Well, it seems the provided sources were more interested in selling you precious metals than telling you which coins are made of them. Classic. Let's skip the sales pitch and get right to the treasure hunt in your pocket.
The magic number you're looking for is 1964. If you find a U.S. quarter dated 1964 or any year prior, you've hit the jackpot. Those handsome devils are made of 90% silver. This includes the Standing Liberty quarters and the Washington quarters up to that date. After 1964, the U.S. Mint, in its infinite wisdom and response to rising silver prices, switched to a less glamorous but more economical copper-nickel clad composition.
Now, for the plot twists. The U.S. Mint couldn't resist making a few special editions. Some Bicentennial quarters, those with the cool 1776-1976 dual date, were struck in 40% silver for collectors. You can also find modern quarters, from 1992 onward, in special silver proof sets intended for collectors. These are typically 90% silver and are not meant for circulation, but sometimes they escape into the wild.
The easiest way to spot a silver quarter without squinting at the date is to look at its edge. A pre-1965 silver quarter will have a solid silver or grayish stripe. A modern clad quarter, on the other hand, will reveal its true, coppery heart with a reddish-brown line sandwiched between two silvery layers. Happy hunting
