Which US Coins Are Silver? A Year-by-Year Cheat Sheet
1964 and earlier dimes, quarters and halves are 90% silver. Here's every US silver coin by year, plus the look-alikes that fool people.
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Melt value of one Washington Quarter (clad)
$0.0812
A Washington Quarter (clad) (1965–present) weighs 5.67 grams and is made of copper-nickel clad: 91.67% copper, 8.33% nickel overall. At today’s metal prices the metal in one coin is worth about $0.0812, less than its face value.
Includes state, territory, America the Beautiful and American Women quarters.
| Years | 1965–present |
|---|---|
| Face value | $0.25 |
| Weight | 5.67 g (0.1823 troy oz) |
| Composition | Copper-nickel clad: 91.67% copper, 8.33% nickel overall |
| Diameter | 24.26 mm |
| Copper content | 5.198 g · worth $0.0735 |
| Nickel content | 0.472 g · worth $0.0077 |
| Quantity | Face value | Melt value |
|---|---|---|
| 1 | $0.25 | $0.0812 |
| 5 | $1.25 | $0.4061 |
| 10 | $2.50 | $0.8122 |
| 40 (1 roll) | $10.00 | $3.25 |
| 100 | $25.00 | $8.12 |
| 1,000 | $250.00 | $81.22 |
| Date | Melt value then | Change to today |
|---|---|---|
| 1 month ago (Oct 9, 2026) | $0.0835 | ▼ -2.78% |
| 1 year ago (Nov 9, 2025) | $0.0626 | ▲ +29.83% |
| 5 years ago (Nov 9, 2021) | $0.0601 | ▲ +35.22% |
| 10 years ago (Nov 9, 2016) | $0.0336 | ▲ +141.81% |
Based on stored daily closing prices.
Melt value is the floor: the value of the metal alone. Dealers who buy coins for their metal usually pay a little below melt. Coins with a rare date, mint mark or error, or in uncirculated condition, can sell for far more than melt to collectors – check a current price guide or have the coin graded before selling anything that looks scarce.
Have several coins? Use the coin melt value calculator.
| Coin | Years | Metal content | Melt value | × face |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1892–1916 | 0.1808 oz silver | $9.67 | 38.7× | |
| 1916–1930 | 0.1808 oz silver | $9.67 | 38.7× | |
| 1932–1964 | 0.1808 oz silver | $9.67 | 38.7× | |
| 1976 | 0.0739 oz silver | $4.00 | 16.0× |
Melt value = metal content × today’s spot price. It is not what a dealer pays (usually less) or a collector’s price (often more).
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Melt values are estimates based on spot prices and official coin specifications. Dealers usually pay less than melt; rare coins can be worth far more to collectors.