United States quarters minted previous to 1964 contained 90% silver and 10% copper. The remaining 10% consisted of copper, added to extend the coin’s sturdiness. This composition gave these cash a considerably increased intrinsic worth in comparison with their face worth, particularly as the worth of silver fluctuated.
The silver content material made these older quarters a tangible retailer of worth. The Coinage Act of 1965 eradicated silver from circulating dimes and quarters resulting from rising silver costs and the ensuing coin shortages. The earlier composition is important traditionally as a result of it displays a time when circulating foreign money held a direct relationship to valuable metals.