Rare Coins Daily Rare coin guides and inquiries
Silver coin learning section

Pre-1965 Silver and Early Half Dollars

Use date, edge, weight, and denomination first. Silver guides should teach the inspection habit before talking about buying or selling.

Lesson cards

Open a section to learn the checks

Each card opens a larger beginner-friendly guide with reference images, plain-English explanation, first step, diagnostics, and common mistakes.

Learning order

Identify the coin family first. Then use dates, mint marks, edges, weight, and reference photos to decide whether it deserves deeper research.

90% silver Lesson
90% silver Beginner check

Pre-1965 silver dimes, quarters, and halves

Most U.S. dimes, quarters, and half dollars dated 1964 or earlier are 90% silver.

1

1964 and older dimes, quarters, and halves are the main everyday silver check.

2

Silver quarters weigh about 6.25 grams when unworn.

Half dollars Lesson
Half dollars Beginner check

Kennedy half dollars and NIFC dates

Kennedy halves include 90% silver 1964 coins, 40% silver 1965-1970 coins, and later NIFC collector-channel dates.

1

1964 Kennedy halves are 90% silver.

2

1965-1970 Kennedy halves are 40% silver.

Early halves Lesson
Early halves Beginner check

Older silver half-dollar families

Before Kennedy halves, collectors sort halves by design families such as Franklin, Walking Liberty, Barber, Seated Liberty, and Bust halves.

1

Franklin halves: 1948-1963.

2

Walking Liberty halves: 1916-1947.

Type coins Lesson
Type coins Beginner check

Small silver denominations and odd types

Some older silver coins are not common modern denominations, like three-cent silver pieces.

1

Three-cent silver pieces are small and can be mistaken for damaged or foreign coins.

2

Older type coins may have unusual sizes and designs.

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