In the past, US silver coins were in common circulation. Today it is a rarity to find silver in your pocket change but it can still happen! Check your pockets and change jars for silver.
All US dimes dated 1964 and prior are 90% silver and contain .0723 of a troy ounce of silver.
All US quarters dated 1964 and prior are 90% silver and contain .1808 of a troy ounce of silver.
All US half dollars dated 1964 and prior are 90% silver and contain .3617 of a troy ounce of silver.
All US half dollars dated 1965-1970 are 40% silver (keep an eye out for these! Many people falsely believe these coins contain no silver and will spend them for face value!) and contain .1479 of a troy ounce of silver.
US nickels dated 1942-1945 that have a large P, D or S mintmark over the Monticello (called "war nickels" by the collecting community) are 35% silver and contain .0563 of a troy ounce of silver. Nickels dated 1942 without a large mintmark over the Monticello are made out of the standard alloy of 75% nickel and 25% copper and contain no silver.
US silver dollars dated 1935 (the last year of the Peace Dollar) and earlier are 90% silver and contain .7735 of a troy ounce of silver. However, most silver dollars have numismatic (collectible) value and sell for more than just their silver content except for common dates and well worn coins.
Date checking for these coins is time consuming, and although searching by date is the only way to be 100% accurate searching by edge is much more efficient. If you look at the edge of any modern US dime or quarter you will see that it is comprised of 2 layers, a shiny silvery nickel layer and a brown copper layer. However a 90% silver coin will have a single color on the edge it will be a white color on untoned coins but may look "dirty" on coins that have toned. Uncirculated 40% silver half dollars will look nearly identical to a 1971 or later half dollar but the coin quickly tarnishes in circulation and obtains a dirty greenish tone, it is hard to describe but sticks out enough to be identifiable in a roll. Uncirculated 35% silver war nickels will look identical to the copper nickel ones on the edge but in circulation the war nickels will quickly gain a dirty green look to them.
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