Are coins from canada silver?

[bpowell-migration]

Are coins made in 60's from canada silver?

[truthteller]

Prior to 1967, the canadian circulating coinage was .800 fine silver. In 1967, they switched to both .500 and .800 fine silver, and continued with .500 fine into mid 1968, when they again switched to only nickel clad coinage. Silver dollars are .800 fine up to 1967. Then the government issued commemorative only dollars in .800 and circulating dollars in nickel clad. Currently, only the commemorative coinage contain silver.

 

 

TRUTH

[TomB]

It's interesting that they switch mid-year from 0.800 to 0.500 fine silver. Were some denominations switched at the onset of the year while others remained as they were or were the denominations changed during production so that there are two compositions for each denomination. Did any of that make sense?

[spiny]

From 1920 through 1966 the 10 cents were 2.33 grams, .800 silver. In 1967 there were 32M .800 silver and 30M .500 silver 10 cents produced. In 1968 there were 70M .500 silver 10 cents. The nickel versions also came out that year. 85M were made at the Philadelphia mint (the only coin we produced for Canada) and 87M at the Ottawa mint. You can tell the difference by the shape of the reeding.

 

For 25 cents, they were 5.83 grams, .800 silver through 1966. The 49M produced in 1967 were split between the .800 and .500 silver versions. 1968 had 71M .500 silver and 87M nickel versions.

 

The 50 cents were 11.66 grams, .800 silver from 1920 through 1967. All of the 1968s were nickel.

 

All of the dollars through 1967 were 23.33 grams, .800 silver. In 1968 they switched to nickel.

 

Above is for circulating coins. In 1971 they went to using .500 silver for some of the specimen dollars. Now they're even making collector 5 cent coins out of silver...

[shirohniichan]

From 1920 through 1966 the 10 cents were 2.33 grams, .800 silver. In 1967 there were 32M .800 silver and 30M .500 silver 10 cents produced. In 1968 there were 70M .500 silver 10 cents. The nickel versions also came out that year. 85M were made at the Philadelphia mint (the only coin we produced for Canada) and 87M at the Ottawa mint. You can tell the difference by the shape of the reeding.

 

For 25 cents, they were 5.83 grams, .800 silver through 1966. The 49M produced in 1967 were split between the .800 and .500 silver versions. 1968 had 71M .500 silver and 87M nickel versions.

 

The 50 cents were 11.66 grams, .800 silver from 1920 through 1967. All of the 1968s were nickel.

 

All of the dollars through 1967 were 23.33 grams, .800 silver. In 1968 they switched to nickel.

 

Above is for circulating coins. In 1971 they went to using .500 silver for some of the specimen dollars. Now they're even making collector 5 cent coins out of silver...

 

Now I have the odd desire to buy different versions of 1968 Candian coins for my transition year set.

[JamminJ]

Now I have the odd desire to buy different versions of 1968 Candian coins for my transition year set.

 

Let your conscience be your guide!

 

-JamminJ

[shirohniichan]

Thanks, JamminJimminy.

[expatcollector-migration]

was that Americans were going to Canada and bringing back new Canadian silver coins with them, taking advantage of Gresham's Law which states that if your own country is producing "bad" clad money, go to a neighboring country and hoard their "good" money . Apparently, after an unsuccessful attempt to keep silver circulating by reducing its fineness, the Canadian government said "To heck with it" and ended up making everything out of their very cheap and plentiful nickel.