How Much Is a Silver Quarter Worth?
If you just found a jar of old quarters and want to know how much cash they hold, here is the bottom line: every US quarter dated 1964 or earlier is 90% silver, and each one contains 0.1808 troy ounces of pure silver. At a silver spot price of $32 per ounce, that is about $5.79 of silver melt value per coin - regardless of whether the coin shows wear. Anything dated 1965 or later is copper-nickel "clad" and contains no silver at all. Enter your coin count in the calculator above to get the live melt value; read on to identify which quarters are silver and which ones are worth more than melt.
Quarters dated 1964 and earlier are 90% silver. Quarters dated 1965 and later are "clad" (copper-nickel) and contain zero silver. The only exceptions are special silver proof sets issued for collectors in later years.
Exact Silver Content of a 90% Quarter
- Total coin weight: 6.25 grams (when new)
- Composition: 90% silver, 10% copper
- Pure silver weight: 5.625 grams
- Pure silver content: 0.1808 troy ounces per coin
- Face value: $0.25
Worn coins lose a tiny fraction of a gram, so the silver industry standard assumes 0.1808 troy oz for an average circulated 90% quarter.
Which Quarters Are Silver? Every Pre-1965 Series
Three quarter designs were struck in 90% silver:
- Barber Quarter (1892-1916) - designed by Charles Barber, showing Liberty in a cap. All dates are 90% silver.
- Standing Liberty Quarter (1916-1930) - a full-figure Liberty design. All are 90% silver.
- Washington Quarter (1932-1964) - the George Washington portrait still used today, but the 1932-1964 coins are 90% silver while 1965+ are clad.
The $1.40 Rule for Silver Quarters
Coin dealers use a quick shortcut called the "$1.40 rule" (sometimes "times 1.4 face"). It comes from the fact that $1.00 of face value in 90% silver coins contains about 0.715 troy ounces of silver. For quarters specifically: four quarters = $1.00 face = roughly 0.7232 troy oz of silver (4 x 0.1808). So to estimate value fast, take the face value of your quarters and multiply by the silver spot price, then by about 0.715.
Example: you have $5.00 in face value of silver quarters (20 coins). That is 20 x 0.1808 = 3.616 troy oz of silver. At $32 spot: 3.616 x $32 = $115.71. Using the shortcut: $5.00 x 0.715 x $32 = $114.40 - close enough for a quick check.
Two fast tests: (1) Read the date - 1964 or earlier is silver, 1965 or later is clad. (2) Check the edge - hold the coin sideways and look at the rim. A solid silver-gray edge means 90% silver; a coppery-orange stripe sandwiched in the middle means it is clad with no silver. Silver quarters also have a higher-pitched "ring" when dropped than the dull thud of a clad coin.
Key-Date Quarters Worth Far More Than Melt
Some quarters are worth much more than their silver content to collectors. Before you sell to a refiner, check for these:
- 1932-D and 1932-S Washington quarters - the two scarcest Washington dates; even worn examples sell for $100-500+, far above melt.
- 1916 Standing Liberty quarter - the first-year, low-mintage key; valuable in any grade, often four figures.
- Early Barber quarters with low mintages (such as 1896-S, 1901-S, 1913-S) - can command large premiums.
- Any quarter in uncirculated or proof condition - numismatic value can far exceed melt.
If a coin looks unusually sharp, has an early date, or carries a D or S mint mark on a scarce year, have it appraised before treating it as scrap.
Quarters That Are NOT Silver (Common Misconceptions)
- Post-1964 quarters: 1965 and later are copper-nickel clad - zero silver. This is by far the most common mistake.
- 1976 Bicentennial quarters (the "1776-1976" drummer-boy design): the ones from circulation are clad and contain no silver. Only the special 40% silver versions sold in collector sets by the US Mint contain silver, and those are marked S (San Francisco).
- State quarters (1999-2008) and America the Beautiful quarters: circulating versions are clad. Only the special silver proof set issues contain 90% or 99.9% silver.
What Dealers Pay for Silver Quarters
Common-date 90% quarters trade as "junk silver" and are bought and sold close to melt:
- Rolls and bags of 90% quarters: dealers typically pay 90-98% of melt and sell at a small premium over melt.
- Individual loose coins: often 80-90% of melt at a walk-in shop.
- Key dates and high grades: priced individually by the coin, not by melt - get these appraised.
Silver Quarter FAQ
How much is a 1964 quarter worth?
A 1964 Washington quarter is 90% silver with 0.1808 troy oz of silver - about $5.79 in melt value at a $32 spot price. Common dates are valued for their silver; condition rarities can be worth more.
What years of quarters are silver?
US quarters dated 1964 and earlier are 90% silver. This covers Barber (1892-1916), Standing Liberty (1916-1930), and Washington (1932-1964) quarters. 1965 and later are copper-nickel clad with no silver.
Are 1976 Bicentennial quarters silver?
The ones you find in change are not - they are clad. Only the special 40% silver Bicentennial quarters sold in US Mint collector sets (marked with an S mint mark) contain silver.
Are state quarters silver?
No. The state quarters from circulation (1999-2008) are copper-nickel clad. Only the silver proof set versions made for collectors contain silver.
How can I tell if a quarter is silver without the date?
Look at the coin's edge. A solid silver-colored rim means 90% silver; a copper-orange stripe in the middle means it is clad. Silver quarters also weigh slightly more (6.25 g vs 5.67 g for clad).
How much silver is in a roll of quarters?
A standard roll holds 40 quarters. A roll of 90% silver quarters contains 40 x 0.1808 = 7.232 troy oz of silver - about $231 at a $32 spot price.