United States quarters minted in 1964 and earlier contain 90% silver. These coins are often sought after for their intrinsic metal value, which can fluctuate based on the prevailing price of silver in the precious metals market. For example, a pre-1965 quarter typically contains approximately 0.18084 troy ounces of silver.
The historical significance of these silver-containing coins lies in the shift from silver coinage to clad coinage in 1965. This change was primarily driven by the rising cost of silver, making the production of 90% silver coins economically unsustainable. Consequently, quarters produced after 1964 are composed of a copper-nickel clad composition.