows the years and composition of Canada quarters 1870 to present.
Canadian Dimes Silver Content 1870 to 1968
Canadian Dimes followed the same path as the Quarters in terms of their actual silver content.
From 1870 until 1919, dimes were Sterling Silver (92.5% silver 7.5% copper).
In 1920 the silver content of Canadian dimes changed to 80% silver, 20% copper and remained that way until 1967.
Some dimes struck in 1967 and 1968 were made of 50% silver and 50% copper.
From 1968 until 2001 dimes were made of pure nickel.
From 2001 until the present dimes are made of nickel-plated steel.
The Table below shows the years and composition of Canada dimes 1870 to present.
Canadian Nickel Silver Content 1870 to 1921
Canadian nickels (5 cent coins) were actually made of silver way back in the day. In fact, from 1870 until 1919 they were made of Sterling Silver (92.5% silver, 7.5% copper).
In 1920 and 1921, their silver content was reduced to 80% silver (20% copper).
From 1922 until 1981, with the exception of the war years and 1953 and 1954, they were made of pure nickel.
Starting in 1982 until 2001 they were made of 75% copper and 25% nickel.
From 1999 to present, Canadian nickels are actually made of nickel plated steel.
I hope this post helps you find answers to the question of Are Your Canadian Coins Silver? If you want to know if your old coins are rare and have collector value, then check out my Coin Collecting Page.
Do You Have Any Rare Coins? What Are They Worth?
For more information about Rare Canadian coins and what they’re worth check out these titles from Amazon:
James A. Haxby’s A Guide Book of Canadian Coins
For Canadian Coin Values and Prices See Charlton Coin Guide.
Protect and Preserve Your Coins
It’s no secret that the most valuable coins are ones that are well preserved. I highly recommend using the individualized 2×2 coin holder. I’ve used them for years for my own coins and they can be kept in a special coin album.
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