* In 1965, due to the increasing cost of silver, the US Mint changed the compos

ition of its silver coinsto a clad material. The clad coins have outer layers ma
de on an alloy of 75% copper and 25% nickel bonded to a pure copper core. The ov
erall composition is 91.67% copper and 8.33% nickel.There were some special Bice
ntennial coins minted in 1975 1976. They were all dated 1776 1976with the S mint
mark. They were silver clad and sold in 3 coin Mint Sets and Proof Sets that co
ntaineda silver clad Washington quarter, Kennedy half dollar and Eisenhower doll
ar. The quarters weighed5.75 grams. Silver clad coins have outer layers of 80% s
ilver and 20% copper bonded to an inner coreof 20.9% silver and 79.1% copper. Th
eir overall composition is 40% silver and 60% copper. Thissilver clad material h
ad been used previously in the minting of the 1965 1970 40% silver Kennedyhalf d
ollars.In 1992 the United States Mint resumed production of coins with pre-1965
compositions of 90% silver and 10% copper. These coins were minted for inclusion
in Proof Sets and were not intended for use ingeneral circulation. All of the s
ilver Proof coins have been minted at the San Francisco meant, so theyall bear t
he S mint mark.The intrinsic value of quarters produced from 1873 1964 is about
$6.19.
HALF DOLLAR
The half dollar coin has been minted since 1794, two years earlier than the dime
and quarter.
YEARS DESIGN WEIGHT COMPOSITION
1794 1795 Flowing Hair 13.48 g 89.24% Silver, 10.76% Copper
1796 1797,1801 - 1807 Draped Bust 13.48 g 89.24% Silver, 10.76% Copper
1807 1836 Capped Bust 13.48 g 89.24% Silver, 10.76% Copper
1836 1839 Capped Bust 13.36 g 90% Silver, 10% Copper
1839 1853 Seated Liberty 13.36 g 90% Silver, 10% Copper
1853 1873 Seated Liberty 12.44 g 90% Silver, 10% Copper
1873 1891 Seated Liberty 12.50 g 90% Silver, 10% Copper
1892 1915 Barber 12.50 g 90% Silver, 10% Copper 1916 1947 Walking Liberty
12.50 g 90% Silver, 10% Copper
1948 1963 Franklin 12.50 g 90% Silver, 10% Copper 1964 Kennedy 12.50 g 90%
Silver, 10% Copper
1965 1970 Kennedy 11.50 g 40% silver, 60% copper*
1971 current Kennedy 11.34 g 91.67% copper, 8.33% nickel**
* silver clad coins have outer layers of 80% silver and 20% copper bonded to an
inner core of 20.9%silver and 79.1% copper. Their overall composition is 40% sil
ver and 60% copper.
** In 1965, due to the increasing cost of silver, the US Mint changed the compos
ition of its silver coinsto a clad material. The clad coins have outer layers ma
de on an alloy of 75% copper and 25% nickel bonded to a pure copper core. The ov
erall composition is 91.67% copper and 8.33% nickel.
There were some special Bicentennial coins minted in 1975 1976. They were all da
ted 1776 1976with the S mint mark. They were silver clad and sold in 3 coin Mint
Sets and Proof Sets that containeda silver clad Washington quarter, Kennedy hal
f dollar and Eisenhower dollar. The half dollars weighed11.50 grams. Silver clad
coins have outer layers of 80% silver and 20% copper bonded to an inner coreof
20.9% silver and 79.1% copper. Their overall composition is 40% silver and 60% c
opper.In 1992 the United States Mint resumed production of coins with pre-1965 c
ompositions of 90% silver and 10% copper. These coins were minted for inclusion
in Proof Sets and were not intended for use ingeneral circulation. All of the si
lver Proof coins have been minted at the San Francisco meant, so theyall bear th
e S mint mark.The intrinsic value of half dollars produced from 1892 1964 is abo
ut $12.39. The 40% Kennedy half dollars minted from 1965 1970 are worth about $5
.06.
DOLLARs, like half dollars, been minted since 1794.
YEARS DESIGN WEIGHT COMPOSITION
1794 1795 Flowing Hair 26.96 g 89.24% Silver, 10.76% Copper
1795 1804 Draped Bust 26.96 g 89.24% Silver, 10.76% Copper
1836 1839 Gobrecht 26.73 g 90% Silver, 10% Copper

