United States quarters, once composed of 90% silver and 10% copper, underwent a significant change in their composition. This alteration involved replacing the precious metal content with a clad composition, primarily copper-nickel. The key inquiry revolves around the specific time this transition occurred.
The shift from silver to clad coinage was primarily driven by rising silver prices in the early 1960s. The intrinsic value of the silver in the coins began to exceed their face value, leading to widespread hoarding and a potential drain on the nation’s silver reserves. Retaining a stable coinage system necessitated a change in metallic content.