Every US quarter dated 1964 or earlier is 90% silver. The 1965 changeover is the sharpest line in US coinage, and the edge of the coin shows you which side of it you are on.
Silver spot
$53.44 a troy ounce.
Spot price as of 10 November 2026.
Each coin is 6.25 g at 900 fine,
a US Mint specification.
This is metal value only. Most coins are worth more than their metal to a collector,
and some are worth very much more, so check the date and mint mark before selling
anything here for its melt value.
What one Washington quarter is worth in silver
One Washington quarter contains 0.1808 troy ounces of pure silver, from a coin
weighing 6.25 grams at 900 parts per thousand. At the
current benchmark that metal is worth
$9.67.
The benchmark behind it was set on
, and every figure on this
page moves with it.
Melt value by quantity, at the current benchmark.
How many
Face value
Pure silver
Melt value
1
$0.25
0.1808 ozt
$9.67
10
$2.50
1.8085 ozt
$96.65
20
$5.00
3.6170 ozt
$193.30
50
$12.50
9.0424 ozt
$483.25
100
$25.00
18.08 ozt
$966.51
What the coin is
A silver Washington quarter weighs 6.25 grams at 90% silver, giving 0.18085 troy ounces of pure silver. The series began in 1932 as a commemorative for the bicentennial of Washington’s birth, became the regular issue the following year, and kept the silver specification until the end of 1964.
From 1965 the quarter became copper-nickel clad: two outer layers of copper-nickel bonded to a pure copper core, weighing 5.67 grams with no silver in it. The difference is visible without any equipment. Stand a stack on edge and the clad coins show a distinct copper stripe running round the rim while the silver ones show a uniform grey.
Four silver quarters make one dollar of face value, and a dollar of face in 90% coin holds 0.7234 troy ounces as struck, or the 0.715 the trade pays on to allow for wear. Quarters, dimes and halves of this era were all struck to the same weight per dollar, which is why they are bagged and priced together without anyone sorting them.
Is it worth more than its metal?
The first year carries the only two dates in the series that are seriously valuable. The 1932-D and 1932-S were struck in small numbers during the Depression, around 436,000 and 408,000 respectively, and both are worth well over a hundred times their silver even in worn condition. Check every 1932 quarter for a mint mark on the reverse below the eagle.
The 1934 doubled die obverse and the 1943 doubled die are recognised varieties with real premiums, visible as doubling in the motto. Beyond those, circulated silver Washingtons from the 1940s through 1964 are extremely common and are bullion coins in all but name.
Proof coins and high grade uncirculated examples of the earlier dates are collected, but nothing you pull out of a coin jar is likely to fall into that category. If a quarter has never been in circulation and still carries full lustre, set it aside rather than bagging it.
Selling it
Silver quarters are the backbone of the junk silver market. They are bought by face value rather than by count, at a percentage of the melt value of 0.715 troy ounces per dollar of face, and the percentage a dealer offers is the only thing worth negotiating. Common dates carry no premium at all over that.
Do not sort by date beyond pulling the 1932s, and do not clean anything. For a normal jar of pre-1965 quarters the efficient move is to count the face value, work out the melt from that, and take the best of two or three local offers.
0.18085 troy ounces, from 6.25 grams at 90% fineness. Four of them make a dollar of face value, which holds 0.7234 troy ounces as struck.
Which quarters are silver?+
Every US quarter dated 1964 or earlier. From 1965 the coin became copper-nickel clad with no silver. Later silver quarters exist only in special proof and collector sets, not in circulation.
How can I tell a silver quarter without reading the date?+
Look at the edge. A clad quarter shows a copper-coloured stripe around the rim where the layers meet, and a silver one shows a uniform grey edge. Silver coins also ring at a higher pitch when dropped on a hard surface.
Are any Washington quarters rare?+
The 1932-D and 1932-S are the key dates, each struck in numbers just over 400,000, and both are worth far more than their silver in any condition. The 1934 and 1943 doubled die varieties also carry premiums.
Recommended Gold Testing & Smelting Equipment
Laboratory-grade scales, non-destructive electronic testers, and digital melting furnaces for accurate scrap valuation and refining.
Digital Electric Gold & Silver Melting Furnace (1kg to 3kg, 1150°C / 2100°F)
Commercial digital smelting furnace with high-density graphite crucible, insulated heating chamber, and heavy-duty crucible tongs. Heats up to 2100°F (1150°C) with precise digital PID temperature control to cleanly melt scrap gold jewelry, sterling silver, and brass into tradeable bullion bars in under 45 minutes.
Laboratory-grade electronic gold analyzer that instantly determines karat purity from 10K to 24K and verifies platinum without messy acid drops or destructive scratching. Rapid self-calibration ensures quick, reliable scrap valuation without damaging collectible jewelry.
0.001g High-Precision Analytical Milligram Jewelry Scale (50g x 0.001g)
Laboratory-grade analytical milligram balance measuring down to 0.001 grams, 0.005 carats, and 0.0001 troy ounces (ozt). Features a clear protective draft shield, tare function, and stainless steel calibration weights to catch fine weight fractions before smelting.
Multi-Cavity High-Density Graphite Ingot Mold for Bar Casting
Machined high-purity fine-grain graphite mold designed for pouring clean 1 oz, 2 oz, 5 oz, and 10 oz gold and silver bars. Delivers high thermal stability, rapid heat dissipation, and a smooth cavity finish for effortless ingot release.
Master Gold & Silver Chemical Acid Scratch Assay Kit with Touchstone & Loupe
Complete precious metal appraisal kit featuring 10K, 14K, 18K, and 22K gold testing acids, silver testing solution, a genuine dense testing touchstone, and an illuminated triplet jeweler loupe to distinguish solid karat gold from heavy plating.
Kevlar-reinforced split-cowhide foundry gloves rated for temperatures up to 2000°F with extended gauntlet forearm protection, paired with a high-impact anti-glare face shield designed for safe scrap metal handling and pouring.
Compare essential equipment specifications for establishing an efficient scrap gold testing and melting workstation:
Equipment Type
Primary Purpose
Capacity / Accuracy
Key Advantage
Electric Smelting Furnace
Melting scrap jewelry, dental gold, and coins into bullion
1 kg to 3 kg crucible capacity
Clean flameless PID temperature control up to 2100°F
Electronic Karat Tester
Instant purity check on intact jewelry and high-end watches
10K to 24K gold and platinum ranges
Non-destructive testing with no acid stains or scratches
Analytical Milligram Scale
Precise scrap weight measurement before refining
50g capacity at 0.001g (0.0001 ozt)
Catches fine weight margins standard kitchen scales miss
Multi-Cavity Ingot Mold
Casting molten scrap metal into tradeable bullion bars
1 oz, 2 oz, 5 oz, 10 oz bar cavities
High-density graphite prevents sticking and oxidation
Acid Touchstone Assay Kit
Distinguishing solid karat alloy from heavy vermeil or plate
10K, 14K, 18K, 22K acid standards
Time-tested chemical confirmation for scrap buyers
Scrap Valuation Pro Tip: Melt Loss & Non-Destructive Testing
When melting scrap jewelry lots, expect an average 1% to 3% melt loss due to burn-off of non-precious solder joints, skin oils, and enamel. Before melting high-value items, verify karat content using a non-destructive electronic tester. Acid scratch testing can leave noticeable etch marks and may read false positive on heavy gold-filled or rolled gold plate items (such as 1/10 10K RGP or vermeil).
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