The quarter weight you need in one place: 5.670 g for every clad quarter since 1965, 6.250 g for pre-1965 silver quarters, and 5.670 g for the 2026 five-design semiquincentennial. Includes a weight-based authentication band, silver-content calculator, and year-by-year spec table.
A clad quarter (1965-2025) weighs 5.670 g within a Mint tolerance of +/-0.227 g; a pre-1965 silver quarter weighs 6.250 g.
The standard Washington clad quarter -- minted from 1965 through 2025 under the authority of 31 USC Section 5112(a)(4) -- weighs exactly 5.670 g and measures 24.26 mm in diameter with 119 reeds on its edge. The pre-1965 silver quarter weighs 6.250 g and contains 0.18084 troy oz of pure silver. Both eras share the same diameter, making weight the fastest field test for composition. A roll of 40 quarters weighs 226.8 g (clad) or 250.0 g (silver). The 2026 semiquincentennial quarters use the same 5.670 g clad specification.
All values are US Mint specifications. The clad quarter tolerance of +/-0.227 g applies to post-1965 business strikes; no tolerance is published separately for the pre-1965 silver series.
| Specification | Washington clad quarter | Washington silver quarter | Tolerance / source |
|---|---|---|---|
| Weight (grams) -- clad 1965+ | 5.670 g | — | +/-0.227 g · 31 USC Section 5112(a)(4) and the US Mint specification for the Washington clad quarter. |
| Weight (grams) -- silver 1873-1964 | 6.250 g | — | Coinage Act of February 12, 1873, establishing 6.250 g as the standard silver quarter weight. |
| Diameter (mm) | 24.26 mm | — | +/-0.13 mm · Consistent across silver and clad eras; both struck on the same diameter planchet. |
| Thickness (mm) | 1.75 mm | — | US Mint specification; consistent across clad and silver Washington quarters. |
| Edge -- reed count | 119 reeds | — | 119-reed reeded edge; consistent across silver and clad Washington quarters. |
| Composition -- clad 1965+ | 91.67% Cu / 8.33% Ni clad over pure Cu core | — | Coinage Act of 1965 (PL 89-81); copper-nickel outer layers bonded to a pure copper core. |
| Composition -- silver pre-1965 | 90% Ag / 10% Cu | — | Standard silver composition in effect from 1853 through the end of 1964. |
| Silver content (ASW) -- silver era only | 0.18084 troy oz | — | Derived from 6.250 g at 90% silver fineness; confirmed via PCGS Coin Facts. |
| Roll weight (40 coins) -- clad | 226.8 g | — | 40 coins x 5.670 g; standard US quarter roll count. |
| Roll weight (40 coins) -- silver | 250.0 g | — | 40 coins x 6.250 g. |
A precision scale accurate to 0.01 g is the fastest initial screen for a suspect quarter. Genuine clad quarters fall within the US Mint tolerance band of 5.443 g to 5.897 g. Weight alone cannot confirm authenticity -- a coin at 5.670 g could still be a plated fake with a correctly weighted core -- but a coin far outside the band is a strong warning signal. Use the bands below as a first filter, then verify edge color, reed count, and diameter.
Weight alone is necessary but not sufficient. A tungsten-cored counterfeit can weigh exactly the same as a genuine coin. Always cross-check diameter, reed count, edge profile, and a ring test before concluding.
Pass: 5.443 g to 5.897 g -- within the US Mint tolerance of +/-0.227 g; quarter weight is consistent with a genuine clad quarter. Proceed to edge and reed-count verification.
Border: 4.900 g to 5.443 g or 5.897 g to 6.500 g -- outside tolerance but within a plausible range for a heavily worn strike, off-center planchet, or transitional piece. Note: a genuine pre-1965 silver quarter weighs 6.250 g, which falls in this upper border band for the clad spec -- use the silver edge test to distinguish.
Fail: Below 4.900 g or above 6.500 g -- weight is inconsistent with any genuine US quarter from either the clad or silver era. Likely a foreign coin, counterfeit, plated slug, or wrong-metal substitute.
