Do you Own these 1965 and 1966 Silver Quarter "Mistakes"?

 

The Rare 1965 and 1966 Silver Quarter Mistakes

   What they are, how to check, and why they can be valuable

 

Have you ever looked at a quarter and wondered, “Is this real silver?” That’s a smart question, because older quarters really did have silver in them.

Here’s the big change. Quarters stopped being made with silver in 1965. Before that, many quarters were made with 90% silver. But silver started getting more expensive. That meant the metal inside the coin was starting to be worth a lot. So the U.S. Mint changed the recipe. Starting in 1965, most quarters were made with a copper and nickel “clad” mix instead of silver.

So what should you remember most? If a quarter says 1964 or earlier, it’s usually a silver quarter. If it says 1965 or newer, it’s usually not silver.

Now let’s make it super easy to check.

One quick trick is to look at the edge of the quarter. A silver quarter (1964 and older) usually has a solid silver colored edge. A newer quarter (1965 and newer) usually shows a copper colored stripe on the edge. It’s like a little “sandwich layer” you can see.

There is one important note, though. Some special collector quarters (not regular pocket change) can still be made with silver. But the normal quarters most people find in change after 1965 are usually copper and nickel, not silver.

What about a 1965 “accidental” silver quarter?

This is where it gets exciting. In 1965, the Mint was switching over to the new metal. Very rarely, a quarter might have been made by mistake on an older silver blank (called a planchet). If that happened, it could be worth a lot of money.

A real 1965 silver mistake quarter is usually valued around $5,000 to $10,000 or more, and some have sold for over $16,000.

So how can you tell?

The best check is weight. A normal 1965 quarter weighs about 5.67 grams. But a silver error quarter weighs about 6.25 grams. That difference matters.

You can also check the edge again. A silver one should look solid silver, not show that copper stripe.

Some people also do a “ring test.” Silver can make a brighter ringing sound, and clad coins sound more dull. But sound tests can fool people, so don’t trust that one alone.

Because these coins can be worth so much, there are also fakes out there. So if you think you found one, the smartest move is to have it checked by a top coin grading service like PCGS or NGC.

And just to be clear: most 1965 quarters are worth only 25 cents, unless they are one of these very rare mistake coins.

What about a 1966 “accidental” silver quarter?

 A 1966 quarter made on a silver blank is also a big deal, but it’s usually not worth as much as the rare 1965 silver mistake. If it’s real, it might sell for a few hundred dollars up to $1,000 or more, depending on condition and the exact kind of error.

Again, the edge is a great clue. If it’s silver, it should not show the copper stripe. It may also look a little lighter in color than a normal 1966 quarter.

One more thing: there are 1966 quarters called Special Mint Set (SMS) coins. These can look extra shiny and nice, and some can be worth a lot in top condition. But SMS does not mean silver. They’re more like fancy versions of regular coins, not silver mistake coins.

Did you know American Standard Gold can help you own physical precious metals and also buys gold, silver, and collectible coins? If you’d like a friendly, no pressure conversation, contact Terry Scott on LinkedIn (or call using the number in the image above) to request a meeting with Terry and his associate Jonny Johnson. We’ll answer your questions, and when you decide to move forward, you’ll be able to do so with confidence and clarity.