When Did They Make Silver Quarters & What Years to Know
Explore the history of US silver quarters, learn when they were minted, and find out how to identify them.
The quarter is a familiar coin, but its history includes a significant change in composition. United States quarters were once primarily made of silver, a practice that shifted due to economic factors. This evolution often sparks curiosity about which quarters contain silver and why the change occurred. Understanding these historical adjustments provides insight into the intrinsic value of older coins compared to their modern counterparts.
The Era of Silver Quarters
For a significant period, United States quarters circulated with substantial silver content. From their initial minting in 1796 until 1964, quarters were predominantly composed of 90% silver and 10% copper. This composition gave them an intrinsic metal value that often exceeded their face value and applied to various quarter designs.
Popular series, such as the Barber quarters (1892-1916) and Standing Liberty quarters (1916-1930), were struck with this 90% silver alloy. The most recognizable silver quarter in general circulation is the Washington quarter, which began production in 1932 and continued with 90% silver content until 1964. These coins were a standard part of the nation’s currency.
The Transition to Clad Quarters
The regular production of 90% silver quarters for general circulation concluded in 1964. This shift was driven by rising silver prices in the early 1960s, which caused the melt value of silver coins to exceed their face value. As silver costs increased, people hoarded silver coins, removing them from circulation and leading to a coin shortage. This economic pressure necessitated a change in coinage composition.
President Lyndon B. Johnson signed the Coinage Act of 1965 into law on July 23, 1965. This legislation eliminated silver from circulating dimes and quarters. Starting in 1965, new quarters were produced with a copper-nickel clad composition, consisting of a pure copper core bonded between outer layers of a copper-nickel alloy. This change marked the end of silver quarters, with modern quarters now composed of 91.67% copper and 8.33% nickel.
How to Identify Silver Quarters
Identifying whether a quarter contains silver is straightforward. The most reliable method involves examining the coin’s mintage year; any quarter dated 1964 or earlier is composed of 90% silver. This date check is the primary indicator for silver content.
Another identification technique involves inspecting the coin’s edge. Silver quarters display a uniform silver color along their edge, without visible lines of different metals. Modern clad quarters, minted from 1965 onward, reveal a distinct copper stripe along their side. Additionally, silver quarters tend to be slightly heavier, weighing 6.25 grams compared to the 5.67 grams of clad quarters, and may produce a higher-pitched ringing sound when dropped.
Notable Exceptions and Collectibles
While 1964 marked the end of silver quarters for general circulation, certain silver quarters have been produced for collectors since then. The United States Mint issued special Bicentennial quarters in 1975 and 1976, commemorating the 200th anniversary of the Declaration of Independence. Most Bicentennial quarters in circulation are copper-nickel clad, but a special collector’s version was minted with 40% silver content. These 1776-1976 dated quarters often bear an “S” mintmark for San Francisco, indicating their special composition.
The U.S. Mint resumed producing 90% silver quarters for collector’s proof sets starting in 1992. These modern silver proof quarters are not intended for general circulation but are made for numismatists. This includes silver versions of the popular State Quarters, National Park Quarters, and America the Beautiful Quarters series. These collectible issues maintain the 90% silver and 10% copper composition, distinguishing them from their circulating clad counterparts.