Buy & Sell 40% Silver Coins Here!
Vermillion Enterprises specializes in gold & silver. 40% Silver, 90% Silver, and 99.9% Silver. We buy and sell 40% Silver Coins. 40%! 90% Coins! Coins! Coins! We want it all! We have it all!
40% Silver Coins We Buy and Sell
Half-Dollar
On June 3, 1965, President Johnson announced plans to eliminate silver from the dime and quarter. Favoring a clad oreo with layers of copper-nickel on each side of a layer of pure copper. Congress passed the Coinage Act of 1965 in July. READ MORE
Dollar
40% Silver Coins – History
“40% Silver” references certain Kennedy Half Dollars and Eisenhower Dollars. Investors, collectors, buyers, sellers, etc. use this term specifically for:
- Kennedy Half-Dollars minted 1965–1970, and 1976
- Eisenhower Silver Dollars minted in the years 1971-1974, and 1976.
Additionally, this term also differentiates these coins from 90% Silver and current circulating coins. Pre-1965 coins contained 90% Silver. Current circulating coins do not contain silver.
Note: A U.S. Bicentennial 40% silver quarter was created. However, it was only available in Mint / Proof sets. Never in general circulation. But occasionally does make its way into a 40% Silver bag.
Typically, Kennedy Half-Dollars and Eisenhower Silver Dollars are not considered for their numismatic value. Instead, often bought and sold for their silver content in $100, $500, and $1,000 face value bags. However, they can be bought and sold for smaller face value bags as well.
In addition to the depleted Treasury Silver supply, prices for silver metal were rising. So much so that by early June a dime contained $0.0933 worth of silver at market prices. On June 3, 1965, President Johnson announced plans to eliminate silver from the dime and quarter. Favoring a clad oreo with layers of copper-nickel on each side of a layer of pure copper. Congress passed the Coinage Act of 1965 in July.
Thus, the half dollar was changed from 90% silver to 40%. The new half dollars retained their silvery appearance. How? An optical illusion of sorts. The outer layer was 80% silver and 20% copper. With an inner layer of 21% silver and 79% copper.
These clad oreo half dollars were struck at the Denver Mint on December 30, 1965. Bearing the date 1965. Unchanged for U.S. coins until the coin shortage was eased. Finally on August 1, 1966, the Mint began to strike 1966-dated pieces. Thereafter resuming the normal practice of striking the current year’s date on each piece.
No More Silver Lining
Despite the proclaimed end to the coin shortage, Kennedy half dollars still circulated little. A scarcity caused by continued hoarding. Plus a dip in production caused by the Treasury’s reluctance to expend more of the nation’s silver holdings on a coin which did not circulate. In May 1969, the Treasury sought authorization to eliminate the half dollar’s silver content, changing it to the same copper-nickel clad composition as the dime and quarter.
However, around this same time frame, former President Dwight D Eisenhower, passed away. Prompting discussions of adding his likeness to the new dollar coin. The Treasury intended the new dollar coin to be base metal clad as well. Hoping to end the coin hoarding and coin circulating to resume again. However, there was much debate on adding a President to a base metal coin. These disputes halted base metal productions of half dollars and dollars. Finally, on December 31, 1970, President Nixon signed the bill authorizing the 40% Proof Silver Eisenhower dollars, base metal circulating Eisenhower dollars, and eliminating the 40% silver content in half dollars.
Exceptions to Every Rule
The exception to the silver cessation was the 1976 Bicentennial coins. Issuing a special design for the reverse of the half dollar. As well as on the dollar coin and quarter. Using the 40% Silver cladding. It resumed the base metal cladding in 1977.
Vermillion Enterprises, the place to buy and sell 40% Silver Coins. Call or stop by today!
Other Silver Coins/Rounds We Buy & Sell:
- 90% Silver Coins
- American Silver Eagles
- Canadian Silver Maple Leaf
- Austrian Silver Philharmonics
- Australian Silver Lunars
- Australian Silver Kangaroos
- South African Silver Krugerrand
- Generic Silver Rounds – any design.
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So if you live in or near Spring Hill, Lutz, New Port Richey, Hudson, Crystal River, Inverness, Brooksville or surrounding Florida location, stop in Vermillion Enterprises for a price on your 40% Silver today.