Stack Value guide
How to tell silver and gold coins from regular ones
Updated November 2026 · Melt values below are live, in your chosen currency.
You don't need special equipment to sort most coins. These checks go from quickest to most careful. For anything valuable, have it tested by a dealer before you buy or sell.
1. Check the date
The date is the fastest test for everyday coins:
| Coins | Silver if dated |
|---|---|
| Canadian dimes and quarters | 1968 or earlier (1967–1968 may be 50% or nickel) |
| Canadian 50 cents and dollars | 1967 or earlier |
| Canadian 5 cents | 1921 or earlier |
| US dimes, quarters and half dollars | 1964 or earlier (halves to 1970 at 40%) |
| US nickels | 1942–1945 with a large mint mark above Monticello |
See Canadian silver coins andUS junk silver for the details.
2. Look at the edge
US dimes, quarters and half dollars from 1965 on are "clad": a copper core between two copper-nickel layers. Turn the coin on its side: a copper-coloured stripe means no silver. A silver coin's edge is the same silver-grey all the way through. 40% Kennedy halves show a silvery edge too.
3. Try a magnet
Silver and gold are not magnetic. Canadian dimes, quarters, 50-cent pieces and dollars from 1968 on are made of nickel or nickel-plated steel, and are pulled to a strong magnet. So for Canadian coins, if it sticks, it isn't silver. This is the easiest way to sort 1968 dimes and quarters.
The magnet test doesn't help with US clad coins (copper-nickel isn't magnetic) or with fakes made from non-magnetic metals, so use it together with the other checks.
4. Weigh it
An inexpensive digital scale that reads to 0.01 grams is one of the best tools a coin buyer can own. Silver coins are usually heavier than the clad coins that replaced them:
| US coin | 90% silver | Clad (1965 on) |
|---|---|---|
| Dime | 2.50 g | 2.27 g |
| Quarter | 6.25 g | 5.67 g |
| Half dollar | 12.50 g | 11.34 g |
Every coin page on Stack Value lists the official weight, so you can compare. Worn coins weigh a little less than new ones; a big difference is a warning sign.
5. Listen
Balance a coin on your fingertip and tap it gently with another coin. Silver tends to give a clear, long ring, while base-metal coins sound duller. It takes practice and isn't proof on its own, but it's a useful hint when sorting a pile.
6. Read the stamps on bars and jewellery
- Silver: 999 or .999 (fine silver), 925 or "sterling" (92.5%), 800 (80%).
- Gold: 24K or 999 (pure), 22K or 916, 18K or 750, 14K or 585, 10K or 417.
- Not solid silver: "EPNS", "silver plate" and "nickel silver" or "German silver" (which contains no silver at all).
- Not solid gold: "GP" or "GEP" (gold plated), "GF" (gold filled), "RGP" (rolled gold plate).
Once you know the weight and purity, use Add by weight on the calculator to see the melt value.
When to get a professional test
Good fakes can pass the simple tests. For gold coins, large bars and anything that seems like a bargain, ask a reputable dealer to test it. Many can check the metal without damaging the item.