Place the quarter flat on a precision digital scale capable of resolving to 0.01 g. Tare the scale with any weighing vessel before placing the coin. Genuine clad quarters from 1965 onward weigh 5.670 g, and the US Mint tolerance allows +/-0.227 g. A reading between 5.443 g and 5.897 g passes the weight screen.
If your scale reads between 6.10 g and 6.40 g, you may be holding a pre-1965 silver quarter rather than a counterfeit. Turn the coin on its edge: a genuine silver quarter shows a continuous silver-gray rim with no copper stripe. A clad quarter shows a visible copper-orange stripe at the midpoint of the edge. This edge-color test takes two seconds and reliably separates the two compositions.
For quarters reading outside both bands -- under 4.900 g or over 6.500 g -- check the diameter with calipers. All genuine US quarters from both eras measure 24.26 mm (+/-0.13 mm). A coin that is both the wrong weight and the wrong diameter is almost certainly not a genuine US quarter.
Count the reeds under a 10x loupe. A genuine Washington quarter (silver or clad) carries 119 reeds. Counterfeits often show reed counts of 100 to 115 or over 125, because replicating the precise die-cut reed count is difficult at scale. Combined with a weight discrepancy, a wrong reed count greatly increases the probability of a fake.
Weight is a necessary screen, not a sufficient one. A skilled counterfeit can be engineered to hit 5.670 g by selecting the right core metal and plating thickness. Authentication for high-value coins requires review of die characteristics, strike sharpness, surface luster, and edge profile under magnification -- or grading by PCGS or NGC.
Weight changed with alloy changes; diameter held at approximately 24.26 mm across most eras. The critical break is 1965, when silver was removed.
| Years | Weight | Composition | Note |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1796-1807 | 6.74 g | 89.24% Ag / 10.76% Cu | Draped Bust quarters; slightly larger diameter (~27.5 mm) than later issues. |
| 1815-1828 | 6.74 g | 89.24% Ag / 10.76% Cu | Capped Bust, large-diameter type; same weight as Draped Bust era. |
| 1828-1838 | 6.68 g | 89.24% Ag / 10.76% Cu | Capped Bust reduced diameter to ~27 mm; modest weight reduction. |
| 1838-1853 | 6.68 g | 90% Ag / 10% Cu | Early Seated Liberty; composition standardized to 90/10 silver-copper. |
| 1853-1873 | 6.22 g | 90% Ag / 10% Cu | Coinage Act of February 21, 1853 reduced weight to curb hoarding and melting. |
| 1873-1891 | 6.25 g | 90% Ag / 10% Cu | Coinage Act of February 12, 1873 set 6.250 g as the standard; held through 1964. |
| 1892-1916 | 6.25 g | 90% Ag / 10% Cu | Barber quarter era; same 6.250 g standard as Seated Liberty post-1873. |
| 1916-1930 | 6.25 g | 90% Ag / 10% Cu | Standing Liberty quarter; Type 1 (1916-early 1917) showed bare-breasted Liberty, later revised. |
| 1932-1964 | 6.25 g | 90% Ag / 10% Cu | Washington silver quarter; 1932-D (436,800 mintage) and 1932-S (408,000) are the key dates. |
| 1965-2025 | 5.670 g | 91.67% Cu / 8.33% Ni clad over pure Cu core | Coinage Act of 1965 removed silver; weight dropped 0.58 g; copper stripe visible on edge. |
| 2026 | 5.670 g | 91.67% Cu / 8.33% Ni clad over pure Cu core | Five semiquincentennial designs under Public Law 116-330; same clad spec, no Washington obverse. |
| 2027-2030 | 5.670 g | 91.67% Cu / 8.33% Ni clad over pure Cu core | Youth Sports program; same clad spec continues. |
The most consequential change in quarter history occurred on July 23, 1965, when President Johnson signed the Coinage Act of 1965 (PL 89-81). From that date forward, quarters were struck from a copper-nickel clad planchet weighing 5.670 g rather than the 90% silver planchet weighing 6.250 g. The weight difference of 0.58 g is small but reliably detectable on a scale accurate to 0.01 g.
The composition change also altered the coin's sound and appearance. A silver quarter dropped on a hard surface produces a higher-pitched ring than a clad quarter. More reliably, the edge of a clad quarter reveals a copper-orange stripe between the two cupronickel layers -- visible to the naked eye. A silver quarter shows a uniform silver-gray edge with no stripe.
