Pre-1965 Washington quarters contain 0.1808 troy ounces of 90% silver, yielding 0.1627 troy ounces of pure silver per coin. The coin weighs 6.25 grams with a silver content of 5.625 grams. Only quarters dated 1964 and earlier contain silver — starting in 1965, the US Mint switched to copper-nickel clad.
Washington quarters are the most commonly available junk silver coin and the backbone of the $1,000 face value bag market. A standard bag contains approximately 715 troy ounces of silver. Because they're so common, they typically trade at the lowest premium over melt of any 90% silver coin — making them the most cost-efficient way to buy junk silver.
The 1932-D and 1932-S are the key dates of the series, with significantly higher value than melt. For stacking purposes, most dealers sell Washington quarters in rolls of 40 ($10 face value, approximately 7.234 oz silver) or bags. They're ideal for barter scenarios because their small size makes them practical for fractional transactions.
Common dates trade at or near melt. The 1932-D and 1932-S are key dates commanding strong premiums. Proof and uncirculated specimens also carry premiums.