United States quarters, prior to a specific point, were composed of 90% silver and 10% copper. These coins, often referred to as “silver quarters,” held a higher intrinsic value due to their silver content. This composition was standard for circulating quarters for many years.
The change in composition was primarily driven by the rising price of silver. As silver prices increased, the intrinsic value of the silver in the coins began to exceed their face value. This created a situation where it became profitable to melt down the coins for their silver content, threatening the availability of quarters for circulation. The United States government sought a more economical alternative to prevent this.