1840 1873 Seated Liberty 26.73 g 90% Silver, 10% Copper

1873 1885 Trade Dollar 27.22 g 90% Silver, 10% Copper
1878 1904,1921 Morgan 26.73 g 90% Silver, 10% Copper
1921 1928,1934 - 1935 Peace 26.73 g 90% Silver, 10% Copper
1971 1976 Eisenhower 24.59 g 40% silver, 60% copper*
1971 1978 Eisenhower 22.68 g 91.67% copper, 8.33% nickel**
1979 1981,1999 Susan B. Anthony 8.1 g 91.67% copper, 8.33% nickel**
2000 current Sacagawea / Native American 8.1g copper, zinc, manganese, nickel*
**
2007 2016? Presidential 8.1 g copper, zinc, manganese, nickel***
* silver clad coins have outer layers of 80% silver and 20% copper bonded to an
inner core of 20.9%silver and 79.1% copper. Their overall composition is 40% sil
ver and 60% copper.
** In 1965, due to the increasing cost of silver, the US Mint changed the compos
ition of its silver coinsto a clad material. The clad coins have outer layers ma
de on an alloy of 75% copper and 25% nickel bonded to a pure copper core. The ov
erall composition is 91.67% copper and 8.33% nickel.
*** The Sacagawea dollar is a clad coin. The outer layers are a specially design
ed manganese brassalloy that provides the unique golden color. The outer layers
are bonded to a pure copper core. Theouter layers are composed of 77% copper, 12
% zinc, 7% manganese and 4% nickel. The overallcomposition is 88.5% copper, 6.0%
zinc, 3.5% manganese and 2.0% nickel. The Sacagawea dollar hasevolved into a se
ries of Native American dollars. The 2000 2008 dollars featured a flying eagle o
nthe coins reverse. Beginning with the 2009 dollar, the reverse is being changed
each year to celebratean important contribution of Native Americans. This series
is scheduled to continue through at least2016. There is also a Presidential dol
lar series in current production. These dollars are made from thesame material a
s the Sacagawea dollars. Four presidents are honored each year. The US Mints curr
ent production schedule only includes presidents through Gerald Ford, to be mint
ed in 2016. It is notknown whether this series will be continued for the 39th (C
arter) through 44th (Obama) presidents and beyond.There were some special Bicent
ennial coins minted in 1975 1976. They were all dated 1776 1976with the S mint m
ark. They were silver clad and sold in 3 coin Mint Sets and Proof Sets that cont
aineda silver clad Washington quarter, Kennedy half dollar and Eisenhower dollar
. The dollars weighed24.59 grams. Silver clad coins have outer layers of 80% sil
ver and 20% copper bonded to an inner coreof 20.9% silver and 79.1% copper. Thei
r overall composition is 40% silver and 60% copper.The intrinsic value of the Mo
rgan & Peace dollars is currently about $26.51 each. The silver cladEisenhower d
ollars are worth about $10.84.Clearly, the simple system of minting coins with f
ace values equal to their intrinsic values no longer works in our modern world.
Constantly evolving technology drives changes in demand for rawmaterials. Old su
pplies are depleted and new sources discovered. Other factors such as political
issuescontribute to metal markets where prices change on a daily basis. Even our
current cent, re-alloyed in1982 to a 97.5% zinc and 2.5% copper composition, is
worth over a half cent in metal content. Thenickels intrinsic value is over face
value at $0.0584 cents, and they are still being produced.The chart below shows
the metal composition and current metal value of the coins being produced for g
eneral circulation by the United States Mint.
FACE VALUE
INTRINSIC VAL
INTRINSIC%FACE
Cent$
0.01$
0.0057
57.33%
Nickel
0.05 0.0584 116.93%
Dime
0.10 0.0216
21.68%
Quarter
0.25
0.0542
21.69%
Halfdollr 0.50
0.1084
21.69%
Sacagawea dolr
1.00
0.0062
06.62%
Presidential dolr
1.00
0.0062
06.62%
This table is based on values at the beginning of February 2012, with copper at
$3.85 / lb., zinc at $0.96/ lb., nickel at $9.65 / lb., and manganese at $1.40 /
lb.

The information contained in this document is believed to be correct, however, t

his information should be used only as a guide and should not be relied upon to
be accurate. The reader is advised to verifyany information presented herein bef
ore using it for any purpose.FrugalRefiner February 6, 201