Which Canadian Coins Are Silver? A Year-by-Year Guide
So you found an old coin in your grandpa's jar and now you're wondering if it's silver. Good instinct, my friend. For most of the 1900s, Canada made its everyday pocket change out of real silver, and a ton of those coins are still out there waiting to be found.
Here's the no-nonsense guide to which Canadian coins are silver, how much silver is in each one, and how to tell the silver ones from the nickel ones.
The short answer
If it's a Canadian dime, quarter or half dollar dated 1966 or earlier, it's silver. Nickels (5-cent pieces) are silver only up to 1921. The 1967 and 1968 coins are where it gets spicy, and we'll get to those.
Silver by era
Canada used three different silver mixes over the years:
- 92.5% silver (sterling): coins up to 1919
- 80% silver: coins from 1920 to 1967
- 50% silver: some dimes and quarters from 1967 and 1968
Here's how it breaks down coin by coin:
| Coin | 92.5% silver | 80% silver | 50% silver | No silver |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 5 cents | up to 1919 | 1920–1921 | — | 1922 onward |
| 10 cents | up to 1919 | 1920–1967 | 1967–1968 | 1968 onward (some), 1969+ |
| 25 cents | up to 1919 | 1920–1967 | 1967–1968 | 1968 onward (some), 1969+ |
| 50 cents | up to 1919 | 1920–1967 | — | 1968 onward |
| $1 | — | 1935–1967 | — | 1968 onward |
How much silver is actually in there?
This is the actual silver weight inside each coin, measured in troy ounces:
| Coin | Sterling era | 80% era | 50% era |
|---|---|---|---|
| 5 cents | 0.0345 oz | 0.0301 oz | — |
| 10 cents | 0.0690 oz | 0.0599 oz | 0.0375 oz |
| 25 cents | 0.173 oz | 0.1500 oz | 0.0812 oz |
| 50 cents | 0.3456 oz | 0.2999 oz | — |
| $1 | — | 0.5993 oz | — |
Here's a cheat code for the 80% coins: ten dimes ≈ 0.6 oz, ten quarters ≈ 1.5 oz, ten halves ≈ 3 oz. It's clean math, and every collector should know it.
The tricky years: 1967 and 1968
Silver prices were climbing in 1967 and 1968, so Canada started taking silver out of its coins. That means some coins from those years look exactly the same but have different metal inside:
- 1967 dimes and quarters came in both 80% and 50% silver
- 1968 dimes and quarters came in both 50% silver and pure nickel
- 1967 halves and dollars are 80% silver, but the 1968 ones are nickel
The magnet test
Nickel is magnetic and silver isn't. Grab a strong magnet and hold it up to your 1968 dime or quarter:
- It sticks or pulls toward the magnet → nickel. Sorry, bud.
- Nothing happens → silver. Let's go.
Bonus check: silver coins give off a higher, longer "ring" when you tap them. It's not bulletproof, but it's a fun party trick.
The fan favourites
These are the coins collectors keep coming back to:
- 80% half dollars (1937–1966). These are the big boys, with almost 0.3 oz of silver each and the Canadian coat of arms on the back. The 1937–1966 dates run through King George VI and Queen Elizabeth II, so every half is a little chunk of history. Grab the 5-coin half-dollar bundle to get started, or go big with the 10-coin half-dollar bundle.
- Caribou quarters. The caribou is hands down one of the sickest designs Canada ever put on a coin. Check out the 10-coin 80% quarter bundle.
- Bluenose dimes. They're small and cheap, and they've got that legendary schooner on the back. They're a perfect first silver coin for a new collector. Here's the 10-coin 80% dime bundle.
- "Fish scale" 5-cent pieces. These tiny silver nickels from before 1922 got their nickname for being so small and thin. They're pure old-school Canada. Our Fish Scale bundle has ten of them dated 1908–1921.
Why Canadian silver is so fun to collect
- Every coin has a story. Kings, queens, caribou and schooners. These coins went through a century of pockets, tills and piggy banks before landing in yours.
- You know exactly what you've got. The silver content is known for every coin, so there's no guesswork.
- The hunt never ends. Different dates, different kings, different designs. There's always one more coin to find for the collection.
Whether you're chasing dates, designs or just the thrill of finding silver, old Canadian coins are one of the best ways into the hobby.
FAQ
Are Canadian coins from 1967 silver?
Most of them are. 1967 halves and dollars are 80% silver. 1967 dimes and quarters came in both 80% and 50%, but either way there's silver in there.
Are 1968 Canadian quarters silver?
Some are. They were made in 50% silver and in pure nickel. Do the magnet test: if it sticks, it's nickel.
Is a Canadian nickel (5 cents) silver?
Only if it's dated 1921 or earlier. From 1922 on, 5-cent coins were made of nickel and other metals.
Are Canadian pennies silver?
Nope. Canada never made its everyday 1-cent coins out of silver.
How much silver is in a Canadian quarter?
An 80% silver quarter (1920–1967) has about 0.15 troy oz of pure silver in it.
Ready to start your collection? Check out our Canadian silver coin bundles. Every bundle is made up of genuine Canadian silver coins and comes in a velvet pouch.