For silver-content purposes, the break is clean: all business-strike quarters dated 1964 and earlier contain 0.18084 troy oz of pure silver. All quarters dated 1965 and later contain no silver (with one documented exception: a small number of 1965 silver transitional errors were struck on remaining silver planchets and are valued at $7,000 or more for confirmed examples). The 1976 Bicentennial collector sets include a 40% silver version, but these were not released into circulation.
A roll of 40 silver quarters weighs 250.0 g; a roll of 40 clad quarters weighs 226.8 g. The 23.2 g difference per roll is noticeable by hand if you have a reference point, and reliable on any postal or kitchen scale.
| Spec | Vintage | Modern | Why it matters |
|---|---|---|---|
| Weight per coin | 6.250 g | 5.670 g | Silver quarters weigh 0.58 g more -- a difference easily measured on a 0.01 g precision scale. |
| Composition | 90% Ag / 10% Cu | 91.67% Cu / 8.33% Ni clad over pure Cu core | The 1965 change removed all circulating silver from the quarter. |
| Pure silver content (ASW) | 0.18084 troy oz | 0 troy oz | Every pre-1965 quarter carries 0.18084 oz of silver; post-1965 clad quarters carry none. |
| Edge appearance | Uniform silver-gray, no stripe | Copper-orange stripe visible at mid-edge | The edge stripe is the fastest naked-eye test separating silver from clad. |
| Diameter | 24.26 mm | 24.26 mm | Diameter is identical -- only weight and composition changed in 1965. |
| Reed count | 119 reeds | 119 reeds | Reed count is unchanged across the silver-to-clad transition. |
| Roll weight (40 coins) | 250.0 g | 226.8 g | A 23.2 g difference per roll; detectable on a postal scale. |
| Legal authority | Coinage Act of February 12, 1873 | 31 USC Section 5112(a)(4) / Coinage Act of 1965 | The 1965 Act superseded the silver standard that had been in place since 1873. |
The Coinage Act of 1965 (signed July 23, 1965) ended silver coinage for US quarters. Coins dated 1964 and earlier are 90% silver; coins dated 1965 and later are copper-nickel clad with no silver content. The weight difference and edge color are the two fastest field tests.
| Era | Years | Weight | Composition | Metal content |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Silver era | 1873-1964 | 6.250 g | 90% Ag / 10% Cu | 0.18084 troy oz pure silver per coin |
| Clad era | 1965-2025 | 5.670 g | 91.67% Cu / 8.33% Ni clad over pure Cu core | No silver; copper-nickel outer layers over copper core |
| 2026 Semiquincentennial | 2026 | 5.670 g | 91.67% Cu / 8.33% Ni clad | No silver; same clad spec as 1965+ era |
| 1965 silver transitional error (rare) | 1965 (a very small number) | 6.250 g | 90% Ag / 10% Cu | Full silver content -- struck on remaining silver planchets; valued at $7,000+ confirmed |
To separate silver from clad in the field: (1) Edge color -- a silver quarter shows a uniform silver-gray edge; a clad quarter shows a copper-orange stripe between the two outer layers. (2) Date test -- 1964 and earlier means silver; 1965 and later means clad, with the narrow exception of documented transitional errors. (3) Weight test -- 6.250 g indicates silver composition; 5.670 g indicates clad. (4) Ring test -- a silver quarter dropped on a hard surface produces a higher-pitched, more sustained ring than a clad quarter. None of these tests alone is conclusive for high-value coins; use at least two in combination.
