Coin values · 90% silver · 1932–1964
Silver Washington quarter value: melt value today
Washington quarters dated 1932 through 1964 are 90% silver with 0.1808 troy oz per coin. Nearly all of them are worth their melt value; only the 1932-D, the 1932-S and some varieties and high grades carry big premiums. At the Nov 3, 2026 close ($49.78/oz silver), one coin’s 0.1808 oz of silver was worth $9.00.
Silver Washington quarter specifications
| Years struck (silver) | 1932, 1934–1964 (no quarters dated 1933) |
|---|---|
| Designer | John Flanagan |
| Mints | Philadelphia (no mintmark), Denver (D), San Francisco (S) |
| Composition | 90% silver, 10% copper |
| Weight | 6.25 g |
| Diameter | 24.3 mm, reeded edge |
| Silver content (ASW) | 0.1808 troy oz |
| Face value | 25 cents |
| Melt value | $9.00 at the Nov 3, 2026 close ($49.78/oz silver); live value above |
Weights, fineness and mintages come from the primary records listed under Sources; melt is computed from the gold or silver content.
Silver Washington quarter 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.
What a silver Washington quarter’s silver has been worth since 1968
A silver Washington 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.
Silver Washington quarter melt value by decade
Melt of one coin at each decade’s December close. The peak month was Jan 2026 at $18.66; the low was Oct 1971 at $0.24. Melt has been above the $0.25 face value in 703 of 707 months since 1968, and is now about 36 times face.
| Close | Silver price | Melt per coin |
|---|---|---|
| Dec 1970 | $1.63 | $0.30 |
| Dec 1980 | $15.50 | $2.80 |
| Dec 1990 | $4.19 | $0.76 |
| Dec 2000 | $4.58 | $0.83 |
| Dec 2010 | $30.63 | $5.54 |
| Dec 2020 | $26.49 | $4.79 |
| Nov 3, 2026 | $49.78 | $9.00 |
Prices: LBMA benchmark history, then Bullion Trading LLC 5 pm ET spot closes (monthly observations).
About the silver Washington quarter
The Washington quarter was first struck in 1932 for the 200th anniversary of George Washington’s birth, intended as a one-year coin. It replaced the Standing Liberty quarter for good, and the portrait (in a later version) is still on the quarter.
From 1932 to 1964 the mintmark is on the reverse, below the wreath under the eagle; from 1968 it is on the obverse, right of Washington’s ponytail.
Edge test: a 1964-or-earlier quarter has a solid silver-white edge; a 1965-or-later clad quarter shows a copper stripe. A silver quarter weighs 6.25 g; a clad one 5.67 g.
Key dates and mintages
- 1932-D: 436,800 struck, the series key.
- 1932-S: 408,000 struck.
- 1950-D/S and 1950-S/D: one mint’s letter punched over the other’s.
- 1964 is the last 90% year; see the 1964 quarter page.
When is a silver Washington quarter worth more than melt?
Circulated 1934–1964 quarters trade as junk silver. The 1932-D and 1932-S are valuable in any grade; we do not publish collector prices.