Modern U.S. quarters are made of a copper–nickel clad composition: a mostly copper core with a thin outer layer of a copper–nickel alloy.

Quick Scoop: What are quarters made of?

  • Today’s regular circulating quarters are about 91.67% copper and 8.33% nickel overall.
  • Structurally, they’re a “sandwich”:
    • Inner core: pure copper.
* Outer layers: **cupronickel** (about 75% copper, 25% nickel) that gives the silvery color and adds durability.
  • Before 1965, U.S. quarters were made from 90% silver and 10% copper , so older quarters (1964 and earlier) are actually silver coins.

That’s the core fact: modern quarters = copper core + copper‑nickel outer layers; older pre‑1965 quarters = mostly silver.