1964 Quarter Value: Silver Content, Mint Marks & Rare Errors

The 1964 Washington quarter is special for one reason: it was the last quarter the United States made for circulation in 90% silver. That silver gives every 1964 quarter a value well above its 25 cent face, and a small number, thanks to mint marks, condition, or rare errors, are worth far more. This guide explains exactly what your 1964 quarter is worth, from its silver melt floor to the collector premiums that can turn an ordinary coin into a valuable one.

What Is a 1964 Quarter Worth?

A 1964 quarter is worth at least its silver melt value, which is far above face value, and common circulated examples trade close to that floor while uncirculated and error coins can be worth much more. The silver content sets the baseline every 1964 quarter is guaranteed to hold.

Because the coin is 90% silver, its worth starts with the metal and rises from there based on condition and rarity. A typical worn example trades close to that melt floor. An uncirculated example carries a modest collector premium, and the rare error varieties covered below can reach hundreds or even thousands. So the honest answer to what your coin is worth depends on which of those categories it falls into, and this guide walks through each so you can place yours correctly.

How Much Silver Is in a 1964 Quarter?

A 1964 Washington quarter contains 0.18084 troy ounces of pure silver, weighing 6.25 grams total at 90% silver and 10% copper. That fixed metal content is the foundation of the coin's value.

Every circulating quarter dated 1964 or earlier shares this same specification, so the silver melt value is identical across dates for common coins, all sharing the 90% standard on our silver purity chart. At a $75 teaching spot price, the math is straightforward: 0.18084 ounces times $75 gives about $13.56 of silver in a single 1964 quarter, and a standard roll of 40 holds roughly $542 in silver. The actual figure moves with the live silver price, which is why a melt calculation is the right way to pin down the current number. Our silver coin value calculator gives you that melt figure instantly at today's spot price for any silver coin.

Which Years of Quarters Are Silver?

US quarters dated 1964 and earlier are 90% silver, while quarters from 1965 onward are copper nickel clad with no silver content at all. This single cutoff is the most important fact for anyone sorting old change.

So when did quarters stop being silver? The change came in 1965: rising silver prices meant the metal in the coin was starting to exceed its face value, prompting the Coinage Act of 1965 and a move to clad coinage. This is why 1965 quarters are not silver, a common point of confusion, and why 1964 is the last silver quarter year. That makes 1964 the final silver year, and it is why these quarters were widely hoarded. Earlier silver quarters, the Standing Liberty and Barber types, share the same 6.25 gram weight and 90% purity, so they carry the same melt value even though their collector value differs, as our silver quarter melt value guide shows. If you are checking a mixed jar of coins, our junk silver calculator and its guide explain the pre 1965 rule across all denominations.

Do Mint Marks Change a 1964 Quarter's Value?

The 1964 quarter comes with no mint mark from Philadelphia or a "D" from Denver, and for common circulated coins the mint mark makes little difference to value because both were minted in huge numbers. The mark matters more for uncirculated and error pieces.

On a 1964 quarter, the mint mark sits on the reverse, below the eagle, since the mark did not move to the front until later years. Philadelphia struck around 560 million quarters that year and Denver over 700 million, so neither is scarce, and a worn example of either is valued on its silver. Where the mint mark starts to matter is in high grades and among collectors chasing complete sets, and especially with the error varieties, where a specific mint and die pairing can be the difference between a common coin and a valuable one.

What Is a 1964 Proof Quarter Worth?

A 1964 proof quarter, struck with polished dies for collectors, is worth more than a business strike, typically several times melt value depending on quality. Proofs are a distinct category from the coins that circulated.

Proof quarters were made in limited numbers for collectors, with mirror like fields and sharp, frosted detail rather than for everyday use. A 1964 proof carries a premium over its silver content, and examples with strong contrast, the effect collectors call cameo, command more. Because proofs and business strikes look different once you know what to look for, it is worth learning the distinction, which our guide on proof coins versus bullion explains in detail. A proof found in circulation, spent by accident, is still a proof and still carries that collector interest.

Rare 1964 Quarter Errors Worth Real Money

This is where a 1964 quarter can be worth far more than silver. Certain 1964 quarter errors and varieties, including doubled dies and the Type B and Type C reverses, can reach hundreds or even thousands of dollars. These are the coins worth checking for before you sell.

• Doubled die: a doubling of the design elements, most visible in the lettering and date, caused by a misaligned die. Strong examples are prized and valuable.
• Type B reverse: a business strike accidentally made with a proof reverse die. The tell is a noticeable gap between the "E" and "S" in STATES and sharper eagle detail. These carry a real premium.
• Type C reverse: a rare reverse variety sought by specialists, capable of commanding significant sums in good condition.
• Off center and clipped planchet errors: striking mistakes that, when dramatic, add collector value beyond the silver.

To put the ceiling in perspective, a 1964 D quarter graded MS68, one of only a handful known, sold for a record $38,400 at auction, and top Philadelphia examples have brought several thousand. Most 1964 quarters are common and valued on their silver, so do not expect every coin to be a rarity. But because these varieties do turn up, it pays to examine the lettering and reverse closely before treating a coin as ordinary melt. When in doubt, a professional grader like PCGS or NGC can confirm a variety.

How Condition Affects the Value

Condition, or grade, is the biggest driver of a common 1964 quarter's value above melt, ranging from near melt for worn coins to a meaningful premium for uncirculated examples. The better preserved the coin, the more a collector will pay.

Approximate collector values above the silver floor; actual prices vary by market, mint mark, and grading service.

A heavily circulated 1964 quarter with smooth, worn detail is worth essentially its silver value. As condition improves toward uncirculated, where the coin shows no wear and retains its original mint luster, the premium grows, and top graded mint state examples can sell for several times melt. Grading, which reflects a coin’s purity of preservation rather than metal, runs from poor up to a perfect mint state 70, and small differences at the high end can mean large differences in price. For everyday circulated coins, though, melt value remains the right benchmark, and only genuinely uncirculated or error pieces justify chasing a numismatic premium.

Should You Sell a 1964 Quarter for Melt or Keep It?

Sell common circulated 1964 quarters for their melt value, but have uncirculated coins and possible error varieties checked first, because they may be worth far more to a collector. The decision comes down to which category your coin fits.

For the great majority of 1964 quarters, worn and common, melt value is the fair and practical price, and you can sell them as junk silver by weight. Before you do, it costs nothing to glance at the reverse lettering and overall condition. If a coin looks uncirculated, or shows one of the error traits above, set it aside and research it or have it graded before selling, since the collector value could dwarf the silver. Knowing the melt value first gives you the floor, so you never accept less than the silver is worth. To lock in that number at the current price, check it on our calculator before you talk to any buyer.

Common Questions About 1964 Quarter Value

Final Thoughts

The 1964 quarter earns its place in every collection and coin jar because it marks the end of an era, the last silver quarter America made for circulation. That 90% silver content guarantees a value well above face for every example, and a melt calculation gives you the floor any 1964 quarter is worth. From there, condition and rarity take over: uncirculated coins bring a premium, and the doubled die and Type B and C reverse errors can be worth hundreds or more.

So before you spend or sell a 1964 quarter, take two minutes to check it. Confirm the silver melt value for the floor, then look closely at the condition and the reverse for the traits that turn an ordinary coin into a valuable one. Either way, you will know exactly what you are holding. To find the current melt value at today's silver price, use our calculator before you decide.