U.S. quarters were made of 90% silver from the very first quarter in 1796 up through all regular circulating quarters dated 1964.

Quick Scoop: When Were Quarters Silver?

  • Silver quarters ran from 1796 to 1964.
  • Any regular U.S. quarter dated 1964 or earlier is a 90% silver coin.
  • Starting in 1965 , quarters switched to a copper‑nickel “clad” composition with no silver, due to the Coinage Act of 1965.

So if you’re wondering “when were quarters silver?”:

  • All standard quarters 1796–1964 = silver
  • 1965 and later = no silver (except a few special collector issues, which are not regular circulation coins).

Why 1964 Is the Key Year

In the early 1960s, silver prices climbed and people began hoarding coins for their metal value, creating a coin shortage. In response, Congress passed the Coinage Act of 1965, which removed silver from circulating dimes and quarters and changed them to a copper‑nickel clad structure around a copper core. That makes 1964 the last year for regular silver quarters and a natural cutoff date for collectors and “junk silver” buyers.

How to Tell If Your Quarter Is Silver

If you’re checking a coin in your hand:

  1. Check the date
    • 1964 or earlier: 90% silver.
 * 1965 or later: not silver, unless it’s a special collector coin from a set.
  1. Look at the edge (rim test)
    • Silver quarter: solid silver‑colored edge, no visible brownish stripe.
 * Modern clad quarter: you’ll see a copper‑colored layer on the edge.
  1. Listen to the sound (ring test)
    • Silver quarters give a higher‑pitched, clear “ring” when tapped or dropped on a hard surface.
 * Clad quarters sound duller and flatter.

A Bit More Context for Collectors

  • All these silver quarters are 90% silver and 10% copper, with about 0.1808 troy ounces of silver per coin.
  • Four silver quarters (1 dollar face value) contain roughly 0.715 troy ounces of silver after accounting for typical circulation wear.
  • While every 1964‑and‑earlier quarter has melt (metal) value, specific dates and mintmarks—like certain 1932 Washington quarters—can be worth more to collectors.

TL;DR:
If your question is “when were quarters silver,” the practical rule is: all regular U.S. quarters dated 1964 or earlier are silver; 1965 and later are not.

Information gathered from public forums or data available on the internet and portrayed here.