Purchase silver coins from the US Mint including US annual silver proof sets, silver quarters, silver dollars, and 1 and 5 oz silver coins. Up until 1965, all United States dimes, quarter dollars and half dollars were made of 90% silver and 10% copper. The Coinage Act of 1965 changed the compositions of these coins to reduce or eliminate their silver content because the price of silver had risen above the face value of the coins. Silver dimes, quarters, half dollars and silver dollars are worth many times their face value today. Each coin is heavy with 90% silver and valued accordingly. As these coins are sold their price is based on their metal content. Also there are a few surprising coins to search for, silver nickels and certain Kennedy halves.