I have been told silver coins were no longer made in 1964 however i have found many from before then and they don't look silver at all how much silver is in a nickel from 1964 or before?

Answer 1

What you've been told is incomplete and a bit misleading.

First, cents and nickels do not contain any silver. Their composition was NOT changed in 1964. In fact, ALL nickels minted since the 1860s, except for those very exceptional WW2 nickels, are made of the same thing - an alloy of 25% nickel and 75% copper.

Second, 1964 was the last year that higher-denomination coins were made of 90% silver. Starting in 1965, dimes and quarters were converted to the current "sandwich" composition of outer layers of cupronickel bonded to a pure copper core (that's the dark line around the rim of those coins). Halves were made of 40% silver for a few years, and in 1971 that denomination was also converted to cupronickel+copper.

Finally, if anyone tells you that 1943 cents were struck in silver (or lead!) they are again misinformed. For that year only, pennies were made out of zinc and steel so that copper could be used in making ammunition. There is no such thing as a silver Lincoln cent.

References: R.S. Yeoman "Red Book", PCGS CoinFacts.

Answer 2

Nickels minted before 1965 contained 35% silver, while those made afterward no longer contained any silver. The silver content was reduced due to the rising cost of the metal. Make sure to check the date and mint mark of your coins to determine their silver content accurately.