United States quarters, a denomination of currency with a rich history, once contained 90% silver. These coins, often referred to as “silver quarters,” were a standard part of American coinage for decades. The presence of silver gave these quarters a distinct weight and appearance, making them sought after by collectors and numismatists today.
The practice of including silver in the quarter’s composition ceased in 1964. This shift was primarily driven by escalating silver prices, which made the intrinsic value of the silver content in the coin greater than its face value. Maintaining the silver composition would have created an economic incentive for the public to melt down the coins for their precious metal content, leading to a potential shortage of circulating currency.