No single test proves a quarter genuine. Use weight as the first filter, then apply at least two additional checks before drawing a conclusion on any coin of significant value.
| Method | Reliability | How to | Pass | Fail |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Weight on precision scale | High | Weigh the coin on a scale resolving to 0.01 g. For a clad quarter, the pass band is 5.443 g to 5.897 g; for a silver quarter, expect near 6.250 g. | 5.443 g to 5.897 g (clad); approximately 6.250 g (silver) | Below 4.900 g or above 6.500 g; also suspicious if clad-dated coin reads above 5.897 g without a silver edge. |
| Edge stripe color test | High | Hold the coin on its edge and examine the midpoint. The test requires no tools and takes under five seconds. | Clad quarter: copper-orange stripe clearly visible between two silver-colored layers. Silver quarter: uniform silver-gray all around. | A coin with a painted or plated edge that appears uniform but registers 5.670 g on a scale is suspicious -- genuine silver quarters weigh 6.250 g, not 5.670 g. |
| Reed count under 10x loupe | High | Count the reeds around the coin's circumference under magnification, or count a sector and multiply. A genuine quarter carries exactly 119 reeds. | 119 reeds | Counts materially below 115 or above 123 indicate the coin was not struck on a genuine US quarter die. |
| Diameter measurement with calipers | High | Measure across the coin face with digital calipers. All genuine US quarters from 1873 onward measure 24.26 mm (+/-0.13 mm). | 24.13 mm to 24.39 mm | A reading outside this range combined with a weight anomaly strongly indicates a non-genuine coin. |
| Ring test (drop sound) | Medium | Drop the coin onto a hard flat surface from about 3 cm and listen to the ring. Silver rings at a higher pitch; clad has a duller, shorter ring. | Silver quarter: clear, sustained higher-pitched ring. Clad quarter: shorter, slightly duller tone. | A coin dated pre-1965 that rings like clad, or a coin dated post-1965 that rings like silver, warrants further investigation. |
| Magnetic test | Medium | Bring a strong magnet near the coin. Neither silver nor cupronickel clad quarters are magnetic. | No attraction to magnet for either silver or clad quarters. | Any magnetic attraction indicates a steel core or iron-based plating -- not a genuine US quarter in either era. |
| Professional grading (PCGS / NGC) | High | Submit the coin to PCGS or NGC for encapsulation. Professional graders use die-variety references, spectrographic analysis, and surface examination unavailable to hobbyists. | Coin is encapsulated and assigned a grade and variety attribution. | Coins returned as 'Details -- Altered' or 'Genuine -- Questionable Authenticity' fail grading review. |
Every quarter dated 1964 or earlier -- from the 1873 Seated Liberty through the last Washington silver quarters -- contains exactly 0.18084 troy oz of pure silver. That figure is derived from the 6.250 g coin weight multiplied by the 90% silver fineness: 6.250 g x 0.9 = 5.625 g of silver, converted to troy ounces by dividing by 31.1035 g/troy oz.
The silver content is fixed by composition and weight and does not vary with grade, mint mark, or year within the silver era. A worn 1964-D quarter contains the same 0.18084 troy oz as an uncirculated 1932-S. For melt purposes, the only variable is the spot price of silver.
Melt value should be treated as the floor for collectible coins, not the ceiling. Key-date silver quarters such as the 1932-D and 1932-S trade at multiples of melt in circulated grades. Even common-date silver quarters in high grades carry collector premiums well above the silver value.
Silver content (troy oz) = Weight (g) x Silver fineness x 0.0321507 = 6.250 x 0.90 x 0.0321507 = 0.18084 troy oz
At $74.64 per troy ounce of silver, a pre-1965 quarter contains roughly $0.00 of pure silver -- but this is the floor, not the ceiling, for collectible coins.
The melt value of a pre-1965 silver quarter is calculated from its fixed silver content of 0.18084 troy oz multiplied by the current spot price of silver. Silver spot pricing is pulled live from coins-value.com and updates on weekday market open and close.
At historical silver prices in the $30-$40 per troy ounce range, the melt value of a single silver quarter runs approximately $5.40 to $7.20 -- roughly 22x to 29x face value. A full roll of 40 silver quarters contains 7.234 troy oz of silver (40 x 0.18084).
Melt value is the floor for collectible coins, not the ceiling. Worn common-date silver quarters may trade near melt. Key dates (1932-D, 1932-S) and high-grade examples bring multiples of their silver content. The silver value of post-1965 clad quarters is zero -- their composition contains no silver.
Silver spot pricing pulled live from coins-value.com; updates on weekday market open and close.
