A question for all you older treasure hunters out there

[wheatfinder13]

Hello all
Being as I a m only 13 I was not around when the us got rid of silver, by what year where silver coins not so common in circulation? Could you still find them In your pocket change in the 1970s? Thanks

 

[boris]

Hello all
Being as I a m only 13 I was not around when the us got rid of silver, by what year where silver coins not so common in circulation? Could you still find them In your pocket change in the 1970s? Thanks

1964 was the year when I graduated High School. It must have been a secret because all the four years of college I never knew about it or saw silver again until detecting in 1974. The Viet Nam war was on all our minds then and how to survive it. HH Boris 1970s only seen in pay phone rejects. I wore out Radio Shacks and bounty hunters until I found a waterproof one {used} I sold a lot of silver and gold to pay for it and learned that the all metal method is best.

 

[tesorobandit]

Hello all
Being as I a m only 13 I was not around when the us got rid of silver, by what year where silver coins not so common in circulation? Could you still find them In your pocket change in the 1970s? Thanks

for dimes and quarter 1964 was the last year that 90% silver content coins were minted. I have heard that there was still silver content in the half and dollar coins for a few years after. The larger coins aren't found as often anyway.
Since the last silver coins minted were nearly 50 years ago many young folks have forgotten about silver content, and /or times being as tough as they have been these last few years, many people have ventured to open rolls of the vintage dime and quarters and spend them not knowing there true value. These rolls were perhaps handed down to them and they just didn't know, so yes you can find some.
Familiarize yourself with the distinct ringing sound of silver. Once you know, and you hear it hit the counter at a store, pull out a five or ten dollar bill and ask them could they make some change- There is a chance there is more silver in the till.
Also, take a look at the COIN ROLL HUNTING forum. That is all you need for eyeballing. No matter what alway look at your change.
good luck
Bandito

 

[Bill D. (VA)]

When I was around 12-13 years old in the mid-60s my dad and I collected coins. He would take his paycheck every 2 weeks and cash it in for rolls of nickels, dimes and quarters. We'd go through those and pull out the silver as well as any key dates. Probably did that for 2-3 years after which the silver coins became a lot harder to find. You would occasionally find a silver coin in circulation during the 70s, but after that they were pretty much non-existent, especially when the price of silver went through the roof. I remember when my dad cashed in a coffee can full of silver quarters (about $200 face value) for $4000. The good ole days are definitely over, but at least we can still find silver with a detector every now and then.

 

[boris]

When did the price of silver go to the roof? I remember $5/ounce silver when the Texas brothers were buying large amounts in what year?

 

[tesorobandit]

When did the price of silver go to the roof? I remember $5/ounce silver when the Texas brothers were buying large amounts in what year?

in 1980 the price of silver spiked to $50 as the Hunt bros. tried to corner the market.

 

[Mackaydon]

Back in those days, when silver certificates were still in circulation, you could trade silver certs (at a premium) for non- silver money. At one point I was getting $1.52 for each silver cert. I traded in. I was working in a bank at that time which provided quite an advantage--till the chief teller got into the act herself.
Don.......

 

[CASPER-2]

I still find silver in my change now and then
my girlfriend found an indian head penny in her change the other day
my son was working a coffee stand and an old man kept paying him in silver coins now and then along with clad
one day he paid with a silver peace dollar - my son called me and asked what to do - I said put a dollar in the till and take it
you get old folks now and then that find an old container of coins in their house and just spend it
one coin you can find often cause people dont know any better is silver wartime nickels
I got a buffalo from a soda machine as change last year too

 

[freddy williams]

I remember the hunt brothers and there play of the silver market. I occassionally find some silver in coin roll hunting. I never have alot of extra cash after bills are paid. so I can only get 100 dollars sometime go through it cash it in at a different bank and do it again. There are some on here that get 2 - 3 thousand dollars in coins and find alot of silver. Go through 1//2 and dimes mostly those give you a better chance. Keep all your key date coins no matter the condition, And you S mint coins they get you the highest return on your money. My nephew up north found a 1916-D mercury dime I believe all I know is when he sold it he made 1300. on it cause of the condition good luck and happy hunting = HH

 

[Chuck In Oregon]

I was HS Class of '64 too. I worked my way through college and was clerking in a slum convenience store (today a bodega) as late as '68. The guy who ran the newspaper stand collection route would stop in most days and let me sort through the day's change looking for silver in exchange for some hot coffee. I got quite a bit for a while but by the end of '68 it had stopped being common.

Chuck

 

[ammo_u]

Casinos (I know you are to young) are a great place to find silver coins. My mother worked the cash station for a Osage Casino here in Oklahoma and she would bring me a lot of old coins and you would not believe the stuff people try to sale to the people who run the registers for one more shot at the big pay out lol. It got to the point I gave my mom rolls of clad so she could trade it out for the silver as it came in.

 

[jeff of pa]

Hello all
Being as I a m only 13 I was not around when the us got rid of silver, by what year where silver coins not so common in circulation? Could you still find them In your pocket change in the 1970s? Thanks

if I'm understanding your question correctly,
it was very hard to find silver dimes & quarters in pocket change in 1966 already.
It was there, but the banks were pulling it at an alarming rate already.
in the 70's it was Very rare to find silver in change.
Silver has only started coming back in the last 20 years or so with people cashing in to survive.
and Thefts gone up for the same reason

 

[dansalata]

yeah for sure on the thefts all my cw period coins stolen and cw buttons among other stuff..be vigilant..i lock my doors all the time now we have security lights here and a 12 gauge for real emergencies...they aint gettin to me again god willing...

 

[austin]

Hello all
Being as I a m only 13 I was not around when the us got rid of silver, by what year where silver coins not so common in circulation? Could you still find them In your pocket change in the 1970s? Thanks

I collected buffalo nickels and mercury dimes in the early 60's. Lots of stuff available as everyday change in Texas. Half dollars, silver dollars too. In the early 70's I spent my collections on beer. Seemed reasonable at the time...

 

[tesorobandit]

As luck and coincidence would have it I went out this afternoon and rehunted a yard,and came up with this. The indian head is 1887, and one of the pennies is 1955. They are quite dirty, but I will soak in hot peroxide then scrape with a fingernail. Yup 1964!
bandido