United States quarters minted in 1964 and prior years contain 90% of the precious metal. The remaining 10% consists of copper, added to increase the coin’s durability. For example, a single coin from that year possesses approximately 0.18084 troy ounces of the fine element.
The significance of these coins lies in their intrinsic worth. When the spot price of the aforementioned metal is high, the melt value of these coins can exceed their face value. This fact has made them popular among investors and collectors seeking to acquire physical holdings of the element, offering a tangible hedge against economic uncertainty and currency devaluation. Their historical context places them at the end of an era, before the U.S. Mint transitioned to clad coinage.