The United States Mint ceased the production of quarters composed of 90% silver in 1964. These coins, often referred to as “silver quarters,” were a mainstay of American currency for decades, containing a significant amount of precious metal.
The decision to eliminate silver from circulating coinage stemmed from rising silver prices. The metal’s value had increased to the point where the intrinsic worth of a silver quarter approached, and at times exceeded, its face value of 25 cents. Continuing to produce these coins risked mass melting for their silver content, depleting the nation’s coinage supply. This shift marked a significant change in the composition of American money and impacted coin collecting and investment.