Quater/Half Dollar Question....

just half dollars in that period.

Halfs produced between 1965 and 1970 are 40% silver

Well coinKat,

The 63's and 64's are 90% silver. The US silver coinage dates 1964 and below.

A few years ago I decided I wanted to collect coins but had no clue, so I just started keeping anything before 90 & many of the special commemorative quarters that floated through my pockets.....

I recently cashed in all "regular" coins, (90 or newer) but kept anything before 80 & also the commemorative ones (pennies, nickles & quarters).

I don't know how to grade them, but they are all circulated to some degree.

I am pretty excited as I used the "proceeds" to purchase some Peace & Morgan dollars (circulated). I expect them to be arrive early next week.

I do have a few rolls of Presidential dollars & have a few rolls of quarters that appear to be a single state.

"The Official RedBook, A Guide Book of United States coins", Whitman Publishing, LLC, is arguably the best book to buy to get you started on grading coins. It may not be definitive, but it does give you great history and a good start on how coins are rated as well as brief definitions of grade by issue for a relatively small price.
It is published annually and you can find used editions a few years old for a low price.

My opinion is that you are moving in the right direction by converting your "regular" collection into PM but you may want to have a well recognized standard (The RedBook) to help you cherry-pick your "regular" collection. You may find some small gems. The members on this forum will help you if you post picks of coins you may think are valuable.

I am not the only person here who has found some remarkable and valuable coins in circulation or has benefited from the feedback of this forum.

It does not take long to gain expertise in this hobby. A little bit of reading and some interaction with people who have been collecting for a long time will yield dividends. You will probably not become wealthy by collecting coins but you may, at the least, learn to collect coins that retain value.

For the most part, I don't consider my collection an investment. There are a few that I collect for that reason but the majority I collect are just for the fun of it.

My vision is degrading - I need a 10x magnifier to see dates and mint marks. I do use it in place of glasses.

A 20x magnifier is better in some cases.

If you have a digital camera that can do macro photography and you even half learn how to use it, you may find it better and more fun.