Silver Quarters. The US Quarter Value Guide.

When you look at  a silver quarter, it appears to be made of silver — but modern quarters are actually made of alloy metals instead of pure silver like they were back in the day. If you’re looking to begin or grow a quarter collection, you may need to know what year quarters are silver so you can purchase the right coins without getting duped. Not sure where to start? Read on to learn more about silver quarters, what year quarters are silver and how to determine silver quarter rarity.

When Did the U.S. Stop Minting Silver Quarters?

In the U.S.,  silver quarters were minted from 1796 to 1964. Therefore, if you have any standard U.S. Quarter with a mint date between those years, it’s made with pure silver.

However, this all changed with the Coinage Act of 1965. In July of that year, silver was eliminated from all circulating U.S. dime and quarter dollar coins. Furthermore, the silver dollar's silver content was cut from 90% to 40%.

This was due to coin shortages that started in 1959. Since the U.S. treasury did not have as much silver as was needed, the Mint stopped using silver for standard dollars, reserving it for other coins or for bullion coins instead.

The Coinage Act of 1965 was quickly passed through Congress under the Lyndon B. Johnson administration. New silver quarters began entering circulation in late 1965 to eliminate quarter shortages across the country. Furthermore, the Treasury tried to collect real silver quarters to prevent them from being lost.

These days, real silver quarters are valuable collectors’ items and can oftentimes be worth much more than $.25!

What Is the Pure Silver Content in a Standard Washington Quarter Dollar?

If you have a standard Washington quarter dollar made of silver (i.e., minted before 1965), it is made of 90% silver. These 90% silver quarters contain 0.18084 troy ounces of silver. If you have one of these quarters, it’s worth more than $.25, and its melt value or spot value may be much more.

What Other Materials Are Used by the U.S. Mint To Make Quarters?

In the U.S. today, typical quarters are made not just with silver but with other materials. Most quarters and dimes are made with a layer of copper which is nested inside several layers of a nickel-copper alloy. The outside of a quarter, called the bread, is another nickel-copper alloy that is colored silver which is not actually pure silver at all. The innermost filling or layer of a quarter is copper.

The U.S. Mint uses these materials to strengthen standard quarters so they last for longer. In addition, this allows the U.S.'s limited supply of silver to be used for other coins or other purposes.

Are There Any Physical Signs That a U.S. Quarter Contains Silver Bullion?

What if you can’t find the mint date for a U.S. quarter, so you can't tell if it was minted in 1965 or before? You can tell that your coin contains silver bullion by what the quarter looks like.

Specifically, check the edge of a quarter and see if it has a solid silver stripe. If so, it’s likely that the quarter was minted in 1964 or before and has silver bullion. However, if the edge of the coin features a copper straight, it’s more likely that the quarter is clad or made with the above material mixture.

What Makes a Rare Silver Quarter?

As you look through your collection of silver quarters, some may be rarer than others. There are a few different attributes that can impact a silver quarter's rarity and value.

The Mint Mark

The mint mark is a letter on a quarter that indicates where the coin was made or minted. The mint mark also tells you, generally speaking, in what years the quarter was minted, as the U.S. Mint used different locations to mint coins in different time periods.

For example, Carson City (CC) was used to mint quarters between 1870 and 1893. Meanwhile, West Point (N.Y.) has been used to mint quarters from 1984 to the present day. Generally, mint marks indicating older age correlate with increased silver quarter rarity.

Face Value vs. Melt Value vs. Market Value and the Price of Silver Coins

You’ll also want to consider the face value of your silver quarter compared to the melt value and market value.

The face value, of course, is $.25. It’s what each coin is minted for and what its value represents on the market. However, the melt value is the value of the pure silver contained in the quarter. It’s the money you can make from selling the coin to someone who melts it down for other purposes.

The melt value is highly correlated and usually identical to the market value of silver coins. The market or spot value is the current market price for pure silver on the commodities market. Naturally, the market value of silver can fluctuate with silver stores and the availability of the metal around the world.

Uncirculated Silver Coins

Any silver coins or quarters that were uncirculated are usually more valuable than those that were circulated. Uncirculated or bullion collectors’ silver quarters are in better condition and are more likely to be made with a higher concentration of pure silver than circulated quarters.

However, uncirculated silver coins may also have been kept from circulation because of mint errors. Mint errors can be very valuable in and of themselves, especially if they occur with valuable or rare coins.

United States Mint Errors

In addition, many collectors highly value silver quarters that contain U.S. Mint errors. These include errors in the quarter's design, date, or other features. These don’t impact the market value for any silver quarters, but they are fun quirks and features that make some coins stand out for their uniqueness!

Different coins are subject to different mint errors. Mint errors can come in many different types, ranging from misprints of designs to coins being cut improperly and more.

What About Silver Dollar Coins?

Much of the above information is also applicable to U.S. silver dollar coins. However, silver dollar coins are still made with a majority of pure silver, as opposed to quarters and dimes. Silver dollar coins can be valued based on their face value or their market value, which tends to be higher than the face value of one buck because they usually come with more pure silver.

Add Rare Quarters to Your Coin Collection

Overall, silver quarters were minted from 1796 to 1964. If you have quarters from these years, you have real silver coins in your collection already! But if you want to grow your collection and pick up some new quarters from this timeframe, Bullion Shark can help.

We’re experienced and knowledgeable coin dealers with the best selection of silver dollars, silver quarters, and similar coins for you to check out. Discover the most popular coins that every collector needs and find your wishlist-worthy piece today.

FAQ

What is a silver quarter?

A silver quarter is a United States quarter that was made primarily of silver. Up until 1964, U.S. quarters were composed of 90% silver and 10% copper.

Which quarters are made of silver?

U.S. quarters minted in or before 1964 are made of 90% silver. Additionally, some special edition and proof quarters minted after 1964 are also made of silver, such as those from the 50 State Quarters program, available in silver proof sets.

How can I tell if my quarter is silver?

Look at the edge of the quarter. Silver quarters will have no sandwich-like copper layer visible; they will appear all silver throughout. You can also check the year; quarters minted in 1964 or earlier are made of silver.

What are silver quarters worth?

Most silver quarters, those minted in 1964 or earlier, are worth their silver melt value, which varies with the silver market (often several times their face value). Quarters in collectible condition or key dates can be worth significantly more.

Why are 1964 quarters valuable?

1964 was the last year U.S. quarters were made of 90% silver, which gives them intrinsic metal value. Additionally, high-grade examples or those with errors may have numismatic value.

What is the rarest silver quarter?

Some of the rarest silver quarters include the 1932-D and 1932-S Washington quarters, due to their low mintage numbers.

How much silver is in a silver quarter?

A standard pre-1965 silver quarter contains approximately 0.18084 troy ounces of silver.

What year silver quarters are most valuable?

Early quarters like the 1932-D and 1932-S Washington quarters are among the most valuable. However, condition and errors also play a significant role in a coin’s value.

Can you still find silver quarters in circulation?

While it’s rare, it is still possible to find silver quarters in circulation. Coin roll hunting—buying rolls of coins from banks and searching through them—has become a popular hobby for those looking to find silver quarters.

How should I store and care for my silver quarters?

Silver quarters should be stored in a cool, dry place. For best preservation, use coin holders, tubes, or albums designed for coin collection to prevent damage and reduce exposure to air and moisture.

Sources:

History of Coinage in the U.S. | Investopedia

100 Years of Silver Dollar Coinage, 1878-1978 | United States Mint

Inside the Mint | United States Mint

Mint Marks | United States Mint