1964 Quarter Value Guide

What Makes a Quarter Silver? The Washington Quarter (1932-1964)

The Washington quarter launched in 1932, replacing the Standing Liberty quarter that had been struck since 1916. The obverse portrait of George Washington facing left was sculpted by John Flanagan and based on Jean-Antoine Houdon’s celebrated 1786 marble bust. The reverse carries a heraldic eagle with outstretched wings perched on a bundle of arrows, flanked by two olive branches — a design that ran through 1998.

From the series’ introduction in 1932 through the end of 1964, every Washington quarter struck for circulation was made from an alloy of 90% silver and 10% copper — the same composition used for dimes, half dollars, and quarters going back to the mid-nineteenth century. This alloy, often called .900 fine silver, gives the coins their bright, slightly warm luster and the silvery-gray toning they pick up in circulation.

On silver-era Washington quarters the mint mark sits on the reverse, just below the eagle’s tail feathers. A coin with no mint mark was struck at Philadelphia; a D indicates Denver; and an S indicates San Francisco. That placement differs from later quarters, where the mint mark moved to the obverse beside Washington’s ponytail.

The 90% silver standard did not begin with the Washington design. The Barber quarter (1892-1916) and the Standing Liberty quarter (1916-1930) share the same alloy, so they carry silver melt value in addition to their often-substantial collector premiums. When people ask about pre-1964 quarters or silver quarters value in a general sense, they are usually talking about any of these 90% silver issues, with the Washington quarter being by far the most commonly found.

Are 1964 Quarters Silver? The Last Year of the Silver Quarter

Yes — the 1964 quarter is definitively a 90% silver coin. Every Washington quarter dated 1964, whether struck at Philadelphia (no mint mark) or Denver (D), contains exactly the same silver alloy used throughout the entire 1932-1964 run. There is no clad version of a 1964-dated business-strike quarter.

The reason 1964 stands as the final silver year comes down to economics and legislation. By the early 1960s, rising silver prices and heavy coin hoarding had created a nationwide coin shortage, and the metal value of the silver in a quarter was creeping toward its twenty-five-cent face value. The Coinage Act of 1965 removed silver from dimes and quarters entirely and cut half dollars to 40% silver (halves stayed 40% silver through 1970 before going fully clad).

Because the Mint anticipated the change, it struck enormous quantities of 1964-dated quarters in 1964 and into early 1965 to meet demand. The result is that 1964 and 1964-D quarters are extremely common — among the highest-mintage dates in the entire series. For most 1964 quarters in circulated condition, there is little collector demand above the silver melt value. The value is real, but it comes from the silver, not from scarcity.

One notable exception within the date is the 1964 SMS (Special Mint Set) quarter, an extremely rare special strike produced in tiny numbers and distinct from the standard business strikes. These are prized by specialists and require expert authentication. A typical 1964 quarter pulled from a roll or a coffee can is an ordinary business strike. Every quarter dated 1965 or later is copper-nickel clad with no silver — the switch was immediate and complete.

How Much Silver Is in a 1964 Quarter?

Every 90% silver Washington quarter, including every 1964 quarter, has a gross weight of 6.25 grams and contains 0.18084 troy ounce of pure silver. That figure is not an estimate; it follows directly from the coin’s specified composition and weight, and it is the same for the Philadelphia and Denver issues.

To find the silver melt value of a single quarter, multiply 0.18084 by the current silver price per troy ounce. Because silver trades continuously, that melt value changes throughout the day, which is why we point people to our live silver price page rather than printing a number that would be stale within hours.

For sorting larger quantities, a useful rule of thumb is that one dollar in face value of 90% silver quarters — four quarters — contains about 0.715 troy ounce of pure silver. This is the standard figure dealers and the junk silver market use. A roll of forty quarters ($10 face) holds roughly 7.15 troy ounces, and a $100 face-value bag holds about 71.5 troy ounces.

