how much silver is in a quarter from 1965

[ChristianRose]

It's a common question that often sparks hope in new collectors, but the definitive answer is that a 1965 quarter contains absolutely no silver. You might be holding a piece of history, but not a piece of precious metal.

The year 1965 marks a crucial turning point in United States coinage. Due to the rising price of silver, the U.S. government passed the Coinage Act of 1965, which officially removed silver from the composition of circulating dimes and quarters. Any Washington quarter dated 1964 or earlier is the treasure you're looking for, as those coins are composed of 90% silver.

So, what is a 1965 quarter made of? Instead of silver, it features a "clad" composition, which is essentially a metal sandwich. The coin has a core of pure copper, which is bonded to two outer layers of a copper-nickel alloy (75% copper and 25% nickel). This is what gives the quarter its silvery appearance, but its metallic value is far from that of its silver predecessors.

Therefore, when you find a 1965 quarter, you've found a coin that represents a major shift in monetary policy, but unfortunately, you have not struck silver.