A 90% silver quarter contains 0.17875 troy ounces of silver. Any US quarter dated 1964 or earlier is 90% silver — including Washington, Standing Liberty, and Barber quarters. Its melt value updates in real time based on the current silver spot price — use the calculator below.
Melt value only. Collector premiums and dealer spreads not included. Based on 0.17875 troy oz silver per coin (standard circulated weight).
Coin Specifications
90% Silver Quarter Value Specs
Composition
90% silver, 10% copper
Gross Weight
6.25g
Silver Content
0.1787 troy oz
Face Value
$0.25
Mint Years
1892-1964
Mint Marks
Philadelphia (no mint mark), Denver (D), San Francisco (S)
Diameter
24.3mm
Designer
Various (Barber 1892, Standing Liberty 1916, Washington 1932)
Background
Why Stackers Track This Coin
US quarters were struck in 90% silver from 1892 through 1964. Three distinct designs cover this period: the Barber Quarter (1892-1916), the Standing Liberty Quarter (1916-1930), and the Washington Quarter (1932-1964). All three contain identical silver content at 0.17875 oz per coin. The Coinage Act of 1965 eliminated silver from quarters entirely — a 1965 quarter contains no silver at all. For stackers, 90% silver quarters are among the most practical constitutional silver coins: small enough for fractional transactions, widely available, and easy to price. Four quarters equal $1 face value, containing 0.715 oz of silver — the foundation of the entire junk silver pricing system.
Compare
90% Silver Quarter Value vs Similar Coins
All 90% silver quarters contain 0.17875 oz of silver regardless of design. Two quarters equal the silver content of one 90% silver dime times five — the math stays consistent across the entire constitutional silver system.
Coin
Composition
Silver (oz)
Melt Value
Notes
90% Silver Quarter Valuethis coin
90% silver, 10% copper
0.17875 oz
—
—
90% Silver Dime (pre-1965)
90%
0.0715 oz
—
2.5 dimes = 1 quarter in silver content
90% Silver Half Dollar (pre-1965)
90%
0.3575 oz
—
Exactly 2x the silver of a quarter
Morgan/Peace Dollar (90%)
90%
0.7734 oz
—
About 4.3x the silver of a quarter
Clad Quarter (1965+)
0%
0 oz
—
No silver — worth face value only
Common Questions
90% Silver Quarter Value FAQ
How much silver is in a 90% silver quarter?
A 90% silver quarter contains 0.17875 troy ounces of silver. It is struck in 90% silver and 10% copper with a gross weight of 6.25 grams. Four quarters equal $1 face value, containing 0.715 troy ounces of silver — the standard constitutional silver multiplier used by dealers across the industry.
What years are US quarters silver?
US quarters dated 1964 and earlier are 90% silver. This includes Washington Quarters (1932-1964), Standing Liberty Quarters (1916-1930), and Barber Quarters (1892-1916). Quarters dated 1965 and later contain no silver — the Coinage Act of 1965 eliminated silver from quarters entirely. The easiest check: look at the edge. A silver quarter has a solid silver edge. A clad quarter shows a visible copper stripe.
Is a 1964 quarter silver?
Yes. 1964 is the last year US quarters were struck in 90% silver. A 1964 Washington Quarter contains 0.17875 troy ounces of silver, identical to any other pre-1965 quarter. Starting in 1965, quarters were switched to copper-nickel clad with no silver content.
How do dealers price 90% silver quarters?
Dealers price 90% silver quarters by face value using the 0.715 multiplier. At any given spot price, $1 face value of 90% silver quarters contains 0.715 troy ounces of silver. Multiply the spot price by 0.715 to get the melt value of $1 face. For a single quarter, multiply spot by 0.17875.
How much is a 90% silver quarter worth today?
The melt value of a 90% silver quarter changes with the silver spot price. At $30 silver a quarter is worth approximately $5.36. At $40 silver approximately $7.15. At $80 silver approximately $14.30. Use the live calculator above for the current melt value based on today's spot price.
If you're tracking multiple coins, MyOunces automatically calculates your total melt value across gold, silver, platinum, and palladium with live spot prices.