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That's essentially true for the 6 denominations currently being minted. Dimes, quarters, and half dollars dated up to 1964 and dollars dated up to 1935 were made of 90% silver. Cents were bronze and nickels were (and still are) made of copper-nickel.

The only exceptions were during WWII when metal shortages meant that pennies were made of zinc-plated steel in 1943, and nickels were made of an alloy of copper, silver, and manganese from mid-1942 to 1945.

If you go back farther in time, though, there were many other denominations of coins that were made of various metals:

  • $1 coins were also struck in gold (1849-1889) as well as silver, although the two types were extremely different in sizes.
  • $2.50, $3, $4, $5, $10, and $20 coins were made of gold
  • Half cents were made of copper
  • 2¢ pieces were made of bronze
  • Some 3¢ pieces were made of copper-nickel
  • Half dimes (the predecessor to nickels), some 3¢ pieces, and 20¢ pieces were made of 90% silver
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Q: Were all American coins before 1964 silver except the nickel and penny?
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