If you’re asking which years Canadian coins are silver, the short answer is: any Canadian dime, quarter, half-dollar, or dollar dated 1967 or earlier almost certainly contains silver. Coins dated 1968 or later are nickel or steel — no silver content at all. For melt values calculated in real time from today’s silver spot price, visit our Canadian silver coin melt value calculator.
Which Years Are Canadian Coins Silver? The Simple Rule
Here is the rule every collector should know:
- 1967 and earlier: dimes, quarters, half-dollars, and dollars are silver
- 1968: transition year — some coins are silver (.500 fine), some are pure nickel. Check both sides.
- 1969 and later: no silver in circulation coins
The one wrinkle: the 1967 Centennial issues include some struck in .500 fine silver (instead of the usual .800 fine) due to rising silver prices that year. Always check the edge — a solid silver coin will have consistent reeding, while a clad coin may show a copper stripe on the edge.
For the silver dollar specifically, the date range is 1935–1967 at .800 fine, plus 1968 transition coins at .500 fine. No dollar was struck in silver after 1968.
Canadian Silver Coin Specifications by Denomination
Silver Dollar (1935–1968)
The Canadian silver dollar was first struck in 1935 for the Silver Jubilee of King George V. It was produced continuously through 1967 in .800 fine silver, making it the workhorse of Canadian silver collecting. The classic reverse shows a canoe paddled by a voyageur — a design still celebrated today.
- Years: 1935–1967 (.800 fine), 1968 some .500 fine
- Weight: 23.33 g
- Fineness: .800
- ASW: 0.6001 troy oz
- Current melt value: 40.66
The 1935 and 1936 issues (George V), the 1939 Royal Visit dollar, and the 1949 Newfoundland dollar are the most sought-after dates. Even common circulated examples carry strong melt value — use our Canadian silver melt calculator to check today’s price.
Silver Half Dollar / 50 Cents (1870–1967)
Canadian 50-cent coins were struck in silver from 1870 through 1967, with a fineness change along the way.
- 1870–1919: 11.62 g at .925 fine → ASW ≈ 0.3456 oz → Melt: 23.41
- 1920–1967: 11.66 g at .800 fine → ASW ≈ 0.3000 oz → Melt: 20.33
The pre-1920 .925 fine pieces carry noticeably more silver per coin. Both eras represent excellent value for silver stackers looking for Canadian content.
Silver Quarter (1870–1967)
The Canadian quarter is perhaps the most commonly encountered silver coin from this era — millions were struck and circulated. Finding a pre-1968 quarter in pocket change is rare today but was routine until the early 1970s.
- 1870–1919: 5.81 g at .925 fine → ASW ≈ 0.1728 oz → Melt: 11.71
- 1920–1967: 5.83 g at .800 fine → ASW ≈ 0.1500 oz → Melt: 10.16
Silver Dime (1858–1967)
Canadian silver dimes are the smallest denomination in the series — but they add up fast. A roll of 50 pre-1968 dimes contains roughly 3 troy ounces of silver.
- 1858–1919: 2.32 g at .925 fine → ASW ≈ 0.0690 oz → Melt: 4.67
- 1920–1967: 2.33 g at .800 fine → ASW ≈ 0.0600 oz → Melt: 4.07
Canadian Silver Coin Melt Value Reference Table
All melt values are calculated live from the current silver spot price.
| Denomination | Years | Weight (g) | Fineness | ASW (troy oz) | Melt Value |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Dollar | 1935–1967 | 23.33 | .800 | 0.6001 | 40.66 |
| Dollar (transition) | 1968 (some) | 23.33 | .500 | 0.3750 | 25.41 |
| 50 Cents | 1920–1967 | 11.66 | .800 | 0.3000 | 20.33 |
| 50 Cents (early) | 1870–1919 | 11.62 | .925 | 0.3456 | 23.41 |
| 25 Cents | 1920–1967 | 5.83 | .800 | 0.1500 | 10.16 |
| 25 Cents (early) | 1870–1919 | 5.81 | .925 | 0.1728 | 11.71 |
| 10 Cents | 1920–1967 | 2.33 | .800 | 0.0600 | 4.07 |
| 10 Cents (early) | 1858–1919 | 2.32 | .925 | 0.0690 | 4.67 |
How to Identify Canadian Silver Coins
Not sure if a coin is silver? Three quick tests:
1. Check the Date
For dimes, quarters, and half-dollars: any date 1967 or earlier is silver (with the caveat that some 1967 issues are .500 fine rather than .800 fine). For dollars, the silver range is 1935–1967, plus some 1968 issues. Post-1968: no silver in Canadian circulation coins.
2. Examine the Edge
A solid silver coin will show uniform reeding (the ridged edge) with no copper or nickel stripe visible. A nickel coin from the same period looks nearly identical on the faces but shows a solid uniform edge without any layering.
3. The Magnet Test
Silver is non-magnetic. Canadian nickel coins (post-1968, and some wartime nickels) are magnetic. If a coin sticks strongly to a magnet, it contains no silver. If it doesn’t stick at all, it’s likely silver or at least non-ferrous.
Note: The 5-cent “nickel” was made of pure nickel from 1922 onward and is highly magnetic. This test is most useful for dimes, quarters, half-dollars, and dollars.
Check Today’s Melt Value for Your Canadian Silver Coins
The values shown in the table above update automatically with live silver prices. For a full breakdown of Canadian silver coins by type, weight, and current melt value, visit our Canadian silver coin melt value calculator — the fastest way to know exactly what your coins are worth today.
