Quarters produced by the United States Mint prior to 1965 contain a silver composition. Specifically, these coins are composed of 90% silver and 10% copper. This composition distinguishes them from subsequent issues primarily made of copper and clad with nickel.
The presence of silver in these older coins significantly increases their intrinsic value compared to face value. Fluctuations in the silver market directly impact the worth of these coins, making them attractive to collectors and investors. This practice was discontinued due to rising silver prices making the bullion value of the coins exceed their face value.