Coin values · live melt
Quarter value: silver melt value and key dates
Most quarters are worth 25 cents — but every Washington quarter dated 1964 or earlier is 90% silver, worth several dollars in melt alone, and a handful of dates and error coins bring much more. Every quarter dated 1964 or earlier is 90% silver: 0.1808 oz, worth $9.00 in melt at the Nov 3, 2026 close.
What's it worth? Live melt calculator
Melt = pure metal content × recent spot (silver $49.78/oz). This is the bullion floor; collectible coins can be worth far more. Federal rules restrict melting only 1¢ and 5¢ coins (31 CFR Part 82; 1942–1945 silver war nickels are exempt). This estimates intrinsic value.
Melt value by series
Specs, key dates, a melt calculator and the melt history since 1968 for each series. Melt at the Nov 3, 2026 close.
What a quarter’s silver has been worth since 1968
A quarter held about $0.35 of silver in 1968, peaked near $18.66 in 2026, and its metal is worth $9.00 today. That is melt only; a scarce date or high grade can carry a collector premium on top.
Is your quarter silver?
Silver years: 1932–1964 (plus 1976 Bicentennial 40% silver proof/collector issues).
A 1964-or-earlier quarter is 90% silver. The quickest tell is the edge: silver quarters show a solid silver-white edge, while modern clad quarters show a copper-colored stripe.
Quarter composition by year
| Years | Composition | Silver content |
|---|---|---|
| 1796–1964 | 90% silver, 10% copper | 0.1808 oz |
| 1965–present | Copper-nickel clad (no silver) | — |
| 1976 (collector) | 40% silver Bicentennial | 0.0739 oz |
Which quarters are worth money
- Silver quarters (1932–1964): worth their melt value in silver, often several dollars each.
- Key dates: 1932-D and 1932-S Washington quarters are the series keys.
- Errors: 1950-D/S over-mintmark, doubled-die varieties, and off-center/clipped planchet errors carry premiums.
- Standing Liberty (1916–1930) and Barber (1892–1916) quarters are older 90% silver types with strong collector demand.
Popular quarters by year
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Store prices as of 2026-11-03. Today's price is on each product page.
