Coin silver is a specific historical silver alloy widely utilized by American silversmiths, particularly during the 19th century. This material was the standard for producing domestic items like flatware, hollowware, and jewelry in the United States before the widespread adoption of the Sterling standard. The name hints at the source material that established its composition, a practice born of necessity in the early days of the nation.
The Standard Purity and Alloy
Coin silver is defined by a composition of 90% silver and 10% base metal, usually copper. This ratio results in a millesimal fineness of .900. This standard was formally established for United States coinage by the Coinage Act of 1837.
Pure silver (.999 fineness) is too soft and malleable for objects requiring daily use and structural integrity. The inclusion of 10% copper significantly increases the metal’s hardness and durability, making it resistant to dents and scratches. This alloy provides a functional balance between high precious metal content and necessary physical strength.
The .900 standard is slightly lower in purity than the internationally recognized Sterling silver standard (.925 fineness). While the physical properties of the two alloys are similar, the .900 alloy was less expensive to produce and easier to work with for many silversmiths of the era.
Why It’s Called Coin Silver
The alloy earned its name because the source material for finished goods was literally silver coinage. During the 18th and early 19th centuries in the nascent United States, refined silver bullion was not readily available for silversmiths to purchase. Silversmiths commonly relied on customers to bring in silver coins, both foreign and domestic, to be melted down and repurposed into new objects.
This practice meant that the silver content of the resulting items was dictated by the purity of the circulating currency. Since U.S. silver coins were minted at a .900 standard, this became the established fineness for American-made silver goods.
Before the U.S. Mint standardized its currency, silversmiths also melted down foreign coins, such as Spanish Eight Reales, which had a high silver content. The term “coin silver” became a practical designation indicating the item was made from silver metal of the purity typical of circulating coins.
Identifying Coin Silver Markings
Identifying coin silver often involves looking for specific hallmarks or stamps placed on the piece by the silversmith. Unlike the modern “Sterling” mark (.925 fineness), coin silver items were marked with terms that referred to their source or standard.
Common markings include:
- “COIN”
- “PURE COIN”
- “DOLLAR”
- “STANDARD” (used to differentiate the .900 purity from the higher Sterling standard)
Occasionally, the fineness itself is stamped onto the object, appearing as “.900” or “900/1000.” These markings are the clearest physical evidence of the alloy’s composition.
Many of the oldest coin silver pieces, especially those made before formal marking became common, may only carry the maker’s mark or initials. In the absence of a purity stamp, identification relies on historical documentation and stylistic analysis. The use of these specific coin-related markings largely ceased in the United States when the Sterling standard became the preferred commercial designation after the Civil War.