If you’ve been thinking about buying precious metals, you might be surprised to find that some U.S. quarters originally contained a significant amount of silver. Those wishing to transfer their wealth to a safer environment away from banks and conventional currencies tend to choose these coins.
Not only are they renowned for their historical worth but also their intrinsic value. If you’re interested in silver coins, we’re sharing all you need to know about silver quarters — including which years to search for and why they are valuable acquisitions.
What Defines a Silver Quarter?
Prior to 1965, U.S. quarters bearing 90% silver and 10% copper were known as silver quarters. These coins were part of American circulating currency for decades — or at least until the Coinage Act of 1965. This act changed quarters and other coins to a cupronickel composition, therefore removing silver from most everyday coins.
So, why does this concern you? While the life of silver quarters was cut short, they can still be acquired to this day. After all, billions of silver quarters were minted between 1932 and 1964. Getting your hands on silver quarters is easier than you might think.
It’s a great opportunity for someone wishing to hold actual, real assets in the form of precious metals. Their silver content gives them true, intrinsic value and not just historical significance (although that’s important, too).
Owning silver quarters could prove to be a smart move for protecting your wealth, given the volatility of banks and the banking system as a whole.
What Are the Most Important Years for Silver Quarter Buyers?
Understanding the main years can help you start or grow your collection of silver quarters.
Since the United States struck silver quarters between 1932 and 1964, these coins are quite valuable to collectors as well as those looking to buy precious metals for their weight.
Washington Quarters (1932-1964)
The most famously recognized grouping of silver quarters. Comprising 90% silver, these are also the most easily found.
Special Edition Silver Quarters
The U.S. Mint created various unique silver proof sets of silver quarters following 1964. These are valued for their silver content even though they are not part of general circulation.
Just taking a look at the date will let you know whether you are holding a silver quarter. If you have a quarter dated 1964 and prior, you can be certain that you’re holding a silver quarter.
Why Did the U.S. Stop Minting Silver Quarters?
The decision to move away from silver quarters in 1965 was not some haphazard call. The growing cost of silver at the time was the driving factor. The U.S. government found it unsustainable to continue manufacturing coins with such high silver content as the price of silver rose.
The Mint could make quarters for a fraction of the cost by switching to a more reasonably priced metal composition (cupronickel), thus maintaining their usefulness in daily transactions.
This shift increases the value of pre-1965 quarters today. Their historical relevance adds another level of interest to their 90% silver content. These coins provide a consistent and safe choice for anyone wishing to shift their money from conventional banking systems to real assets.
How Can You Tell if a Quarter Is Silver?
Finding a silver quarter is easier than you might believe. You should be looking for the following:
- Check the Date: Every quarter minted before 1965 has silver. You have a silver quarter if it dates 1964 or earlier.
- Look at the Coin’s Edge: There is an obvious copper strip at the edge of modern quarters. Conversely, the edge of silver quarters is solid silver.
- Listen for the Sound: When dropped, silver quarters have a different, higher-pitched sound than contemporary quarters. Without attentively looking at a coin, this might be a good approach to finding out whether it’s silver.
These basic identification techniques let you quickly check whether a quarter is silver. Knowing how to identify silver quarters will enable you to make wise judgments, whether you are shopping for coins from a reputable vendor or looking through old change.
Why Are Silver Quarters a Safe Investment?
First of all, why should you give silver quarters any thought? If you have been observing the state of the economy, you have most likely seen how erratic conventional financial systems have grown.
Many consumers are seeking safer options between changing bank policies, inflation, and the overall uncertainty regarding the value of currencies. This is where tangible resources, such as silver quarters, come in.
Silver quarters provide you with:
- Tangible Ownership: Unlike stocks or bonds, silver quarters are real objects that you can hold in your hands. They aren’t dependent on the performance of a company or government.
- Intrinsic Value: These quarters have actual, quantifiable worth based on their 90% silver content. Silver demand usually increases even when currencies lose value.
- Historical Relevance: For decades, these quarters were integral parts of American life. Their value and uniqueness only grow with time. As such, they are a stable addition to your asset portfolio.
Purchasing silver quarters adds a genuine asset that has withstood the test of time and is a real piece of our nation’s history.
What Are Mint Marks and What Do They Signify?
On certain quarters, you may have noticed small letters. These are known as mint markings, and they specify the quarter’s production location.
Here’s a brief explanation of the mint markings you could find on silver quarters:
- P for Philadelphia (though many early quarters from Philadelphia lacked any mint mark at all)
- D for Denver
- S for San Francisco
Sometimes, the mint mark enhances the value of a quarter. For instance, quarters from some mints in specific years might be rarer and, therefore, more desirable to collectors. Although every mint has a uniform silver composition, these variances might improve the coins’ collection value.
Why Do Buyers and Collectors of Precious Metals Want Silver Quarters?
Silver quarters are appealing to both buyers of precious metals and collectors for a reason. For collectors, these coins constitute a major portion of American history. They are amazing objects to own because of their historical background, design, and workmanship.
For individuals who treasure the silver itself, these quarters are a great place to keep actual silver in a format that is commonly known and trusted.
Silver quarters are easily traded and authenticated, unlike certain other kinds of silver, such as jewelry or ornamental objects. Their straightforward worth stems from their silver content and condition.
How Do Silver Quarters Enhance Your Gold IRA?
At American Hartford Gold, we’re committed to helping individuals create a Gold IRA, a self-directed retirement account that lets you own actual gold and other precious metals. Although gold usually takes center stage in these accounts, silver adds great value, too.
So, why should you consider including silver quarters in your Gold IRA? Let’s explore:
Diversification
Although gold is sometimes considered the perfect safe haven, switching to silver can help balance things. Silver provides yet another degree of safety as it reacts differently than gold to fluctuations in the market.
Historical Significance
Holding U.S. silver quarters in your Gold IRA is about owning a piece of American history and the silver content that comes with it. These coins combine historical significance with their intrinsic value in a special way.
Tangible Assets
Silver quarters are real objects, much like the gold you buy for your IRA. Having real assets provides peace of mind at a time when faith in conventional financial systems is eroding.
American Hartford Gold makes it easy to set up your Gold IRA and includes silver quarters as part of the process.
How Can You Buy Silver Quarters?
If you’re ready to start buying silver quarters, here are a few tips to get you started:
- Work with a respectable vendor to be sure you are getting real silver quarters from a reliable source. This ensures that you are purchasing the real deal rather than fake coins or badly cared-for coins.
- Learn more about the many different kinds of silver quarters, their mint markings, and the reasons certain quarters are more valuable than others. Knowing more will help you to be more suited for wise buying.
- Think about condition. Although the main value is silver content, the condition of the coin could also influence its value. Because they are rare and appealing to collectors, coins in mint or near-mint condition might fetch a higher premium.
Owning real assets like silver quarters can give you a sense of security that conventional banking institutions simply cannot provide in unpredictable financial times. These coins, with their 90% silver content, offer a consistent and historically important approach to protecting your money.
Diversify Your Assets with American Hartford Gold
At American Hartford Gold, we are here to help you obtain the tangible items needed for financial future confidence. Get in touch with American Hartford Gold today to find out how silver quarters and other precious metals could offer the security you are seeking.
Sources:
George Washington Quarter | U.S. Mint
254 public law 89-81-july 23, 1965 | GovInfo
