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Bullion Value of US Coins

This tool calculates the intrinsic bullion value of historic US gold and silver coins minted for circulation, to include: the silver coinage that was minted through 1964, the 40% silver Kennedy half-dollars (1965-1970), and the gold coins that were issued until the executive order banning private ownership of gold in 1933.

Silver Coin Types Bullion Value
War Nickel (1942-45) ??
Silver Dime ??
Silver Quarter ??
Silver Half Dollar ??
40% Silver Half Dollar (1965-70) ??
Silver Dollar ??
Pre-1933 Gold Coin Types Bullion Value
$1 Dollar ??
$2.5 Dollar ??
$3 Dollar ??
$5 Dollar ??
$10 Dollar ??
$20 Dollar ??

Facts About US Silver Coins

All of the US dimes, quarters, half-dollars and dollars that were minted for circulation in 1964 or earlier contain 90% silver by weight. Kennedy half-dollars produced from 1965-to-1970 contain 40% silver. During World War Two, Jefferson nickels were minted with a 35% silver content, and may be recognized by the large mint mark (P, S or D) above the dome of Monticello on the reverse. Additionally, some special coins minted in the 1970s and marketed to collectors had a 40% silver content, to include some S-mint bicentennial and proof sets and some S-mint Eisenhower dollars; all of these rarely entered circulation, and may be identified by their greyish edges as opposed to the copper-band edges of normal clad coins.

The silver content by weight in troy ounces for the US circulating silver coinage is as follows:

Silver Coin Types Silver (oz.)
War Nickel (1942-45) 0.0563
Silver Dime 0.0723
Silver Quarter 0.1808
Silver Half-Dollar 0.3617
40% Silver Half-Dollar (1965-70) 0.1479
Silver Dollar 0.7734

Facts About US Gold Coins

Gold coins circulated in the US until April 5, 1933, when President Roosevelt signed Executive Order 6102 prohibiting the "hoarding" of gold coins, gold bullion and gold certificates by private citizens, partnerships, associations and corporations. In addition, this order halted the production of gold coins at the US Mint, and mandated the destruction of all gold coins produced in 1933. The goal of this order was to remove the reserve restrictions on the Federal Reserve that prevented it from increasing the money supply. The Gold Reserve Act of January 30, 1934 further required that all gold and gold certificates held by the Federal Reserve system be surrendered to the US Treasury, and changed the fixed exchange rate of gold from $20.67 to $35, which severely devalued the US dollar while incentivizing foreign investors to sell their gold to the Treasury.

The gold content by weight in troy ounces for the US circulating gold coinage is as follows:

Gold Coin Types Gold (oz.)
$1 Dollar 0.04837
$2.5 Dollar 0.12094
$3 Dollar 0.14512
$5 Dollar 0.24187
$10 Dollar 0.48375
$20 Dollar 0.9675