
Based on the provided information, the value of a silver US quarter is primarily determined by its silver content, known as its melt value. US quarters minted in 1964 or earlier are composed of 90% silver. This includes the Washington quarters from 1932-1964, as well as earlier series like the Standing Liberty and Barber quarters.
Each of these 90% silver quarters contains approximately 0.1808 troy ounces of pure silver. The intrinsic value of the coin is therefore tied directly to the daily spot price of silver. According to the provided context, the melt value for a 90% silver quarter is $5.29. It is important to remember that this value fluctuates continuously with the commodities market.
While the melt value provides a baseline worth, a silver quarter can be worth significantly more to a numismatist, or coin collector. The coin's specific date, mint mark, rarity, and physical condition are critical factors that determine its numismatic value. A rare date or a coin in pristine, uncirculated condition can be worth many times its silver melt value. Therefore, a common-date, circulated silver quarter is typically worth its melt value, but rarer examples should be evaluated for their collector premium.