For comparison, a clad quarter from 1965 onward weighs about 5.67 grams and contains no silver. The small weight difference — 6.25 grams versus 5.67 grams — is one way to separate the two if you have a precise scale, though the edge test described next is faster and needs no equipment. That 6.25-gram weight and 0.18084 troy ounce of silver are the foundation of every silver quarter value calculation; date, grade, and mint mark are layered on top of that baseline.

How to Tell a Silver Quarter from a Clad Quarter

Sorting silver from clad is straightforward once you know the three checks, and it helps to use them in order. Start with the date, because it is the fastest and most reliable indicator: any Washington quarter dated 1964 or earlier is 90% silver, and any quarter dated 1965 or later is copper-nickel clad with no silver. There are no exceptions among standard business-strike Washington quarters, so a legible date usually gives you the answer immediately.

When the date is worn or you want confirmation, examine the edge. Turn the quarter on its side and look at the reeded rim. A 90% silver quarter shows a solid, uniform silvery-gray edge all the way around, with no color variation. A clad quarter shows a copper-colored stripe running through the middle of the edge, sandwiched between the nickel-colored outer layers — that is the copper core of the clad sandwich showing through. The edge test works even on heavily circulated coins.

The third check is weight. With a digital scale accurate to a hundredth of a gram, a 90% silver quarter weighs 6.25 grams while a clad quarter weighs 5.67 grams. A silver quarter that has seen moderate wear will typically still register between about 6.20 and 6.25 grams, so a coin claimed to be silver that weighs well under 6.20 grams deserves a closer look.

One note on the older silver quarters: Barber quarters (1892-1916) and Standing Liberty quarters (1916-1930) are also 90% silver, with the same 6.25-gram weight and 0.18084 troy ounce of silver. They predate the Washington design but share the same melt baseline, and they usually carry collector value on top of it. Between date, edge, and weight, you can sort a mixed jar or roll quickly and accurately.

What Is a 1964 Quarter Actually Worth?

For the vast majority of 1964 quarters, the value of the coin is its silver melt value: 0.18084 troy ounce of silver multiplied by the current spot price. Because mintages were enormous, a circulated 1964 or 1964-D in average condition carries no meaningful premium above melt. This is what the trade calls junk silver — a term that describes how the coin is priced, not its quality. Junk silver quarters are a well-established part of the precious metals market, valued entirely on metal content, and the practical way to value yours is to check the live silver price and multiply by 0.18084.

A handful of factors can push a 1964 quarter above that melt baseline. The first is grade. A 1964 or 1964-D that never circulated and grades MS-65 or higher with strong strike and full luster can carry a premium over melt, and the highest certified examples (MS-67 and above) are genuinely scarce. Most coins found in rolls or jars, however, are circulated and trade at melt.

Proof strikes are a second factor. San Francisco struck proof 1964 quarters for collectors as part of the annual proof set, with mirror-like fields and frosted devices. Examples with heavy cameo contrast (graded PR-65 Cameo or Deep Cameo) carry collector premiums, while standard proofs without strong contrast are common and trade closer to melt. The extremely rare 1964 SMS quarter is a separate category altogether — special strikes made in minuscule numbers that command substantial premiums and require certification by PCGS or NGC to establish.

Finally, recognized die varieties such as the 1943-S doubled die obverse can add value, though attribution requires a published variety reference and, for valuable pieces, third-party certification. For most people asking how much a 1964 quarter is worth, the honest answer remains simple: check the live silver price, multiply by 0.18084, and that is the coin’s value.

Key Dates and Semi-Keys: When Silver Quarters Beat Melt

While most silver Washington quarters trade at or near melt, the series includes a few dates where collector demand pushes values well above the silver baseline. Knowing them matters whether you are sorting an inherited collection or building one of your own.

The two undisputed key dates are the 1932-D and 1932-S. Both come from the series’ inaugural year, when Denver and San Francisco each struck relatively small quantities, and they rank among the most sought-after twentieth-century U.S. coins in any grade — even heavily worn examples carry significant premiums over melt. If you find a 1932 quarter, check the mint mark carefully: a 1932 with no mint mark (Philadelphia) is the common issue, while the D and S are the keys.