The current clad quarter (1965 to 2025) weighs 5.670 g, with a US Mint tolerance of +/-0.227 g. The pre-1965 silver quarter weighed 6.250 g. The 2026 semiquincentennial quarters use the same 5.670 g clad spec. A roll of 40 clad quarters weighs 226.8 g; a roll of 40 silver quarters weighs 250.0 g.
Pre-1965 silver quarters weigh 6.250 g. This weight was established by the Coinage Act of February 12, 1873 and held constant through the end of the silver era in 1964. The coin is 90% silver and 10% copper, yielding 0.18084 troy oz of pure silver per coin. The weight is 0.58 g heavier than the post-1965 clad quarter -- a reliable field distinction.
No. The Coinage Act of 1965 transitioned all business-strike quarters to copper-nickel clad starting with the 1965 date. All 1965 and later quarters are 91.67% Cu / 8.33% Ni clad over a copper core, with no silver. A very small number of 1965 silver transitional errors -- struck on remaining silver planchets -- exist and are valued at $7,000 or more for confirmed examples.
The 2026 semiquincentennial quarters weigh 5.670 g -- the same as all clad quarters since 1965. Under Public Law 116-330, five different designs were issued in 2026 (Mayflower Compact, Revolutionary War, Declaration of Independence, US Constitution, and Gettysburg Address). The composition is the standard 91.67% Cu / 8.33% Ni clad. Washington does not appear on any 2026 quarter.
George Washington has appeared on the quarter since 1932, based on John Flanagan's design derived from a 1785 marble bust by Jean-Antoine Houdon. The 2026 quarter features five one-year designs honoring the US semiquincentennial -- Washington does not appear on any 2026 quarter. The Youth Sports program begins in 2027 and continues through 2030.
A Washington quarter has 119 reeds on its edge. This reed count is consistent across both the silver era (1932-1964) and the clad era (1965-present). Verifying the reed count under a 10x loupe is a useful authentication step -- counterfeits commonly show reed counts that deviate materially from 119.
Each pre-1965 quarter contains 0.18084 troy oz of pure silver. The calculation: 6.250 g x 0.90 silver fineness = 5.625 g silver, divided by 31.1035 g/troy oz = 0.18084 troy oz. This is fixed by composition and does not vary by grade, mint mark, or year within the 1873-1964 silver era.
The 2026 quarter has five different designs honoring the 250th anniversary of US founding under Public Law 116-330. The themes are: Mayflower Compact (1620), Revolutionary War (1775-1783), Declaration of Independence (1776), US Constitution (1787), and Gettysburg Address (1863). Each design is minted in succession throughout 2026. In 2027, the quarter transitions to the Youth Sports program.
The 1932-D (mintage 436,800) and 1932-S (mintage 408,000) are the two key dates in the Washington quarter series. The 1932-S is the lower-mintage of the two. In circulated grades they are worth $80-$500; in Mint State they range from $1,500 into five figures. Among modern issues, confirmed 1965 silver transitional errors are exceptionally rare and valued at $7,000 or more.
Examine the coin's edge. A silver quarter (1964 and earlier) shows a uniform silver-gray edge with no stripe. A clad quarter (1965 and later) shows a visible copper-orange stripe at the midpoint of the edge between the two cupronickel layers. The date is the second check: 1964 or earlier means silver composition; 1965 or later means clad. A drop ring test can also help -- silver produces a higher-pitched, more sustained tone.
Yes. All Washington quarters -- silver and clad alike -- carry 119 reeds on the edge. The reeded edge design predates the Washington quarter and was continued across the 1965 composition change without alteration.
Quarters minted from 1965 onward are 91.67% copper and 8.33% nickel (cupronickel) clad over a pure copper core, weighing 5.670 g. Pre-1965 quarters are 90% silver and 10% copper, weighing 6.250 g. The 2026 semiquincentennial designs use the same clad composition as all post-1965 quarters.
Weight tells you composition; date and grade tell you numismatic value. Key-date silver quarters can trade at multiples of melt value -- look up your specific coin.
Check Washington and State Quarter values →The Assay app can identify your quarter by design, date, and mint mark -- useful for the 2026 five-design semiquincentennial coins and older series varieties.
This page is an informational weight and composition reference; weight-based authentication is a necessary initial screen but is not sufficient on its own to confirm or deny the genuineness of any coin.