What Is the Last Year of Silver Quarters?

United States quarters reflect changes in economic conditions and metal availability. Their composition has evolved, prompting many to wonder which quarters contain silver. Understanding these coins and shifts in their production provides insight into their historical context and significance.

Identifying Silver Quarters

Identifying a silver quarter primarily involves checking its mint date. Any U.S. quarter minted in 1964 or earlier is composed of 90% silver and 10% copper. Beyond the date, a physical inspection of the coin’s edge can provide confirmation. Silver quarters will exhibit a uniform silver appearance along their edge, lacking the distinct copper stripe visible on modern clad coins.

Another indicator is the coin’s weight and sound. A silver quarter typically weighs 6.25 grams, while a modern clad quarter weighs slightly less at 5.67 grams. When dropped on a hard surface, a silver quarter often produces a higher-pitched, more resonant ring compared to the duller sound of a clad coin.

The Shift to Clad Coinage

The last year that circulating U.S. quarters were made of 90% silver was 1964. This marked a significant turning point in American coinage, driven by economic pressures and a growing coin shortage. The rising market price of silver began to exceed the face value of the coins, leading individuals to hoard silver quarters and dimes for their metal content. This widespread hoarding exacerbated the coin shortage that had been developing since 1959.

To address these issues, President Lyndon B. Johnson signed the Coinage Act of 1965 into law on July 23, 1965. This act eliminated silver from circulating dimes and quarters and reduced the silver content of half dollars from 90% to 40%. The new quarters, introduced in late 1965, were made of a copper-nickel clad composition. This change ensured that the intrinsic metal value of the coins remained below their face value, discouraging hoarding and alleviating the coin shortage.

Modern Silver Quarters

While 1964 was the final year for 90% silver circulating quarters, quarters containing silver have been produced for collectors since that time. These are distinct from regular circulating coinage and are typically not encountered in everyday transactions. Such coins include special commemorative issues and proof sets. For instance, some special collector’s versions of the Bicentennial quarters in 1976 contained 40% silver.

Beginning in 1992, the U.S. Mint started producing 90% silver proof sets for collectors, which included quarters. More recently, silver proof quarters in series like the 50 State Quarters, National Park, and America the Beautiful programs have been minted with 90% or even 99.9% silver content. These modern silver quarters are numismatic products, produced in limited quantities for collectors.