The composition of United States quarters changed significantly in 1965. Prior to this year, circulating quarters were composed of 90% silver and 10% copper. This era of silver coinage ended due to a combination of factors, including rising silver prices and a growing coin shortage. The United States government found it increasingly expensive to produce silver coins at their face value, making a change necessary.
The shift away from silver in quarters had significant implications for both the public and the numismatic community. The increased value of silver meant that pre-1965 quarters became more valuable as bullion than as currency. This led to widespread hoarding of the older coins. Furthermore, the transition marks a distinct period in American coinage history, separating the earlier era of precious metal currency from the modern clad composition.