Just behind them is the 1936-D, a recognized semi-key whose Denver mintage was lower than most issues of the period; demand for well-struck, problem-free examples keeps it above melt across all circulated grades. Several other dates and mint-mark combinations from the 1930s and early 1940s, particularly Denver and San Francisco strikes, have lower mintages than their neighbors and draw collector attention in higher grades, so a careful date-by-date look is worthwhile for any large collection.

For key dates, semi-keys, and high-grade common dates, PCGS or NGC certification matters, because a verified grade and authenticity command the market price for that grade. Lone Star Coins is a PCGS and NGC Authorized Dealer and can discuss whether certification makes sense for a given coin. For common-date circulated silver quarters, certification is generally not cost-effective — those trade as junk silver on their metal content. The takeaway is that the overwhelming majority of silver quarters you encounter are common dates at melt, with key-date identification applying to a small fraction.

Silver Quarters Before 1964: Barber, Standing Liberty, and Junk Silver

The 90% silver composition did not start with the Washington quarter. Two earlier series share the same alloy and the same 0.18084 troy ounce of silver per coin. The Barber quarter (1892-1916), designed by Charles E. Barber, shows a right-facing Liberty head and a heraldic eagle. It predates the Washington quarter by two decades and, in collectible grades, is generally valued above its silver content, though very worn examples trade nearer melt. The Barber series has its own key dates and semi-keys that collectors actively pursue.

The Standing Liberty quarter (1916-1930), designed by Hermon Atkins MacNeil, is widely regarded as one of the most artistically distinguished designs in American coinage. Like the Barber before it and the Washington after, every Standing Liberty quarter is 90% silver. The series has notable key dates — particularly the 1916 and the 1918/7-S overdate — and the challenging Full Head designation for well-struck examples, so even common-date pieces in circulated grades tend to carry premiums above melt.

All three series flow through the same junk silver market when they appear as circulated, common-date coins. Dealers and investors buy and sell 90% silver in quantities measured by face value, using the standard conversion of roughly 0.715 troy ounce of silver per one dollar of face value, which makes it easy to calculate the silver in any mixed lot without sorting by date. A $10 face-value roll of quarters holds about 7.15 troy ounces; a $100 face-value bag holds about 71.5 troy ounces. Multiply by the live silver price for current melt, and see our junk silver coins value guide for how dealers price 90% silver lots in more detail.

Getting Your Silver Quarters Identified, Appraised, and Sold in San Antonio

If you have a jar, roll, bag, or collection of quarters that may be silver — or a mix of silver and clad — sorting and appraising them accurately is the logical first step before deciding what to do. For common dates the process is simple: check the date (1964 or earlier is silver), confirm with the edge test (no copper stripe means silver), and apply the silver math. It gets more nuanced with large inherited collections that may hide a 1932-D or 1932-S among common circulated coins, or with high-grade uncirculated pieces that might warrant certification.

For anyone in the San Antonio area, Lone Star Coins at 2622 NW Loop 410 offers free coin appraisals in San Antonio with no appointment needed. Bring in a single coin, a roll, or a full jar, and we will sort, identify, and give you an accurate assessment of what you have and what it is worth at current silver prices. For common silver quarters, an appraisal and a same-day cash offer based on the live silver price are both available on the spot.

If you have key dates or high-grade uncirculated pieces, our team can evaluate whether third-party certification makes sense and handle the PCGS and NGC submission process as an Authorized Dealer. Those coins are handled separately from the junk silver pool and priced by the certified coin market rather than melt, so you are not leaving collector value on the table.

For those outside San Antonio, Lone Star Coins also buys rare and graded coins with nationwide shipping available. Whether you want to sell silver in San Antonio in person or ship a collection for evaluation, the process is straightforward and based on transparent, market-based pricing — and you are always welcome to simply find out what you have before deciding anything.