The U.S. quarter, a denomination of currency valued at 25 cents, once contained 90% silver. This composition was standard for circulating coinage until a specific period when the metal’s value exceeded the coin’s face value.
Due to rising silver prices, the United States government found it increasingly expensive to mint silver coinage. Maintaining the existing silver standard would have led to the intrinsic value of the coins exceeding their monetary value, potentially causing hoarding and a shortage of circulating currency. This economic pressure necessitated a change in the metallic composition of the quarter.