What Year Quarters Have Silver in Them?
Learn to identify valuable silver U.S. quarters and understand the historical reasons behind their changing metal content.
The composition of U.S. quarters has changed significantly over time. Understanding which quarters contain silver is relevant for collectors, those interested in precious metals, or anyone curious about the money in their pocket. This information helps distinguish common coinage from those with intrinsic metal value.
Years Quarters Contained Silver
U.S. quarters were minted with substantial silver content for a considerable period. All standard circulating quarters produced from 1796 through 1964 contained 90% silver and 10% copper. This includes Washington quarters minted from 1932 to 1964. Each of these 90% silver quarters contains approximately 0.1808 troy ounces of pure silver.
A significant change occurred in 1965, after which circulating quarters no longer contained silver. Any standard quarter dated 1965 or later is composed of a copper-nickel alloy.
However, some special commemorative quarters issued after 1964 do contain silver. For instance, certain proof sets released by the U.S. Mint starting in 1992 contained 90% silver quarters for collectors. Additionally, a specific version of the 1976 Bicentennial quarter, identifiable by an “S” mint mark, was minted with 40% silver for collector sets. These special issues are generally not found in everyday circulation.
Methods for Identifying Silver Quarters
Identifying a silver quarter involves several practical steps. The most straightforward method is to check the minting year; any quarter dated 1964 or earlier is composed of 90% silver. This date check is the primary indicator for determining silver content in circulating quarters.
Another reliable method is examining the coin’s edge. Silver quarters have a solid, consistent silver color along their entire edge, with no visible lines of different metals. In contrast, modern clad quarters feature a distinct copper stripe running through the middle of their edge. This visual difference is often easy to spot.
The “ping test” or sound test can also help differentiate silver from clad quarters. When gently dropped onto a hard surface, a silver quarter produces a higher-pitched, more resonant ringing sound. A clad quarter, due to its copper core, emits a duller thud. This auditory cue can provide a strong indication.
Weight differences offer another clue; silver quarters are slightly heavier than their modern counterparts. A 90% silver quarter weighs approximately 6.25 grams, whereas a modern clad quarter weighs about 5.67 grams. Although this difference may be subtle without a precise scale, it contributes to the overall identification. Furthermore, silver coins tend to have a distinct luster and can tarnish over time, appearing differently from the brighter, more uniform shine of copper-nickel clad coins.
Compositional Changes in Quarters
The transition from silver to copper-nickel clad quarters was largely driven by economic factors and enacted through the Coinage Act of 1965. In the early 1960s, the market price of silver began to rise significantly, eventually exceeding the face value of the coins. This led to widespread hoarding of silver coins by the public, as their melt value surpassed their monetary value.
The resulting coin shortage made it challenging for the U.S. Mint to meet the demand for circulating currency. To address these issues and ensure a stable supply of coinage, President Lyndon B. Johnson signed the Coinage Act of 1965. This legislation removed silver from quarters entirely.
The term “clad” refers to coins made from multiple layers of different metals bonded together. For quarters, this meant a core of pure copper sandwiched between outer layers of a copper-nickel alloy. This new composition allowed for the production of more durable and cost-effective coins, ensuring their continued use without reliance on fluctuating silver prices.