Silver Coins You Can Find Metal Detecting: Complete Guide

Finding silver is one of the greatest thrills in metal detecting. That sweet high tone, the distinctive ring when you flip the coin—silver hunting is addictive. The good news? Silver coins are still out there, waiting in parks, old homesteads, and anywhere people gathered before 1965.

Here’s your complete guide to the silver coins you can find metal detecting and what they’re worth.

The Key Dates: When U.S. Coins Were Silver

90% Silver Coins (The Good Stuff)

40% Silver Coins

35% Silver (War Nickels)

Silver Dimes You Can Find

Roosevelt Dimes (1946-1964)

Value: $2-3 (silver melt) | Common dates, all are silver

Mercury Dimes (1916-1945)

Value: $3-5 typical | Key dates worth much more

Key Dates:

• 1916-D: $500-$2,000+ (only 264,000 minted)
• 1921: $50-$200+
• 1921-D: $75-$300+
• 1942/1 (overdate): $400+

Barber Dimes (1892-1916)

Value: $5-$50 typical | Older and scarcer

Key Dates: 1895-O, 1896-S, 1903-S

Seated Liberty Dimes (1837-1891)

Value: $20-$100+ | Less common finds

Silver Quarters You Can Find

Washington Quarters (1932-1964)

Value: $5-7 (silver melt) | Most common silver quarter

Key Dates:

• 1932-D: $100+
• 1932-S: $100+

Standing Liberty Quarters (1916-1930)

Value: $10-$50 typical | Beautiful design, often worn

Key Dates:

• 1916: $2,000-$15,000+ (very rare)
• 1918/7-S (overdate): $1,500+
• 1919-D, 1919-S: $100+
• 1921: $150+
• 1923-S: $200+

Barber Quarters (1892-1916)

Value: $10-$100 | Earlier dates bring premiums

Key Dates: 1896-S, 1901-S, 1913-S

Seated Liberty Quarters (1838-1891)

Value: $30-$200+ | Great finds when they happen

Silver Half Dollars You Can Find

Kennedy Half Dollars (1964)

Value: $12-15 (silver melt) | Only 1964 is 90% silver

Kennedy Half Dollars (1965-1970)

Value: $5-6 (40% silver) | Often overlooked

Franklin Half Dollars (1948-1963)

Value: $12-20 typical | All are 90% silver

Walking Liberty Half Dollars (1916-1947)

Value: $15-50 typical | One of the most beautiful U.S. coins

Key Dates:

• 1916-S: $150+
• 1921: $150+
• 1921-D: $200+
• 1938-D: $100+

Barber Half Dollars (1892-1915)

Value: $15-100+ | Early dates are scarcer

Seated Liberty Half Dollars (1839-1891)

Value: $50-300+ | Excellent finds

Silver Dollars (The Holy Grail)

Morgan Dollars (1878-1921)

Value: $30-500+ depending on date/condition

Heavy, distinctive ring. Finding one is memorable.

Peace Dollars (1921-1935)

Value: $25-200+ depending on date

How to Identify Silver in the Field

The Visual Test

Look at the edge of the coin:

• Silver: Solid silver color all the way through
• Clad: Copper stripe visible on edge

The Sound Test

Drop the coin on a hard surface:

• Silver: High-pitched, musical ring that sustains
• Clad: Dull thud or flat sound

The Weight Test

Where to Find Silver Coins

Best Locations

• Parks established before 1965: Prime silver territory
• Old schools: Kids lost coins for decades
• Old homesteads: Family activity areas
• Church grounds: Weekly gatherings meant coin drops
• Fairgrounds: Annual events over many decades
• Swimming areas: Old beach and swimming hole sites

Detector Settings for Silver

• Target ID: Silver typically reads high (80s-90s on most detectors)
• Frequency: Multi-frequency detectors excel at silver
• Depth: Silver can be found deep—don’t ignore faint signals

Current Silver Melt Values

Silver prices fluctuate. As a rough guide (check current spot price):

*Values vary with silver spot price. Check coinflation.com for current melt values.

Storing Your Silver Finds

• Don’t clean aggressively: Natural toning can add value
• Use proper holders: 2×2 flips, non-PVC holders
• Store dry: Silver tarnishes in humidity
• Handle by edges: Fingerprints cause spots

What’s your best silver find? Share in the comments!