# Silver Canadian Coinage

**URL:** <https://boards.straightdope.com/t/silver-canadian-coinage/573346>\
**Category:** Factual Questions\
**Created:** [March 3, 2011, 2:48pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/silver-canadian-coinage/573346 "2011-03-03T14:48:56Z")\
**Posts on this page:** 5\
**Page:** 1

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**Author:** ![HeyHomie](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/heyhomie/32/207_2.png) [@HeyHomie](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/HeyHomie)\
**Post date:** [March 3, 2011, 2:48pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/silver-canadian-coinage/573346/1 "2011-03-03T14:48:56Z")

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Is there a quick & easy way to tell 1858-1919 Canadian dimes (92.5% silver) from 1920-1967 Canadian dimes (80% silver) without looking at the date? On a lot of my coins, the date is all but worn off.

Thanks.

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**Author:** ![Raygun99](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/r/6f9a4e/32.png) [@Raygun99](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Raygun99)\
**Post date:** [March 3, 2011, 2:59pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/silver-canadian-coinage/573346/2 "2011-03-03T14:59:11Z")

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The Bluenose was added to the reverse in 1937, so that’s one way to eliminate a chunk. Unfortunately that’s the same year George VI was put on the obverse so there’s no help there.

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**Author:** ![samclem](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/a9a28c/32.png) [@samclem](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/samclem)\
**Post date:** [March 4, 2011, 12:57am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/silver-canadian-coinage/573346/3 "2011-03-04T00:57:12Z")

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> [@HeyHomie](#):
>
> Is there a quick & easy way to tell 1858-1919 Canadian dimes (92.5% silver) from 1920-1967 Canadian dimes (80% silver) without looking at the date? On a lot of my coins, the date is all but worn off.
> 
> Thanks.

Nope.

BTW, the 1967’s are .500 fine silver.

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**Author:** ![Northern\_Piper](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/northern_piper/32/5304_2.png) [@Northern\_Piper](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Northern_Piper)\
**Post date:** [March 4, 2011, 4:56am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/silver-canadian-coinage/573346/4 "2011-03-04T04:56:17Z")

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if they’ve got Vicki or Eddie on them, they’re pre-1920.

if they’ve got Colin Firth or Lizzie, they’re post 1920.

The only problem is Georgie, since his reign crossed over 1920.

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**Author:** ![Uncertain](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/u/6a8cbe/32.png) [@Uncertain](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Uncertain)\
**Post date:** [March 4, 2011, 5:00am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/silver-canadian-coinage/573346/5 "2011-03-04T05:00:41Z")

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Eureka!