LemonTrades
TL;DR
- All US quarters dated 1964 or earlier are 90% silver. That covers Washington, Standing Liberty and Barber quarters.
- From 1965, everyday quarters are copper-nickel. The exceptions are 40% silver 1976-S Bicentennial coins and silver proof sets, sold to collectors.
- Check the date, then the edge: silver quarters have a solid silver edge with no copper stripe.
- LemonTrades follows the silver price for you, with alerts on sharp moves and the likely cause.
In 1965, silver got too valuable to put in pocket change. Here’s which quarters still have it.
How to tell if a quarter is silver
- Date: 1964 or earlier means silver.
- Edge: a silver quarter’s edge is all silver; a clad one shows a copper stripe.
- Weight: a silver quarter weighs 6.25 grams; a clad one 5.67 grams.
- Sound: dropped on a hard surface, silver rings longer and higher.
What about 1976 Bicentennial quarters?
Most 1976 quarters, with the drummer on the back, are ordinary copper-nickel and worth 25 cents. Only those with an S mint mark from special collector sets are 40% silver, and many S coins are clad too. Weigh it: a 40% silver one weighs 5.75 grams.
What about state quarters?
The everyday 50 States, America the Beautiful and newer quarters are clad. Silver versions exist only in silver proof sets. See how much a silver quarter is worth, silver dimes and every US silver coin.
Sources
Education, not financial advice. See our disclaimer.
