5 Easy Ways to Tell If a 1965 Quarter Is Silver

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Numismatics expert Max Hockley explains why this coin is rare & how to spot one

Co-authored by Max Hockley and Elaine Heredia, BA

Last Updated: December 16, 2025 Fact Checked

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Identifying a 1965 Silver Quarter

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Why are they so rare?

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Other Valuable Error Coins

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Video

Wondering how you can strike gold just by sorting through your pocket change? While 1965 silver quarters are rare, they're worth thousands of dollars if you can find one! Fortunately, identifying a silver coin isn't difficult; all it takes is a little examination on your part and then verification from an expert. Read on, and we'll show you how to tell if a 1965 quarter is silver, explain why this coin is so rare, and explain how to identify other valuable error coins.

What is a 1965 silver quarter and how do you identify one?

An illustration of 4 ways to tell if a 1965 quarter is silver: weighing it, checking the color and shine, checking the edging, and sending it to a coin certification firm.

Numismatics expert Max Hockley says that the US Mint transitioned away from silver quarters in 1965. However, a small number of silver quarters were struck that year. A silver quarter should weigh about 6.25g and have a completely silver edge. If you're still unsure, get it inspected by a certification firm, like NGC.

Section 1 of 3:

Identifying a 1965 Silver Quarter

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1
Weigh the quarter on a digital coin scale. Silver quarters are heavier than standard copper-nickel clad quarters. Place the quarter on a digital coin scale. You can tell if a 1965 quarter is silver because it will weigh 6.25 grams—give or take a few hundredths of a gram, depending on the wear and planchet. Standard clad 1965 quarters will be lighter, weighing roughly 5.67 grams, with slight variations possible.^{[1]
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- If your 1965 quarter weighs over 6 grams, it's worth moving to the next step of the authentication process!
Note the overall shine and color of the quarter. Silver 1965 quarters look shinier and more silvery than normal copper-nickel clad quarters, despite showing signs of age (since they're over 50 years old at this point).^{[2]
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3
Inspect the edge of the quarter for copper. If your 1965 quarter is a standard clad copper-nickel coin (the same composition used in quarters today), reddish-orange copper will be visible along the quarter's reeded edge. If your 1965 quarter is the rare silver error coin, its reeded trim will be entirely silver with no trace of copper.^{[3]
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- "Reeded" edges refer to the ridged or grooved edging mainly found on quarters and dimes in US currency.
4
Perform the ring test. Silver coins make a clear ringing sound for a couple of seconds when they strike something hard. To try this test, drop your 1965 quarter and a quarter from a later year, which you know for sure is copper-nickel clad, on a hard surface. If your 1965 quarter makes a high-pitched ringing sound that lasts for 1-2 seconds, it may be made of silver! But if it sounds dull and muffled, and the sound dies instantly, like the newer quarter, it's probably clad.^{[4]
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Get the quarter inspected by a coin certification firm. Once you have examined and weighed your 1965 quarter, verify its silver composition by sending it to a third-party certification company. They can establish the coin's exact value and make selling it easier since a certified authentic coin is less of a risky investment. Below are some credible grading companies, with the first two having been recommended by numismatics expert Dean Kinzer:

Section 2 of 3:

Why are 1965 silver quarters so rare?

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Silver 1965 quarters are special because they’re transitional error coins. In 1964, quarters were still struck with a 90% silver planchet. In 1965, quarter production changed to a clad composition planchet made of copper and nickel. However, a few (the exact number is unknown) were struck on a silver planchet instead. Silver 1965 quarters are worth thousands of dollars because they were made by mistake. One graded by PCGS sold in 2020 for $16,800!^{[6]
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- "Planchets" are the blank metal disks used to make coins. Therefore, saying a quarter was “struck on a silver planchet” means that the quarter was made using a blank coin made of 90% silver.

Section 3 of 3:

Identifying Other Valuable Error Coins

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1
Weigh a 1965 dime to tell whether it is silver. Just like the infamous 1965 silver quarter, a number of 1965 dimes were struck on 90% silver planchets despite the switch to copper-nickel clad coins that year. Identifying silver 1965 dimes is a similar process: simply place the dime on a digital coin scale and check its weight. A silver dime weighs 2.50 grams, while a normal dime weighs 2.27 grams.^{[7]
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- If you don't have a digital coin scale, any scale capable of measuring in increments of hundredths of a gram will also work.
- Check the value of your dime with our handy Rare Dime Value Calculator!
2
Use a magnet to identify a 1943 copper penny. In 1943, at the height of World War II, most pennies were struck with steel planchets because copper and nickel were needed for the war effort. However, a few 1943 copper pennies were struck in error. Hold the 1943 penny up to a magnet; if the coin sticks, it's steel. If it doesn't stick, it's a rare 1943 copper penny.^{[8]
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- Transitional error 1943 copper pennies are precious, often worth tens of thousands of US dollars!
- 1943 steel pennies could still be a worthwhile find! Circulated steel pennies are only worth about $0.30 now, but uncirculated pennies (pennies that never entered the money supply and show no signs of wear) are worth $0.50-$20.
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Look for an extra leaf on 2004 Wisconsin state quarters. From 1999 through 2008, the US Mint issued commemorative quarters for all 50 states, and a few Wisconsin quarters feature an error on the back of the coin. Examine the ear of corn on 2004 Wisconsin quarters. Normally, the corn will have one leaf on the left side, but error coins appear to have a second leaf below the first.^{[9]
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- The extra leaf results from a defective coin die (the metallic stamps used to strike new coins) that altered the appearance of these rare coins.
- There are two varieties: a Low-Leaf quarter with the second leaf further down the corn ear, and a High-Leaf quarter with the two leaves located much closer together.
- These error quarters can be worth as much as $200 or $300!
4
Check a 1964 quarter's weight and edge to find clad planchet coins. The inverse of the 1965 silver quarter, a small number of quarters in 1964 were struck with clad copper-nickel planchets in error ahead of the permanent shift to clad planchets. If you find a 1964 quarter that has reddish-orange copper visible around its edge, weigh the coin on a digital coin scale. This rare error coin weighs 5.67 grams.^{[10]
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- A circulated 1964 clad quarter is worth at least $5,000, while the even rarer uncirculated version is worth around $12,000!
5
Examine a 1971 or 1977 half-dollar to see if it was struck with silver. In 1971 and 1977, some Kennedy half-dollars (featuring the face of John F. Kennedy on the front) were struck on 40% silver-clad planchets rather than standard copper and nickel-clad planchets. Look at the edge of the half-dollar: if it is all silver, you might have a silver-clad coin.^{[11]
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- As with any other rare coin, be sure to verify your 1971 or 1977 Kennedy silver half-dollar, as it can be worth thousands of dollars in good condition.
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Find an Eisenhower silver dollar by checking the mintmark and edge. Between 1971 and 1976, the San Francisco Mint produced Eisenhower silver dollars struck with 40% silver planchets. Look for a small "S" mintmark on the front of the coin, signifying that it was minted in San Francisco. Next, examine the edge. If it's silver and not a copper color, you're looking at a silver dollar.^{[12]
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- Silver Eisenhower dollars were intentionally produced as commemorative coins and were available by special order. Despite this, some silver dollars accidentally entered circulation.
- Silver dollars with a lot of wear might not be worth much more than their original value, but pristine or uncirculated silver dollars can be worth thousands! Get the coin examined by a professional to determine its worth.