The U.S. Mint began striking clad versions of coins formerly made of 90% silver in 1965. Other clad coinage followed.
COURTESY OF PROFESSIONAL COIN GRADING SERVICE,
PCGS.COM
T
he year 2025 marks the 60th anniversary of the United States Mint’s production of copper-nickel clad coinage. Rising silver prices in the early 1960s led to the widespread hoarding of 90% silver coinage, making it more valuable as bullion than spending money.
The Coinage Act of 1965 mandated the removal of silver from circulating dimes and quarters and reduction of silver content in the half dollar from 90% to 40%. Half dollars went to a cupro-nickel clad format in 1971 with the passage of a 1970 coinage law that also authorized the creation of the Eisenhower dollar— the largest copper-nickel clad ever struck for circulation in the United States to date.