The coin's value depends on the current price of silver.
Dimes with 90 percent silver are worth 0.07 times the price of one troy oz. of silver.
Quarters would be 0.18 times the price of silver.
Half dollars would be 0.36 times the price of silver.
Can't tell if your coin has a large percentage of silver? Is it a dime, quarter, half or dollar dated 1964 or earlier? If yes, then it probably is mostly silver. Still not sure? Take a modern coin and drop it. Now drop your old coin. Is the sound different? The old coin should sound more ringing if it is silver.
This was written by a sixth grader. Can you tell? Ps. I know I asked too many questions.
With silver over $30.00 per ounce the intrinsic value is about $11.00.
Coins minted for circulation were made from "coin silver", the 90% silver / 10% copper alloy mentioned in your question. Some very early issues had slightly less silver, 89% or 89.5% but here were no other deviations from that ratio. Anything with a higher percentage of silver in it was deemed too soft to stand up to normal wear.Of course the current "eagle" bullion coins are 999/1000 fine, but they're not intended for spending.
It's worth at least $10 (as of 3 July 2012) for its silver content. As far as collector value, that depends on factors such as the date, mint mark, and condition.
Dimes are made of about 90 percent copper and 10 percent nickel. In the 19th century, dimes were made of mostly silver.
At current silver prices, a '61 Franklin half is worth just under $10.
The quarters, half-dollar and dime are struck in 90 percent silver, generally referred to as "coin silver."The silver proof quarters weigh 0.180845 oz - multiply that by the current silver price to get the value for that coin.
Up until 1965 US quarters were 90% silver. Then they didn't have any silver at all. Therefore, no such US coin exists.
The only 90% silver half dollar dated 1982 was the George Washington 250th Anniversary of Birth commemorative coin. It was the first 90% silver coin produced since 1964.
A date is needed. Post new question.
The coin is 90% silver & 10% copper.
With silver over $30.00 per ounce the intrinsic value is about $11.00.
A 90 percent silver dime weighs approximately 2.5 grams or 0.088 ounces.
It's 90% silver with 10% copper. The coin's total weight is 26.73 grams.
In an internet auction these would be about $60.
If the coin is an "S" mintmarked silver proof coin, it's 90% silver.
U.S. silver dollars dated 1935 and earlier weigh 26.73 grams and contain 90% silver.
The coin is 90% silver and 10% copper.