What Does .999 Silver Clad Mean?

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Written By Natasha Jones
I'm Natasha Jones, an avid collector of coins, stamps, and paper money.My passion drives me to seek unique finds, from antique shops to international exchanges.I enjoy connecting with fellow collectors through forums and meet-ups, sharing discoveries and insights.Collecting, for me, is about preserving history and building a community around this shared interest.

Clad coins are a form of currency comprised of two different metals.

The first metal is gold, silver, or platinum, and the second is one of three types; nickel, copper, or zinc. So what does this mean for you?

These coins can be used as legal tender in the United States! So what exactly does .999 silver clad mean?

Let’s dive into this question and learn more about it:

What Does .999 Silver Clad Mean?

.999 Silver Clad

A .999 silver-clad coin is a coin that’s made of a base metal core, usually made of nickel, that has been covered in pure silver.

The U.S. Mint used to produce 90% silver content on their Kennedy half-dollars before 1965, but due to the price of silver going up, they decided to make it 40% from 1956-1969.

This is one of the reasons why collectors seek silver-clad coins due to their rarity.

Are Silver Clad and Clad Coins the Same?

So, what’s the difference between a clad coin and a silver-clad coin? The short answer is that they’re not the same.

A clad coin has an outer layer of copper and nickel bonded to its surface, whereas a silver-clad coin has an outer layer of .999 fine silver bonded to its surface.

This means that all silver denominations in .999 fine are called “silverclads” or “silver-clad coins” rather than just plain “class.”

They may look like regular coins at first glance, but they have different inscriptions on their faces and are heavier than what you might expect from the denomination.

What is the Difference Between a Silver Clad and a Clad Coin?

.999 Silver Clad

There are a few differences between silver-clad coins and clad coins. These are some of the differences:

  • Sound – A silver-clad coin makes high pitch noises when dropped, while clad coins produce a dull sound when dropped.
  • Appearance – Since clad coins are usually made with copper, they tend to be more of a copper color when they age, and silver-clad coins tend to tarnish over time.
  • Weight – Silver-clad coins are way heavier than clad coins due to their silver content.
  • Edge – Clad coins tend to have different toned edges due to the copper-toned core, while silver-clad coins do not have a different color on their edges.

Are Silver Clad Coins More Valuable than Clad Coins?

Silver coins are much more valuable than clad coins due to their silver content.

Since silver coins have a purity of 90% silver, they are much more likely to be more valuable than clad coins.

That’s why collectors seek these kinds of coins due to their value.

Where to Buy Silver Clad Coins

Buying silver-clad coins is not a complicated process.

To ensure you get what you pay for, follow these simple steps:

  • Buy from a reputable seller. Scammers are always on the prowl, so be careful when making online purchases. Refrain from trusting anyone who seems too eager to sell their items or asks for personal information before shipping your order!
  • Look for a seller with good ratings and reviews from previous customers. It’s also important that the seller has a good return policy if something goes wrong during shipping or receiving your item(s). After all, nothing is worse than being unable to return an item because it was broken in transit or didn’t work as advertised! If there are no returns available with this particular merchant, ask yourself if this is another red flag. You know what they say about fooling me once.
  • Ask for free shipping on top of competitive pricing options such as coupons/discount codes whenever possible since this will save time and money while ensuring quality products arrive safely at home without hassle!

Before you go…

Buying silver-clad coins is a simple process. The best place to start is with a reputable coin dealer, like APMEX or Coin World Mints. I hope this article helped you answer your questions on silver-clad coins! Happy collecting!

Check out my next article: “What are Clad Coins? Should You Collect Them?

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