Silver Content in Circulating Coins by Country (Up to 1970)

This page details the percentage of silver used in circulating coins for various countries and the approximate years they stopped minting silver coins for general circulation. The data focuses on coins used in everyday transactions, not commemorative or non-circulating issues. The list covers major economies, former colonial powers, and selected countries, with notes on silver content and the transition to base metals.

Overview

Most countries used silver in circulating coins (50–90% silver) before the 1960s, when rising silver prices led to a shift to base metals like copper-nickel or aluminum. The table below summarizes the silver content and the year each country ceased minting silver coins for circulation, followed by regional details.

Summary Table

Country	Silver Content	Year Stopped	Notes
United States	90% (pre-1965); 40% (1965–1970)	1970	Kennedy half-dollars last to use silver.
Canada	80% (pre-1967); 50% (1967–1968)	1968	Nickel replaced silver by 1968.
Mexico	10–72% (pre-1968)	1968	Low-silver-content pesos until 1968.
United Kingdom	92.5% (pre-1920); 50% (1920–1946)	1946	Cupronickel by 1947.
France	83.5% (pre-1969)	1969	5 francs last silver coin.
Germany (West)	62.5% (post-1949)	1974	5 DM retained silver longest.
Switzerland	83.5% (pre-1969)	1969	1, 2, 5 francs used silver until 1969.
Austria	64% (post-WWII)	1970	10 schilling last silver coin.
Belgium	83.5% (pre-1969)	1969	100 francs last silver coin.
Italy	83.5% (pre-1927); 50% (post-WWII)	1967	500 lire last silver coin.
Spain	80–90% (pre-1966)	1966	100 pesetas last silver coin.
India	50% (pre-1948)	1948	Cupronickel post-independence.
Philippines	40% (pre-1967); 10% (1967–1970)	1970	Low-silver-content coins until 1970.
Indonesia	72% or 64% (pre-1945)	1945	No silver post-independence.
Japan	72% (pre-1938)	1938	Aluminum and copper-nickel post-WWII.
Pakistan	0%	N/A	No silver post-1947.
Bangladesh	0%	N/A	No silver as East Pakistan.
Australia	50% (1946–1969)	1969	50-cent coin last to use silver.
New Zealand	50% (1947–1965)	1965	Copper-nickel with decimalization (1967).
Uruguay	72–90% (pre-1940s)	1940s	Base metals by 1950s.
Argentina	72–90% (pre-1962)	1962	Aluminum-bronze post-1962.
Brazil	60–90% (pre-1965)	1965	Stainless steel or aluminum post-1965.
South Africa	50% (1923–1969)	1969	50 cents, 1 rand last silver coins.
Egypt	50–83.5% (pre-1967)	1967	Piastre coins last to use silver.
Netherlands	64–72% (pre-1966)	1966	2.5 guilders last silver coin.
Sweden	40–80% (pre-1971)	1971	5 kronor last silver coin.
Greece	50–83.5% (pre-1968)	1968	Drachma coins switched to base metals.
Turkey	50–83.5% (pre-1960)	1960	Stainless steel or nickel post-1960.

Regional Summaries

North America

• United States: Used 90% silver for dimes, quarters, half-dollars, and dollars until 1964; 40% silver for Kennedy half-dollars (1965–1970). Stopped in 1970 due to the Coinage Act of 1965.
• Canada: Used 80% silver (1920–1967) and 50% silver (1967–1968) for dimes, quarters, half-dollars, and dollars. Switched to nickel by 1968.
• Mexico: Used 10–72% silver for pesos and higher denominations until 1968, with reduced silver content in the 1960s.

Europe

• United Kingdom: Used 92.5% silver pre-1920, 50% silver 1920–1946. Switched to cupronickel by 1947.
• France: Used 83.5% silver for 5 francs until 1969; other denominations used base metals by 1960s.
• Germany (West): Used 62.5% silver for 5 Deutsche Mark until 1974, longest in Europe.
• Switzerland: Used 83.5% silver for 1, 2, 5 francs until 1969, following Latin Monetary Union standards.
• Austria: Used 64% silver for 10 schilling until 1970.
• Belgium: Used 83.5% silver for 100 francs until 1969.
• Italy: Used 50–83.5% silver until 1967 (500 lire).
• Spain: Used 80–90% silver until 1966 (100 pesetas).
• Netherlands: Used 64–72% silver until 1966 (2.5 guilders).
• Sweden: Used 40–80% silver until 1971 (5 kronor).
• Greece: Used 50–83.5% silver until 1968 (drachma).
• Turkey: Used 50–83.5% silver until 1960 (lira).
• Estonia: No silver in circulating coins in modern history.

Asia

• India: Used 50% silver until 1948; cupronickel post-independence.
• Philippines: Used 40% silver pre-1967, 10% silver 1967–1970 for 25 centavos, 50 centavos.
• Indonesia: Used 64–72% silver pre-1945 (Dutch East Indies); no silver post-independence.
• Japan: Used 72% silver pre-1938; aluminum and copper-nickel post-WWII.
• Pakistan: No silver post-1947; used cupronickel or nickel-brass.
• Bangladesh: No silver as East Pakistan; used Pakistan’s base-metal coins.

Oceania

• Australia: Used 50% silver for 50-cent coins (1966–1969) after decimalization.
• New Zealand: Used 50% silver until 1965; copper-nickel with decimalization (1967).

South America

• Uruguay: Used 72–90% silver pre-1940s; base metals by 1950s.
• Argentina: Used 72–90% silver until 1962 (25 pesos).
• Brazil: Used 60–90% silver until 1965 (cruzeiro).

Africa

• South Africa: Used 50% silver for 50 cents, 1 rand until 1969.
• Egypt: Used 50–83.5% silver for piastre coins until 1967.
• Uganda: No silver in circulating coins post-independence (1962).

Countries with No or Limited Silver Coinage

• Nauru, Tuvalu, Palau: Relied on Australian dollar or issued base-metal coins post-independence (late 1960s–1980s). No silver in circulation.
• South Sudan: Independent 2011; used steel coins from 2015. No silver.
• Eritrea: Independent 1993; used nickel-clad steel. No silver.
• Timor-Leste: Used U.S. dollar or base-metal coins post-2002. No silver.
• Monaco, Andorra: Used French/Spanish coins (silver pre-1960s) or euro; own coinage was base metal. No silver in independent issues.

Key Observations

• Silver Content Range: Typically 50–90%, with 90% common in the U.S., early Latin America; 83.5% in Latin Monetary Union countries; 50% post-WWII in many nations.
• End of Silver Use: Most countries stopped in the 1960s (e.g., U.S., Canada, Australia: 1968–1970); some European nations (Germany, Sweden) continued to 1971–1974.
• No Silver Use: Newer nations (Pakistan, Bangladesh, post-1945 Indonesia) used base metals from inception.
• Regional Trends: North America retained silver longest; Europe varied (1946–1974); Asia phased out early (except Philippines); South America and Africa stopped by 1960s.

Limitations

• Data for smaller nations (e.g., African microstates) is limited.
• Some countries minted non-circulating silver coins post-1970, excluded here.
• Older silver coins often circulated after minting ceased.
• Newer nations (post-1970) used base metals from the start.

Note: This data is based on available numismatic records as of May 27, 2025. For specific denominations or additional countries, further research may be needed.