Pre-1965 Silver Quarter · Melt value · Silver spot
Live data by APIVervePre-1965 Silver Quarter Price
Typical retail — (+5–20% typical premium)
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per coin (melt)A Pre-1965 Silver Quarter, minted 1964 and earlier, holds 0.1808 troy ounces of pure silver. The coin is 90% silver and 10% copper, weighing 6.25 grams, and its melt value is that content times the live silver spot price.
How the melt value is worked out
Melt value counts only the pure silver: 0.1808 troy oz × spot. The alloy metal is ignored, and the figure assumes a coin at full weight; worn coins can hold slightly less.
Which quarters are silver
Washington quarters dated 1964 and earlier are 90% silver. From 1965 the quarter is copper-nickel clad, and a quick check is the edge: silver quarters show no copper stripe.
Frequently asked questions
How much silver is in a Pre-1965 Silver Quarter?
0.1808 troy ounces of pure silver. The coin is 90% silver and 10% copper, weighing 6.25 grams.
Can a Pre-1965 Silver Quarter be worth more than melt?
Yes. Melt value is the floor for a common, circulated coin. Scarce dates, mint marks and coins in high grades sell to collectors for well above their metal, so check a coin's date and condition before selling it for scrap.
What premium does a Pre-1965 Silver Quarter usually carry?
Historically a Pre-1965 Silver Quarter tends to trade about 5–20% over its melt value at retail, though premiums spike when demand is high and compress when it's quiet. Treat the range here as a guide, not a quote.
Is the melt value what I'll pay or get for a Pre-1965 Silver Quarter?
No. Melt value is the intrinsic worth of the metal — live spot price times the coin's pure content. A dealer sells above melt (their premium) and buys slightly below it (their spread). The melt figure here is the honest baseline; actual retail and buy-back prices move with demand.