What Quarters Were Made of Silver?
Learn about the U.S. quarters that once contained silver, their metallic composition, and the historical reasons for changes in their makeup.
United States quarters have a rich history, and their metallic composition has changed significantly over time. While modern quarters are made from a combination of copper and nickel, earlier versions contained precious metals.
Identifying Silver Quarters
To determine if a U.S. quarter contains silver, the most straightforward method is to check its date. Quarters minted in 1964 or earlier are silver. These older coins can also be identified by examining their edge; silver quarters will have a uniformly silver edge, unlike modern clad quarters which display a visible copper layer.
Another way to distinguish silver quarters is by their sound. When dropped on a hard surface, silver quarters tend to produce a higher-pitched, more resonant ring compared to the duller sound of copper-nickel clad coins. Additionally, silver quarters are slightly heavier than their modern counterparts. A 90% silver quarter weighs approximately 6.25 grams, while a clad quarter weighs about 5.67 grams.
Beyond the pre-1965 issues, a few special quarters also contain silver. Notably, certain 1976-S Bicentennial quarters were struck with 40% silver and can be identified by an “S” mintmark on the coin. Since 1992, the U.S. Mint has also produced silver proof sets containing quarters for collectors, which are typically 90% silver and bear an “S” mintmark.
The Silver Content
Quarters minted in 1964 and earlier contain a significant amount of silver, specifically 90% pure silver, with the remaining 10% being copper. This composition means that each pre-1965 quarter holds approximately 0.1808 troy ounces of pure silver.
For the special 1976-S Bicentennial quarters, the silver content was reduced to 40% silver and 60% copper. Later silver proof quarters, issued for collectors from 1992 onward, typically revert to a 90% silver composition, mirroring the purity of the pre-1965 circulating coins.
Historical Context of Composition Change
The decision to remove silver from circulating U.S. coinage was driven by economic pressures in the mid-20th century. By the early 1960s, the market price of silver began to rise, approaching and eventually exceeding the face value of the coins. This situation led to widespread hoarding and melting of silver dimes, quarters, and half dollars, as their metallic value surpassed their monetary value.
To address the resulting coin shortages and prevent further depletion of the nation’s silver reserves, Congress passed the Coinage Act of 1965. This legislation officially eliminated silver from dimes and quarters, transitioning them to a copper-nickel clad composition. While half dollars initially retained a 40% silver content under this act, silver was eventually removed from all circulating coinage in subsequent years.